Articles from Learn4Life

The need for skilled construction workers is at a critical point, but despite an increase in female workers, about 90 percent of construction workers are still male. The industry will have to close the gender gap if it wants to meet demand.1

Learn4Life’s financial skills classes teach teens how to avoid money pitfalls

Can something as simple as building car models help keep high schoolers engaged and successful in school? At three Learn4Life schools in northern Los Angeles, it seems to be working. They have a robust car model program that is popular with students and hailed by teachers as a good way to keep kids engaged.

What sets job candidates apart from one another or from artificial intelligence (AI) in the workforce? A report by the World Economic Forum noted that creative thinking skills are a top priority – followed by problem solving, adaptability and leadership skills.1 AI lacks creativity because it can't match human creativity, which is fueled by emotion, experience and intuition.2

Educators have long understood the benefits of Career Technical Education (CTE) classes in high school – preparing students for high-wage, high-demand jobs, helping them develop problem-solving skills and even improving graduation completion rates among at-risk students.

The letter in Patricia Ochoa’s desk is a bit worn from being opened and reread many times over the years. She is a school counselor at Learn4Life, a network of public high schools, and the letter is from a former student who graduated a few years ago.

There’s a lot more to starting a bakery business than just the love of making pastries, as Evelyn R. discovered as a high school student enrolled in a culinary career technical education (CTE) program.

It used to be that kids could temporarily escape their bullies on the weekends and school holidays. But with social media, texts and emails, cyberbullying can happen anytime and anywhere. Unlike in-person bullying, name-calling, spreading rumors or sending embarrassing pictures through text messages or social media can reach students in other schools, and in different cities or states.

Ask any generation about high school and you’ll find a common thread response – it’s challenging, overwhelming and awkward. Right in the middle of puberty comes social expectations, fashion pressure and added school responsibilities. Traditional high schools can be ground zero for bullying and with social media, that harassment is experienced predominantly online.

Truancy is becoming an epidemic in American schools. In the 2022 school year, 41.7 million students were absent for more than 18 days.1 While educators hoped that student attendance levels would improve after the pandemic, it remains far lower than pre-COVID. From 2018 to 2023, the rate of chronic absenteeism nearly doubled, from 15 to 26 percent.2

A final test in high school can be stressful, so why would an instructor purposely make it even more nerve-wracking? For the students enrolled in Learn4Life High Schools’ emergency medical technician (EMT) introductory program, the last day of their course was designed to be intense.

Studies show that teachers1, parents and students2 agree that the old school teaching model with an instructor lecturing to a large class with everyone expected to learn at the same pace doesn’t best serve all students.

Can the workforce of tomorrow effectively be educated by the school model of yesterday? If you ask teachers, parents and students, that’s a big no, according to surveys by One Poll1 and Talker Research2 on behalf of Learn4Life high schools in time for Personalized Learning Month in August.

When teens feel that adults at their school care about their learning and about them as individuals, they are more likely to have higher grades and test scores, have better school attendance and stay in school longer, according to the Centers for Disease Control.1 When youth feel connected to their school, they are less likely to experience poor mental health, substance abuse, violence and risky sexual activities.2

For Gen Z teens, personalization is key in everything they do – from custom playlists and dynamic content to store suggestions based on prior purchases. And it’s not just a trend, it’s fundamental to reaching this generation. Marketers understand and have pivoted to align with Gen Z’s values by incorporating values like authenticity, integrity, transparency and personalization. Above all, young people want to be treated as individuals.

For the past century educational communities have debated about how best to teach reading. Phonics was in…then it was out. Whole-word instruction replaced phonics and students continued to struggle.1 Today, reading instruction approaches still lack consistency across the nation and more startling, not all teachers are learning proper methods to teach students to read.

Alexandria T.’s home life was rocky, and she struggled with mental health challenges, including ADHD, anxiety and depression. In high school, she got little support and found it hard to concentrate on studies. Instead of dropping out, she transferred to Learn4Life, a network of 80+ public high schools that offers personalized instruction and a trauma-resilient approach, where Alexandria finally received the help she needed.

Students and parents are acknowledging the dedication and hard work of teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-11), but what are schools doing to attract and retain teachers?

