Youthbuild Dc Public Charter School

YouthBuild Public Charter School (YBPCS) is an alternative high school for young people seeking to transform their lives by re-engaging in their education in a non-traditional school environment. YBPCS prepares students for postsecondary education and the workplace by offering, in English and Spanish, academic, vocational and workforce development programs. YBPCS believes that service to the community is an essential part of the transformative process. Therefore, students serve their community through volunteer projects and by creating housing for low-income residents in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

YOUTHBUILD PCS IS COMPRISED OF FOUR CORE PROGRAM AREAS: ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, TRANSITION SERVICES, AND SUPPORT SERVICES. COLLECTIVELY, THESE CORE PROGRAMS ALLOW YOUTHBUILD DC PCS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTION, INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT TO STUDENTS AND SUCCESSFULLY PREPARE THEM FOR THE WORKFORCE AND/OR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. THE ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION PROGRAM EQUIPS STUDENTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO OBTAIN A HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY CREDENTIAL. STUDENTS ARE INSTRUCTED IN FIVE MAJOR CONTENT AREAS, INCLUDING READING, WRITING, MATH, SCIENCE, AND SOCIAL STUDIES. THE WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM IS COMPRISED OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION CLASSES AND ON-SITE TRAINING. TOGETHER, THE TWO COMPONENTS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND EARN INDUSTRY- RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS. THE TRANSITION SERVICES 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. THE SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM HAS A SINGULAR FOCUS TO ASSIST STUDENTS WITH OVERCOMING OBSTACLES THAT IMPEDE THEIR ABILITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL AND, ULTIMATELY, IN LIFE. SPECIFIC SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING, INDIVIDUAL/GROUP COUNSELING, ASSISTANCE WITH OBTAINING HOUSING, DAYCARE, AND MEDICAL INSURANCE. 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 DROP OUT 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, THE SCHOOL RECOGNIZES THAT SOME MAY CHOOSE TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE UPON GRADUATION. YOUTHBUILD PCS ENSURES THAT 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 260+-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.