Youth Connection Charter School

YCCS Defines Alternative Education

mmatthews — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:23:41 +0000

“WHY THE VOTE?” Curriculum

crallins — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:25:13 +0000

Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS) has set out to make the political system relevant to young people with a curriculum and set of activities titled Why The Vote? The campaign’s purpose is to educate and activate thousands of YCCS students who are eligible voters to discuss their concerns, ideas, and proposals relative to the main issues in the Mayoral and aldermanic elections. These issues broadly are race relations; violence; jobs for today and tomorrow; mass transit availability and cost; and education policy.

YCCS has a mission to prepare young people to be productive citizens and future leaders, concerned about their world, and competent to fulfill their destiny. The youth electoral education campaign called Why The Vote? makes understanding the history of, and the rights and responsibilities that come with voting a critical component of educating young adults .

The natural cynicism of youth coupled with the lure of other interests’ means that the role of politics in their lives is not always a lesson that young people have been eager to embrace. It could also be argued that some proponents’ of the status quo are not interested in seeing African American and Latino youth become empowered. At a time when there are more youth of color connected to the criminal justice system than there are in college, understanding political power is more important than ever.

Click here to download the curriculum.

WHLA Pillars of Character

mweiner — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:24:11 +0000

A large poster filled with colorful shapes, stars and student names dominates the hallway at Westside
Holistic Leadership Academy (WHLA), a testament to the enthusiastic participation the new program
has received from the campus‟ 170 students.
“Our mission says that we are preparing students for the real world. As part of that, we developed a
program that allows students to develop character skills, like honesty, respect, responsibility and,
trustworthiness. We want to change the negative way our students are being perceived by society and
equip them with the character traits that will enable them to be successful in society,” says Principal
Daisy Lopez.
Implemented in September, the “Pillars of Good Character” is a program crafted by WHLA‟s
Leadership Seminar Lead and Experiential Learning Coordinator Lisa Swytnyk and the faculty. “Often
out of school youth have been pushed out of traditional schools, resulting in them having low self
esteem. We wanted to create a model that would build their social and personal skills, including
confidence, positive self esteem and the ability to take risks,” says Swytnyk.
Each month the faculty selects a character trait and implements activities throughout the curriculum
that examine and build upon that trait. “Responsibility” was selected for September; “Respect” for
October; “Caring” for November; “Honesty” for December; “Diligence” for January; and “Integrity”
for February. At the beginning of the month, a questionnaire is distributed to all students asking for
their interpretation and understanding of the word. The faculty then compiles a list of behaviors that
demonstrate that trait. A student receives a raffle ticket and a gold star on the hallway chart each time a character trait is exhibited. At the end of the month, the raffle tickets and stars are tallied. Students with ten or more stars win a pizza. Students earning twenty or more stars win a trip to Dave and Buster‟s.
The student response and participation has been positive and contagious. “Not only have the students rushed to participate in earning character points, but they are competing with each other for the most opportunities to display the trait. The result has been an overall improvement in student behavior throughout the school,” says Swytnyk.
“This program has really tackled a huge part of our behavioral problems, which allows our most important goal of learning, to take place more effectively in the classroom. Students‟ confidence has increased and they‟re very invested – in both the character traits program and learning,” she adds.
All classes across the curriculum integrate the character trait in at least one lesson per month. Additionally, the character program is implemented in WHLA‟s “social skills and growth” mission, culminating in a monthly community outreach activity. As an example, the November “Caring” trait was used to conduct a food drive for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The students set a goal to contribute 1,000 cans of food and quickly exceeded it by raising a total of 1,500 cans of food.
“We believe that one of the reasons that the program has earned such student support is that most of our students, unfortunately, weren‟t receiving any „shining stars‟ in their previous school experience. Here they are finally receiving positive reinforcement that they are performing well, and that translates into confidence and positive behaviors in and outside of school,” says Lisa Swytnyk.