Summer H. is fascinated by the cognitive development of children – something she has been exploring in college dual enrollment classes while working toward graduation at Learn4Life High Schools.

It seemed easy enough, get assigned a hypothetical salary and spend it on essentials, but for Learn4Life high schoolers, a financial literacy event called Bite of Reality opened their eyes to the challenges of creating a budget and living within their means.

High school math teacher Bobby Trunz always has a few guitars at his desk, and when students ask why, he invites them to join his beginner guitar class.

When Tyreke J. saw a new barbershop open in his neighborhood, he noticed they didn’t have a logo. He knew he could design something eye-catching. “So, I went in and told the owner that I was a graphic designer, and he should hire me for the job – and he did,” said Tyreke. “It was my first paying design job.”

Learn4Life:

For almost two years, Jayvon had been without a place to call home and often slept in a park. The park was across the street from a Learn4Life high school, which is known for helping young people earn a diploma and get job training.

Leaving high school with a diploma is great, but departing with a state-approved certificate to jump start a career in healthcare is even better! Learn4Life, a network of 80+ free public high schools, has partnered with Dalrada Career Institute to offer its students an intense, month-long program to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

Some kids may be fascinated by the gang lifestyle and love the rush and adrenaline of breaking the law, according to Robert Ontiveros, former gang member and mentor who partners with Learn4Life, a network of 80+ free public high schools.

What is the one thing above all others that determines how successful a student will be in high school? Study after study shows that it is parental involvement. Students with supportive parents are 81 percent more likely to graduate, 44 percent more likely to attend post-secondary education, and they earn higher grades and miss fewer days of school.1,2

Imagine a high school where the entire student body isn’t aware that 20 percent of the students are enrolled in special education or SPED classes. It’s the dream of all parents of those with special needs to not be isolated from other students… and the desire of every parent that varying levels of educational needs not detract from any student.

This week, 16-year-old Joey will sleep in a soft bed, take a warm shower and have a place to keep his belongings. He’ll then make his way to Learn4Life high school in San Diego where he is catching up on credits and hopes to graduate soon. For most of the past year, he has experienced homelessness – couch surfing when he could, and on the streets when he couldn’t. And Joey isn’t alone.

Bullying in high school is up since the pandemic, with more students saying they have been bullied at school. And more than 40 percent of bullied students said the incidents took place in hallways, stairwells and classrooms.1

They’re part friend, part cheerleader and part problem solver. They are the retention specialists who work in the 85+ Learn4Life public high schools and they have one goal – to identify students who are at risk of dropping out and develop a multi-level approach to re-engage these students.

Yes, the pandemic created huge learning losses for millions of students, so what’s being done about it? “We work with many students who used to come to us as freshmen reading at a fifth-grade level,” explained Kathyrn Limata, literacy teacher at Learn4Life, a network of 80+ public high schools. “Now, most of the students I see in my literacy classes are at a third-grade level and some are even at a first-grade level, having to learn basic phonics. It’s heartbreaking.”

Seven in 10 high school teachers agree that a one-size-fits-all education, with the same curriculum and teaching methods for all students, is a thing of the past. More than half (51 percent) feel uncertain about their ability to impact their students' performance in a traditional large-group classroom setting, according to a survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Learn4Life.

Learning loss during summer break has been a concern of educators and parents for decades. Summer brain drain is a real thing, with the average student losing up to 34 percent of the prior year’s learning gains during the long break.1

Trauma-resilient practices are the next step in helping teachers effectively support students affected by childhood trauma, a growing epidemic among our youth.

If it’s on the internet, it must be true, right? While most adults know that’s not the case, do children? Turns out, most kids don't, despite having grown up with technology.1 Over the last decade there has been a drastic increase in the amount of time young people spend with media, so it’s important for them to learn to control the media that surrounds them, rather than letting it control them.

Nevaeh D. always got good grades and had goals of higher education, so it’s no surprise she is headed to a leading college this fall with a full scholarship. But this path to a degree and a fulfilling career could have easily been derailed 2 1/2 years ago when, as a high school sophomore, she found out she was pregnant.

