OPPORTUNITY YOUTH

PROJECTRICARDO JARA

Special Assistant to the Superintendent (Equity + Innovation)

THANKYOU

Board Members.Teachers.

Counselors.Social Workers.

Advocates.Families.Youth.

AGENDAOpportunity Youth?

Findings + Recommendations.

Q + A

CONTEXT

“ALTERNATIVE” SETTINGS

STRENGTHS+ Capital High + Improved referral

& tracking process+ Improving 5 +

6-Year Grad ratesCHALLENGES

- Clarity, perception, processes

“TRADITIONAL” SETTINGSSTRENGTHS+ Decreasing # of

“not known to be continuing”

+ Pockets of innovation

CHALLENGES- Limited “options”- Reactionary

OPPORTUNITY YOUTH?

OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH

JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTH

SIGNIFICANTLY OFF TRACK YOUTH

Current as of February 2018 | *Varies

18 - 20 YEAR OLDS

18EST. “NO-SHOWS”

126

METRO + EXT. SITES

30*NOTICE TO SCHOOL

125*

11TH - 12TH GRADE

174 (4%) 10TH GRADE

96 (5%)

APPROX. 450 LARGELY BLACK, BROWN, AND LOW-INCOME YOUTH.

“...just don’t give up on me.”- Opportunity Youth

PROCESS

SYSTEM LEVELYOUTH VOICES

LITERATURE REVIEW PROGRAM LEVEL

Dedicated team, coordinated efforts.Robust + diverse portfolio of options.

Leveraging data to strategize.

Meeting students where they are.Cognitively / emotionally engaging.Intensive socio-emotional support.

Competency > seat - time.Self-determination + youth voice.

DISTRICT PRACTICES

FINDINGS + REC(S)

PROGRAMMINGCLARITYPROGRAMMINGPERCEPTIONREFERRALPROCESSES

FINDINGSALT. CROSS FUNCTIONAL TEAM (2015)

GREAT PROGRESS, BUT CHALLENGES

PERSIST.CLOSABLE WITHIN

A YEAR.

Missing recovery strategy.Unclear re-entry points.

Current reintegration processes vary.

System + school-site barriers exist.

Practices not restorative / trauma-informed.

UNCLEARRECOVERY + TRANSITIONSTRATEGIES

RECOVERY + REINTEGRATION

PROCESS.

RECOMMENDATIONSRE-ENGAGEMENT

CENTER.

LIMITED“OPTIONS”●

Current options are limited in type + quantity.

“Wait until you fail” access.Most are independently

operated by external partners.

2READINESS OPTIONS

RECUPERATION OPTIONS

RECOVERY OPTIONS

320 SEATS 6 ≈ 100+

SEATS 1 SEATS VARY

*

*Foundations Central limited to students with IEP.

MORE REACTIVEGENERALLY CREDIT RECOVERY + DIPLOMA COMPLETION CENTRIC

FLEXIBLE + PROACTIVE

320 SEATSCapital HighShabazz High

9TH

10TH

11TH

12TH

≈ 100+ SEATSOmega School

HSED Madison CollegeOperation Fresh Start

Gateway to CollegeNight School

Credit Recovery

THE WAITING GAME

OPPORTUNITY YOUTH

≈ 450+

RECOMMENDATIONSENSURE BESTPRACTICES.

DIVERSIFY PORTFOLIO.

EXPAND OPTIONS.

M I C R O

Responsive.SCHOOLS

Student-Themed MagnetsYouth + Family VillageK - 12 or 6 - 12 Models

School on WheelsTrades Paths

Youth-Operated Business Transition “College”Beautiful.

Innovative.Flexible.

Missing central group has limited coordination,

strategizing, and ability to continue building upon

success.

LIMITED COORDINATION

RECOMMENDATIONSESTABLISH

OFFICE.COORDINATE

EFFORTS.EMPOWER + RESOURCE.

“They Can. We Will.”Community Based.

Responsive.Innovative.

RE-ENGAGEMENTOFFICE OFYOUTH

COORDINATE

ADVOCACY

CREATE

PARTNER IMPACT

VET

REACHING SUCCESSROBUST & DIVERSE

PORTFOLIOCLEAR, EASY, &

EQUITABLE ACCESSDEDICATED TEAM

ALL YOUTH THRIVE.

THEY CAN. WE WILL.

PROTOTYPES

SPRING2018

Creativity.Challenge.Flexibility.

Try + Learn.

x

NUDGE!!!Under Development / Expected February Launch

FINALNOTES

Let’s be proactive.Let’s be real.

Let’s attract the right people.

Let’s build excellence.

Let’s play the long game.

Q+A

THANK YOU!