YCCS Lauded for “Saving Kids”

mmatthews — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:23:08 +0000

As a part of our renewal as a charter school, eleven of the twenty-three YCCS campuses recently went through a rigorous evaluation by a third party evaluator. In the exit interview with YCCS staff, the evaluation team remarked that YCCS was “saving kids and changing lives”. Indeed we are, and we are proud of our results. Since our inception in 1997, YCCS has graduated over 11,000 students. YCCS
and the other alternative schools are largely responsible for lowering the Chicago Public School’s
dropout rate from 29% to 24%.

So how do we do what we do?

The Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS) is unique in that it is one of the few charter schools in the country with a multi-site configuration, and the only public school charter with 23 non-public schools organized to serve students who have dropped out of school. As such, YCCS has become the primary vehicle by which young people who have dropped out of school can reconnect to education and earn a diploma under the auspices of the Chicago Board of Education.
Historically and politically, YCCS represents a number of firsts in Chicago’s history.

It is the first time that the Chicago Board of Education has publicly sought to address the dropout problem by supporting an initiative to retrieve dropouts.

It is the first time that community-based, non-public schools, who have been working with dropouts for almost three decades outside of the public education arena, have been brought into the mainstream through a charter school concept.

And finally, it is the first time that 23 alternative schools, which have worked independently for years, are under one umbrella; operating under one set of policies and procedures; representing the largest alternative education system in the State of Illinois and perhaps in the country.

These unique distinctions, coupled with the charter school concept that allows for flexibility and innovation in curriculum and school organization, have presented YCCS with an unprecedented opportunity to positively impact the lives of youth that are at-risk of educational failure. It also presents an opportunity to develop and document innovative methods for addressing the educational needs of a population of students often neglected by and disenfranchised from the educational system.

For students that have been categorized as “high risk” and “bad kids”, we are closing the gap between their achievement and their potential. We have created learning environments that are dedicated to their success. Through our multi-campus structure, we are working to ensure that students have a variety of environments and school structures to choose from. We are collaborating with community-based organizations to provide services to students and to connect disenfranchised youth with their communities. Our results are measurable:

Students that were not attending school are now attending.

Students with basic skill levels 4 – 6 years behind their peers are making gains in skills and knowledge.

Students who had discipline issues in other schools are now learning critical thinking skills, new social and emotional literacy, and life-long learning skills that will help them negotiate the world beyond high school.

We have told their stories through our data, through our efforts in curriculum, school culture, literacy practices, student supports, and principal and organizational leadership. We have and continue to create pathways to adulthood and citizenship for thousands of primarily African-American and Latino young people that others have been written off as uneducable or unworthy. We will continue our work with an eye on providing a world-class education for students who have been pushed out or dropped out from public education.

Friends of YCCS

lfrazier — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:00:16 +0000

Friends of YCCS are advocates for educational policies and programs that are geared toward helping these youth succeed, and support YCCS in a number of ways. Youth Connection Charter School is an innovative learning environment providing at-risk and drop-out students the skills and training to complete high school and successfully pursue post-secondary education and professional careers.

Learn More About Friends of YCCS

Join Friends of YCCS

Friends of YCCS Profile of the Month Mr. Tim Rand

As a young child, Timothy Rand began working in the family business, a wholesale beverage distributorship. After receiving a B. S. Degree in Business Administration from Southern Illinois University, he continued in the family business working his way up to Vice President and General Manager. Bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, Mr. Rand later branched out into related service areas. He owns and operates Midway Airport Concessionaires, which manages many restaurants and concessions at Chicago’s Midway Airport.

Mr. Rand along with his twin, Everett Rand have always been devoted to community and youth endeavors. As a founding member of the Chicago Football Classic, Tim is always advocating the importance of pursuing a good education. His leads by example; always available to help and inspire his staff to further their education and always working with Chicago area community organizations. He always takes time to help up and coming students interested in starting their own businesses. Timothy is extremely civic-minded and is actively involved with many civic and philanthropic organizations. “A quality education is just one of the keys to success. It is equally important to be involved in your community and to give back to others to help them attain their goals and to be well rounded citizens,” says Tim Rand.