High schools everywhere are searching for all the students who didn’t return after the pandemic. And for those who have come back, keeping them engaged and on a path to graduation is paramount. Learn4Life, a network of public high schools, offers personalized instruction which includes robust art programs to get kids excited about school. For some, it opens their eyes to a possible career in the arts.

While occasionally working for his father’s landscaping business, high school student Hector D. realized that protection against sharp tools, thorny shrubs, biting insects and brutal heat could be improved with better gear.

What was once a role focused on getting students out the classroom and into careers, school counselors are now responsible for so much more. They must focus on the mental health, behavioral health, emotional wellbeing and psychosocial development of the students they serve. High-profile headlines of mass shootings, unjustified brutality, fentanyl overdoses and hate speech on social media can trigger emotions of past traumas for young people and create a school environment of acting out, withdrawal and falling behind on academics. So how can school counselors help mitigate the mental health crisis occurring among our nation’s children?

There’s a lot more to high school than academics. Just ask Isabel S., who had trouble fitting in and socializing with her fellow students -- which made it hard to concentrate in class as she found herself procrastinating on homework and falling behind. Then she transferred to Learn4Life, a network of public high schools that offer personalized instruction and a flexible schedule, where she was paired with an Alumni Ambassador, a recent graduate of Learn4Life with a similar high school experience. The peer mentoring Isabel received helps students build community while making them more likely to persist through academic difficulty.1

It might seem that students are back on track now that they are in the classroom again after the pandemic, but studies show that it may take another year or two to fully catch up on their education. Here are two simple New Year’s resolutions for students to keep their education moving forward.

The holidays can be the most wonderful time of year, but for some it can be a toxic time, full of anxiety and endless scrolling. Studies show social media use among children spikes about 70 percent during the holiday season1, for a total of more than eight hours per day2.

Being the parent of a child with special needs can be tough. It can lead to a lot of questioning, even in your own abilities. But you’re not alone! There are plenty of things parents can do to make sure their child gets the most out of education.

The transition to high school from junior high was challenging for Serina V. The schoolwork became more demanding, and she found it hard to get extra help. “Everything got harder and nobody tried to understand where I needed the help. Everyone just wanted to get through the class,” said Serina, age 17, who was on the verge of dropping out.

Remember when getting help with your homework at the kitchen table often ended in tears and frustration? These days, many parents are working from home, but are hard pressed to find additional time to work with their children. Tutors can bridge this gap and -- with remote options available -- they are able to connect with students now more than ever before. Whether it is helping with a single problem, or trying another approach at an entire subject, tutors are helping students catch up on and improve their academics.

When students are given the opportunity to learn something they can apply in real life, they are more engaged in school and perform better academically1. This is one reason why Learn4Life, a network of 85+ public high schools, integrates Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) partnerships into its learning model. This allows students to prepare for jobs by developing professional skills, land paid internships and earn high school credits while achieving industry-recognized certificate.

Inflation isn’t just changing our behavior at the gas pump and grocery store. More teens are working now than before the 2008 financial crisis.1 Some of them are taking advantage of all the higher-paying entry-level jobs, but others are just trying to help their families make ends meet.

Did you know the fourth Sunday of July is National Parents' Day? President Clinton established this day in 1994 to promote responsible parenting and to recognize positive parental role models. And shouldn’t parents’ roles in education be a part of this designation? While we rely on parents to make sure their children go to school, do the required work and stay in school, too many parents are finding their voice is unheard in discussions about how schools can best serve their students.

Why does it take so long to get your order when you go out to eat? The number one problem is a decline in foodservice workers. Seven out of 10 operators report not having enough employees to support demand at their restaurants.1 Not only did COVID-19 change workers’ perspectives and interest in foodservice, but there has been a steady decline in the labor force in recent years. Since 2000, there are nearly two million fewer 16-to-34-year-olds in the labor force, which is a problem since this age cohort makes up nearly two-thirds of the restaurant industry workforce.2

Math, science, history, language are all essential classes in high school, but it’s just as important that teens learn basic workplace skills to help them land and keep a job. Learn4Life, a network of public high schools that offers personalized learning and one-on-one instruction, does just that. While earning their diplomas, all Learn4Life students complete a 10-week professional skills course that has them exploring career goals and learning basic computing, resume preparation and interview etiquette.

