YOUTHBUILD DC PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL INC

YOUTHBUILD PCS COMPRISES FOUR CORE PROGRAM AREAS: ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS SERVICES, AND STUDENT SUCCESS SERVICES. COLLECTIVELY, THESE CORE PROGRAMS ALLOW YOUTHBUILD PCS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTION, INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT TO STUDENTS AND SUCCESSFULLY PREPARE THEM FOR THE WORKFORCE AND/OR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. OUR ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION PROGRAM EQUIPS STUDENTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO OBTAIN A HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY CREDENTIAL. STUDENTS ARE INSTRUCTED IN FOUR MAJOR CONTENT AREAS ALIGNED WITH THE SUBJECT TESTS OF THE GED: READING, MATH, SCIENCE, AND SOCIAL STUDIES. THE WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM CONSISTS OF HANDS-ON TRAINING AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE, PAIRED WITH THE HOME BUILDERS INSTITUTE PRE- APPRENTICESHIP CERTIFICATION TRAINING. TOGETHER, THE TWO COMPONENTS PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND EARN INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS. THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAM WORKS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFULLY PREPARED TO ENTER A CAREER THAT WILL PROVIDE A LIVING WAGE. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING JOB FAIRS, JOB SHADOWING, INTERNSHIPS AND COLLEGE TOURS. OUR SCHOOL CULTURE AND STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAM HAS A SINGULAR FOCUS TO ENSURE STUDENTS ARE PRESENT AND READY TO LEARN EACH DAY. SPECIFIC SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING CLASSES, AND ASSISTANCE WITH OBTAINING HOUSING, DAYCARE, MEDICAL INSURANCE, AND OTHER MATERIAL NEEDS. RESPECT, COMMUNITY, RESPONSIBILITY, DIGNITY YOUTHBUILD PCS HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE WITH CHALLENGING LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES TO DEVELOP RESPECT FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS, FIND A SENSE OF BELONGING AND RESPONSIBILITY, AND LEAD PRODUCTIVE LIVES WITH DIGNITY. THE EXPERIENCE AT YOUTHBUILD PCS REFLECTS REAL LIFE AND PROMOTES A SENSE OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH A CONSISTENTLY ENFORCED CODE OF CONDUCT THAT FOSTERS INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND POSITIVE GROUP NORMS. YOUTHBUILD PCS STUDENTS ALSO RECEIVE A STIPEND TO HELP MEET FAMILY COMMITMENTS, DEFRAY TRANSPORTATION COSTS, AND TO INCENTIVIZE COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM. A WIN-WIN SOLUTION STATISTICS SHOW THAT STUDENTS WHO DROPOUT OF HIGH SCHOOL ARE MORE LIKELY TO LIVE IN POVERTY AND SUFFER FROM UNEMPLOYMENT, POOR HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND VIOLENCE. SUCH STUDENTS NEED AND DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE TO ESTABLISH STABLE, PRODUCTIVE ADULT LIVES. WHILE YOUTHBUILD PCS ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATIONAL GOALS, WE RECOGNIZE THAT SOME MAY CHOOSE TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE UPON GRADUATION. YOUTHBUILD PCS ENSURES THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE THE SKILLS AND CREDENTIALS TO DO SO. LOCALLY GROUNDED PART OF A NATION-WIDE MOVEMENT THE YOUTHBUILD MODEL HAS PROVEN TO BE AN EFFECTIVE CHANGE AGENT IN THE LIVES OF DISCONNECTED YOUTH. YOUTHBUILD PCS IS PART OF A 300+-MEMBER NATIONAL NETWORK USING AN EFFECTIVE, TESTED MODEL DEVELOPED IN 1978. THROUGH YOUTHBUILD, MORE THAN 130,000 YOUTH NATIONWIDE HAVE TRANSFORMED THEIR LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION, REBUILT THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND CREATED MORE THAN 28,000 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING SINCE 1994.