How an L.A. constitution college beat persistent absenteeism

Scholarship Prep South Bay, a Wilmington constitution college, touts a uncommon benchmark of success. Last yr, not one of the substantial variety of homeless college students it educates have been chronically absent, college officers stated, a purpose they hope to keep up as college opens.

The college, which presents transitional kindergarten by eighth grade, enrolled 421 college students final yr, and 54 skilled homelessness. Addressing their fundamental wants by providing a number of companies to all college students and households — almost 93% of youngsters come from low-income households — is a precedence that enhances attendance.

In addition to authorities funding it receives as a public college, Scholarship Prep additionally depends on neighborhood companions for donations or companies similar to meals, college provides and hygiene kits.

Students are served breakfast and lunch and may obtain before- and after-school care in addition to college uniforms and hygiene provides, and households are given a Metro GoPass TAP card to assist with transportation.

On-site well being and wellness companies are offered in addition to washers and dryers. In the classroom, social and emotional studying is embedded into the day‘s lessons, staff have been trained on helping students exposed to traumatic experiences, and counseling services are available.

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1. Seventh grader Deoine hugs Electives Instructor Monique Ellison in a dolphin costume on the primary day of college. 2. A younger pupil’s new backpack on the primary day of college.

For households, weekly meals provisions and neighborhood grocery help are offered as wanted in addition to resort help and a cell phone preloaded with data on neighborhood assets similar to meals pantries within the space and psychological well being assets.

“We create a school where everyone is welcome, cares about students and families, has incredible wraparound services, gives students what they need — and they stay,” Scholarship Prep chief govt and co-founder Jason Watts stated. The companies and care hold college students in school, he stated.

Students make tutorial progress

Homelessness and excessive persistent absenteeism are linked.

Statewide data present that college students experiencing homelessness have among the many highest charges of persistent absenteeism at about 35%, far above the state determine of 19%. At the identical time, the variety of homeless college students in Los Angeles County has surged 28% in recent times — from 47,689 within the 2022-23 college yr to 61,249 in 2023-24 — in line with research from the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools.

Scholarship Prep officers say they’re not solely addressing that downside, but in addition their college students are on a strong tutorial path.

Third-grader Oluwatamilore waits outdoors for the beginning of courses.

Based on probably the most not too long ago out there state check knowledge for the spring 2025 testing interval, the outcomes on the college are promising. Yet total scores stay low.

In English, 37.3% of scholars meet or exceed state objectives in English, in comparison with 47.4% statewide and 46.5% in L.A. Unified for comparable grades.
In math, 21.4% of the constitution’s college students meet or exceed state objectives in math, in comparison with 37.3% statewide and 36.8% in L.A. Unified.

This comparability, nevertheless, is considerably deceptive. If the info are screened for college students from low-income households, many of the efficiency hole disappears. And even inside this low-economic group, the constitution serves a better proportion of homeless college students. Also, about 1 one in 4 of its college students has moved in or out of the varsity over the course of a faculty yr.

The college students make progress towards nearing proficiency throughout elementary and center college. However, there’s a tutorial drop, particularly in math, when college students transition from elementary to center college, which is a widespread problem throughout training.

Building belief with households

The campus household useful resource middle helps construct a confidential bond with college students and households.

“We lead with love and respect,” stated Kristen Crowe, the varsity’s chief neighborhood officer. There are not any invasive conversations, however relatively a dedication to belonging over judgment, she added.

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1. Eighth grade instructor Melody Stambaugh speaks with eighth grader Amber throughout their morning assembly at Scholarship Prep – South Bay. (Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times) 2. Kindergartner Gianna holds a breakfast meal on her first day of college.

A “rainbow cart” in every classroom comprises requirements similar to deodorant, hair care provides, toothbrushes and toothpaste together with college provides. Teachers can assess how college students are doing by being attentive to how a lot they take from the cart.

Quenisha Johnson, mom of 4 — together with a third-grader, an eighth-grader and a latest graduate of the varsity — stated her household has skilled housing instability, and the varsity helps her youngsters with meals bins, provides and counseling.

All three daughters have competed on the dance crew for free of charge, with the 2 oldest turning into crew captains and pupil leaders. The college’s readiness to assist, particularly by offering psychological well being help, has been key to their sturdy attendance.

Principal Allison Vann attributes the varsity’s excessive attendance charge to the scholars’ sense of belonging.

“Loving the whole child includes the family,” Vann stated. “I’m a principal but I’m more than that. I’m doing house visits. A kid is crying and I’m a mom of four — I’ll hold them until their mom gets here.”

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1. Eighth grader Erick works on a morning exercise throughout eighth grade instructor Melody Stambaugh’s class. 2. Wilmington resident Jessica Avalos, 29, says goodbye to her son Jaxson on the entrance of college.

The college day begins with a classroom assembly, often known as “morning meeting,” the place college students full check-in questions to assist the instructor monitor their circumstances and desires.

“Our full training in the summer helps us support kids that are actively experiencing trauma; they may have behavioral issues and we don’t want to lash out back,” eighth-grade instructor Melody Stambaugh stated. “We want to make sure that we’re patient and provide a safe space for them to confide on what’s actually going on.”

The children discover.

“My favorite thing about being here is that the teachers are very friendly, and you get to connect with them. They’re very helpful also, no matter if you need support with a specific subject, whether it’s outside of school or not,” stated Jace, a 14-year-old eighth-grader who requested that his final identify not be used to guard his privateness.

Students are inspired to utilize “calming corners” in every classroom the place they will discover directions for respiratory workouts, fidgets and stress balls and noise-canceling headphones. Students even have entry to a psychological well being room the place they will take 10 minutes to de-stress at any level.

Eighth-grade instructor Melody Stambaugh leaps within the air after being launched throughout a prep rally for all college students at Scholarship Prep South Bay.

Scholarship Prep maintains greater than 50 neighborhood partnerships to carry college students experiencing homelessness the companies they want. Project Hope Alliance, a personal nonprofit that companions with colleges to carry assets to college students experiencing homelessness, is one key partnership.

“Our greatest impact is by investing in today’s students experiencing homelessness,” stated Jennifer Friend, CEO of Project Hope Alliance, considered one of Scholarship Prep’s neighborhood companions. “Every day I get to watch our youth show up powerfully, and that is an investment well placed.”