Strategic Partnerships
Starting in 2015, SYF partnered with the Center for Executive Philanthropy (CEP) – a national non-pro fit – to capture, analyze and act on data about our students and their satisfaction with our grant investments.
Specifically, CEP conducted the nationally normed YouthTruth Student Survey in 2015, 2017 and 2019 that asked our students to evaluate their experiences across six key themes (see Figure 1). In December 2019, CEP compiled our student responses and provided SYF ratings in comparison with 547 schools nationwide. Through these national comparable demographic sets, SYF is able to identify key areas in which our programs excel and themes where there is room for further investment and support to our public school partners.
In year-over-year comparisons, SYF YouthTruth results from 2015, 2017 and 2019 show several positive trends for Simon Youth Academies during the same time periods in comparison to other high schools in the national normative set. Benchmarked results from 2015 through 2019 show that SYF Academies are closing the gap in the themes of Relationships with Peers when compared to the national data set. SYF Academies remain consistently higher in the themes of Academic Rigor and College and Career Readiness. These year-over-year benchmarked trends document and show the positive results of professional development programming provided by SYF through activities such as Kappa Delta Pi membership, access to specialized trauma informed training, and SYF’s Annual Conference.
In 2019, and consistent with years past, SYF students reported an overwhelmingly positive perception of their Academy experiences, with percentages above the national norms in critical areas, as noted in the table below. SYF Academies demonstrated the largest positive differential in the themes of Relationships with Teachers and School Culture when compared to the national data set. Positive culture and strong relationships with teachers have become more important than ever with schools across the country shifting to online learning environments in the midst of COVID-19. These themes will continue to be vital in the age of social distancing as educators plan for the upcoming 2020-2021 academic year.
Figure 1
Figure 1
CloseUp Washington, D.C.
In 2020, SYF expanded its partnership with CloseUp Washington, D.C., to continue to provide Simon Youth Academy students with a unique civic engagement trip designed to inform, inspire and empower young people to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy. Simon Youth Academies have participated in Close Up since 2015, providing 184 students and 46 teachers this unique opportunity.
In January 2020, 52 students and 13 teachers from 13 Simon Youth Academies across the country traveled to Washington, D.C. for a hands-on civic learning experience that many of SYF’s students may not otherwise have had access to. Trip highlights included visiting national monuments and memorials, meeting with their local representatives in Congress and engaging with students from their fellow Academies.
Simon Youth Academy students explored Washington, D.C., during their civic engagement trip with CloseUp.
Simon Youth Academy students explored Washington, D.C., during their civic engagement trip with CloseUp.
Anti-Defamation League
SYF established a partnership with Anti-Defamation League Education which offers anti-bias and bullying prevention programs and resources for educators and students to help them challenge bias, build ally behaviors, and create inclusive and equitable school environments. As part of SYF’s professional development offerings, ADL Education is providing Simon Youth Academy educators with anti-bias education through a 3-part program, which includes two webinars and a session at SYF’s Annual Conference. Topics covered will include developing a common language for discussions around bias and prejudice, learning how to create brave spaces for dialogue with students, exploring sources and responses to conflict that stem from different perspectives and cultures, discussing microaggressions and how to respond to them, and reflecting on the differences and manifestations of implicit and explicit biases.
Simon Youth Academy students explored Washington, D.C., during their civic engagement trip with CloseUp.
Simon Youth Academy students explored Washington, D.C., during their civic engagement trip with CloseUp.
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