Friends of YCCS

lfrazier — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:44:37 +0000

Learn More About Friends of YCCS

Join Friends of YCCS

Friends of YCCS Profile of the Month Mr. Everett Rand

Everett G. Rand is the owner of Midway Wholesalers, Inc., 60 year old beverage and distribution center in the state of IL. Everett has been involved in business and philanthropic organizations since a young age. He is a graduate from St. Columbus and The University of Chicago Lab School. Everett received a B.S. degree in sociology from Southern Illinois University. While attending school he worked in the family business, a retail beverage store. Upon receiving his undergraduate degree, he continued in the family business, working his way up to vice president of Sales and Marketing Inventory. He later served as vice president of the industry’s trade association, the Illinois Liquor Stores Association which was the precedent of his becoming chairman of the Illinois Beverage Association in 2010.

His commitment to education is unprecedented. As a member of the City Colleges of Chicago Board of Trustees and a board member the Chicago State University Foundation, Mr. Rand is keenly aware of the value of a good education. He is one of the founding members of the Chicago Football Classic and he advocates to our youth and community the importance of pursuing educational excellence. As a mentor and community supporter, Rand is dedicated in helping our youth to realize that their contribution is important to society. “The Chicago Football Classic is important to our community as it brings awareness to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, exposes Chicago students to various aspects of the college experience, and focuses on an uplifting theme to unite the community.”

YCCS is very important to our community as it is committed to giving our youth the tools to not only see their potential but to reach it. Everett’s philosophy is, “No one can succeed by being talented alone. God gives talent. Hard work transforms that talent into genius and success. The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary.”

YCCS Annual Academic Challenge 2012

lfrazier — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:13:17 +0000

Background

Each year Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS) hosts a competition for its campuses that invites students and teachers to investigate a problem or issue that is both current and local and requires the use of Essential Skills Framework™ obtained in core courses to research that problem or issue and present viable solutions and meaningful determinations. Through the Annual Academic Challenge, YCCS is striving to provide students additional opportunities to engage in in-depth research and reflective learning experiences which empower them to better understand and, ultimately, improve their own communities.

The competition also serves as a platform for YCCS to promote and model its best practices for alternative education as described in their Redesign Initiative™. YCCS has identified each of the following research-based educational practices as key contributors to student learning and has incorporated them into the design of the competition:

Literacy Strategies
Problem-Based or Inquiry-Based Learning
Cooperative Learning
Thematic or Inter-Disciplinary Units/Planning
Writing Across The Curriculum
Research Methods
Real World Applications
Standards-Based Learning and Assessment
Constructivist Pedagogy

Application

The application form may be found here.

Timeline

Date	Academic Challenge Activity
Thursday, January 19	Announcement to Campuses of YCCS Annual Academic Challenge
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 03	Campus Applications for YCCS Annual Academic Challenge Due
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 06	YCCS Approval of Applications and Announcement of Eligible Participants
*February 21 – February 24	YCCS Review of Campus Topics and Resources
*March 05 – March 09	YCCS Review of Campus Research Titles and Methods
*March 19 – March 23	YCCS Review of Campus Research Results and Data
*April 09 – April 13	YCCS Review of Initial Draft of Campus Research Paper and Project Display Board or Project Model
FRIDAY, MAY 04	Campus Final Submission of Research Paper and a copy of the Project Display Board or Project Model
Friday, May 18 (May 11^th Alternate)	YCCS Annual Academic Challenge @ Herman Hall on the campus of Illinois Institute of Technology

* YCCS School Improvement Representatives will visit and meet with campus teams

during YCCS Reviews in order to assess progress and provide guidance and assistance.

Resources

The following internet sites will provide additional information for you and your students as you get started exploring topics and preparing your research. Additional information and resources will be sent to you via e-mail throughout the competition.

Possible Topics

The following topics are intended to provide you and your students with ideas to begin your planning and your exploration into green solutions for a sustainable Chicago. Please remember that your team may identify and choose another topic as long it addresses the goal of the Challenge and is approved on your campus application. It is important that your students utilize critical thinking skills in-line with Bloom’s Taxonomy when reviewing possible topics and thoroughly analyze environmental problems, evaluate several factors contributing to the problems, and ultimately create and present a viable green solution.