Ninth grade is hard. Being 14 or 15 years old and experiencing multiple emotional and hormonal changes is challenging. Now after two years of remote instruction, many students entering high school as freshmen must navigate a new, larger school, while finding the schoolwork more difficult, with core classes and standardized tests. Even previous straight-A students see their grades slip for the first time.

United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona says personal finance lessons should be mandatory in our schools, and he’s being applauded by schools like Learn4Life, which has been teaching financial literacy to its high school students for the past seven years. Currently only 21 states make financial classes mandatory in high schools and only a few more require them to be available as elective courses.

While millions of people are currently unemployed and looking for work, there is a massive labor shortage with 10.9 million unfilled jobs across the U.S.1 The blame, as a recent Harvard Business Review article points out, is because “the U.S. education system is not held accountable for ensuring that students are properly equipped with the skills and capabilities to prepare for a career where they can obtain financial stability.”2

Anxiety, depression and feelings of isolation among teens has doubled in the past two years1 – all while most schools are facing a shortage of counselors. National School Counseling Week, February 7-11, pays tribute to the hardworking school counselors who are needed now more than ever. School counselors address students’ social and emotional issues, and basic needs, along with their academic progress and goals.

Well into another pandemic school year, educators should take the season of New Year’s resolutions to reflect on ways to improve and do better for students…and teachers.

The Individual Education Plan (IEP) was developed for students with disabilities in the mid-1970s and brings together a team of education specialists who evaluate the child, their challenges and learning style, and create a plan to provide the student with the extra help they need to succeed. We know that children don’t learn and absorb material in the same manner, so why couldn’t every student get individualized attention? Kids who are bored could instead be challenged more – while those falling behind could get help to catch up.

Just like the oxymoron “jumbo shrimp,” independent study is incongruous as a term because when implemented correctly, this style of learning surrounds students with support and resources, rather than leaving them to learn on their own.

This October’s Dropout Prevention Month is more crucial than ever after hundreds of thousands of students have opted not to return to the classroom. Many are being homeschooled or attending online classes, but there is still a large number who are simply not attending school at all. And those who have returned to the classroom may be struggling to adjust after a school year of dramatic disruptions and learning loss. Educators must work harder than ever to engage and reengage students.

For the 20 percent of students who have been bullied, closing schools was a welcome respite, and many found themselves to be less anxious, depressed and fearful with online classes. Just ask Michaela M. who was a target of bullies at her previous high school where she was shoved, cornered and threatened.

High absenteeism and failing grades have plagued high schools since the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic, yet many educators are still in the dark about how instruction models and delivery methods need to change.

Local educator Steven Rayzer will lead the new Learn4Life-North Charleston High School opening next month. The public high school is hiring for additional teacher positions to help at-risk students and former dropouts achieve a high school diploma while learning in-demand job skills. The school can accept students up to 22 years old, providing a last chance for students who have aged out of high school to earn a diploma.

While student suspensions have decreased slightly in recent years, there still are too many kids losing valuable school days, especially students of color who are suspended at much higher rates.1 Studies show that students in schools with higher suspension rates experience negative short- and long-term impacts on their education and are more likely to be arrested and incarcerated as adults.

California legislators are attempting to pass a bill (AB 1316) that would greatly limit nonclassroom-based (NCB) charter schools – yet it turns out that most politicians and parents don’t understand the NCB model.

North Charleston has many residents who are considered Opportunity Youth, young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not in school or participating in the workforce. Learn4Life, a network of nonprofit high schools for at-risk students, is opening in North Charleston in August to help reengage students who might otherwise lack the motivation or resources to stay in school. The school will be located at 6209 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston and students up to 22 years old can enroll anytime at Learn4Life.org/southcarolina.

Learn4Life, a network of nonprofit high schools for at-risk students, recently received approval to open a school in San Antonio’s Edgewood Independent School District (EISD). Beginning in August 2021, Learn4Life will open to serve existing EISD students who are credit deficient or at risk of dropping out. Enrollment will be open for all students in the community who would benefit from personalized, one-on-one instruction to be successful in high school.