After School Youth Program

HISTORY

Income and education are more closely linked now than ever before in our history. Yet far too many of California’s young people - particularly low-income, minority, and immigrant youth - reach adulthood without the education, credentials, and experiences needed to participate in the new economy.

We believe the most promising approach to increasing the number of youth who complete high school on time, then progress to postsecondary credential attainment and on to a rewarding career and life, is to build "multiple pathways" to success, embracing the fact that California is home to diverse students with different learning styles and a wide variety of interests and life demands.

To close the gaps in secondary and postsecondary academic success, credential attainment, and career preparedness, we commit ourselves to addressing the needs of youth who are either in 9th grade or are making the transition from 8th to 9th grade. We want to assist this population of students to help steer them through a course of significant educational and life transitions, often with diminishing levels of guidance. Within this age range, the Foundation places emphasis on youth whose life circumstances further diminish their opportunities for success in high school and postsecondary education, in the workforce, and as citizens.

GOAL/MISSION

The mission of the After School Youth Program is to deliver a coordinated system of early intervention strategies to assist moderately at-risk students matriculate through high school. Our coordinated program will serve the majority of students who are either in 9th grade or are making the transition from 8th to 9th grade. The basis for guiding these program operations and measuring success outcome is to produce reliable data on the characteristics of the students we serve and the outcomes for these students.

POPULATION SERVED

Target population includes low-income youth and/or youth with limited community resources to successfully complete their high school education.

KEY COMPONENTS

  • Articulate high expectations for students' learning that will lead to successful graduation;
  • Offer social supports and resources that students need to meet these high expectations;
  • Integrate interdisciplinary and project-based approaches to learning;
  • Leverage external partnerships with other education institutions or community-based organizations that enhance the educational experiences and success of students; and
  • Be undertaken by organizations with the capacity (programmatic, financial, and managerial) to successfully implement the project.

INDICATORS OF EFFECTIVENESS/FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO EFFECTIVENESS

Indicators:

The program will measure it's effectiveness through the following ways:

  • The ability to promote academically challenging career and technical education in California high schools;
  • The ability to improve instruction and support services in high schools and community colleges;
  • The ability to promote innovative educational alternatives to the traditional high school; and
  • The ability to increase parent and family knowledge for student's success through the Urban Student Leader Institute (USLI) Fund.

Factors:

  • Regardless of academic ability of family circumstances, USLI Scholars exhibit strength of character, leadership, maturity, and a commitment to their studies.
  • Parents participate in workshops as well as students.
  • In a partnership approach to financial aid, college costs are the responsibility of all interested parties - students their families, colleges and universities, state and local government, and the USLI Fund.
  • Students receive consistent financial aid, academic, and personal support from the USLI Fund.