PRESS RELEASE: The Early Morning Study Academy
—by John W. Knox
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—July 9, 2009—In 1998 the Juvenile Probation department was doing great in offering training programs and placing young people in employment. After a year or so, the Juvenile Courts realized that the youth were attending the training programs on site and going to work, but not to school. The judges were concerned that too many youth were not attending school and that the jobs were not long term. In 1999, John Knox proposed that we have a GED school on site at 375 Woodside. This school would be a collaboration between the San Francisco County Court Schools and SFJPD. Lacking of school credits, dropping out of school, and not being able to pass the exit exam, students who need to complete their education began to flock to our doors.
At the time no one knew how successful the school would become in graduating students who otherwise would not make it through traditional schooling. Students that had been written off as "rejects," "dropouts," and "underachievers," would not only graduate, but a large number would go on to college. Our message to the students was simple—Change the way people think about you. Let's prove them wrong by coming to class on time, being at school all day, doing homework, letting the teacher help you with the class work, and assisting and getting along with each other even though we are from different neighborhoods.
By the end of the first semester the challenges of this new approach had become clear—both teachers and students were reticent, so I decided I would be the bad guy, freeing staff and teachers to be the good guys. I would set the tone of expectations from the parent, the student, the probation officer, case manager, etc. I would lay down the law. One student started calling this the School of Hard Knox. I laughed, but it began to catch on.
The success of our school and the need to do GED Testing in the San Francisco Juvenile Hall prompted collaboration with Each One Reach One, SFUSD Teachers, and Juvenile Hall Staff to offer GED testing in the hall. Each One Reach One had been working on GED test preparation in Unit 7 with the young men who participated in their playwriting program. They had been offering pre-tests and the scores were a compelling part of the argument for GED testing in the hall. It took over a year to get the State Certifier here from Sacramento and get our new building testing eligible. The young men and women in Juvenile Hall were not convinced this would actually happen, but when our first students were signed up they began to believe. Just recently we have successfully graduated (3) three young men who have completed all their GED Test and (9) nine young people were just pre-tested for the official GED Test.
Over the years, the EMSA has evolved and now supports job readiness and life skills components as well as job placement services. Combined with GED prep, the EMSA serves nearly 100 probation youth per year and an additional 50 youth from the school district who just do not have enough credits to graduate. It's a good example of a successful collaboration among multiple agencies. EMSA could not happen without the outstanding work of lead counselor, Jermaine King, and the instructors, Mr. Grice and Mr. Garcia.
My goal has been to do whatever it takes to help a young person complete this major step in their life. I have often been told that I am crazy for the time and effort I put into picking up students for testing, going to students homes to find out why they have not been in school, meeting with parents so they would not kick their child out of the home, going to court to fight for a child or giving a good recommendation, seeking funds to help a child get a fast pass, food or clothing, or helping parents to find a place to stay. I sometimes look at the names of students who have gone on to do better and wonder what would have happened to these young people without the EMSA.
I tell students EMSA is a two way street, you do your part and I will do my part. When young people see you step out and go to bat for them, they will understand that someone really cares about them and they are willing to work a little harder themselves.
About City Youth Now:
City Youth Now supports youth in the San Francisco foster care and juvenile justice systems by providing funds for services and programs that promote stability and personal growth. www.cityyouthnow.org
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Press Contact:
Elizabeth Fairbanks
Executive Director
City Youth Now
elizabeth@cityyouthnow.org