1. Have your students compare and contrast energy use and CO2 emissions locally, by sector in the United States, and in other countries. Research and discuss energy impacts and sustainable energy solutions.

a) Renewable Energy

b) Fossil Fuels & Climate Change

c) Renewable & Sustainable Energy Technologies

d) Solar Panel Installation

e) Wind-powered Devices

2. Have your students research which kinds of fish are harvested locally in a sustainable manner. Measure the effectiveness of these practices and compare them to unsustainable harvesting practices. Determine whether or not similar sustainable harvesting practices could be implemented with other fish and the impact this solution would have on the environment.

a) Biology of Food & Water Resources

b) Sources of Water & Food

c) Water Treatment & Distribution

d) Global & Food Sustainability

e) Crops & Global Food Economies

3. Have your students create representational maps of their school and the surrounding community to conceptualize and understand the relationships between resources, the environment, community, and sustainability. The students can then brainstorm specific ways to make their school community more sustainable through improvements to the physical environment.

a) Green Building & Sustainability

b) Community Recycling Project Greenhouse & Rooftop Gardens

c) Urban Design

d) Climate & Atmospheric Change

e) Ecological Footprint

Friends of YCCS

lfrazier — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:51:38 +0000

Chartered in 1997, YCCS was the first and only alternative education system in Illinois. Today, its innovative program extends to 23 campuses and has graduated over 10,000 students. Its mission is to advocate, develop and provide world-class education to students at risk and high school dropouts in collaboration with the alternative high school community. YCCS meets the individual needs of students through programs committed to academic excellence, human development, cultural enrichment, and social equity.

As a Friend of YCCS, you play a critical part in helping to achieve these goals. Your role is to spread awareness of the YCCS mission and serve as a conduit of influence with the community, the corporate world, and elected officials. We will keep you informed of our programs and activities, as well as specific issues related to educational policy and drop-out reduction, especially amongst at-risk, low income and disadvantaged students.

As a Friend, your most helpful tasks are few and simple:

Read and share our quarterly e-newsletter, The Navigator
Become better acquainted by visiting one of our 23 campus locations
Place a phone call on behalf of a specific program or issue when the need arises
Attend our periodic networking events

Join Friends of YCCS

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Best Buy Meets YCLA

lfrazier — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:43:17 +0000

Best Buy “Geek Squad” Teams Up with YCLA

This fall, Youth Connection Leadership Academy (YCLA) teams up with Best Buy to bring state-of- the art technology expertise into its instructional technologies curriculum. “Geek Squad” professionals will assist classroom instructors in teaching about the latest technologies.
“The students are excited because they will be working with mobile devices, tablets, and wireless home networks,” said Vernon Thomas, YCLA Instructor.
The YCLA Information Technology Pathway encourages students to be proficient and innovative in a rapidly evolving field. Students learn information systems and techniques as they achieve computer and software certification. With these skills, YCLA students are prepared to pursue higher education and careers in technology.
According to Best Buy Community Relationship Program Manager Jack Stonebraker, the collaboration is beneficial to Best Buy as well.
“At Best Buy, one of our objectives is to strengthen our communities and to fuel innovation in education and how we use technology where we live, work, play and learn,” Stonebraker said. “The overall objective is to give the students insight and hands-on knowledge from an IT professional that is working in the IT field and to motivate them to complete their education and career certifications necessary for them to fulfill their personal goals,” he added.

YCCS on WTTW/11

lfrazier — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:53:56 +0000

YCCS Executive Director Sheila Venson and Truman Middle College were featured in a Chicago Tonight segment on Monday, November 7th at 7 p.m. on public television station WTTW/Channel 11. Investigative Reporter Elizabeth Brackett and crew interviewed and filmed Venson, Truman Middle College High School Principal MaryAnn Soley, faculty and students on October 28 as part of WTTW’s The American Graduate Initiative, a series of programming and online media activities addressing the high school dropout crisis.