This is the first of two articles which will explore how written personal stories promote creativity, competence, belonging, self-expression, and a sense of purpose among students who, for a variety of reasons, have been labeled "at risk" or "delinquent." They present scenarios of students, teachers, elders, and others working together and samples…

The designation "full-service community school" encompasses concepts drawn from the diverse fields of youth development, risk-prevention, family welfare, community improvement, and, of course, educational enhancement. This article describes a model community school. (GCP)

Children appear at schoolhouse doors with many challenges that interfere with their ability to learn All too often, multiple psychological impediments to learning are concentrated in restricted segments of the population, thereby magnifying the risk experienced by the most vulnerable children. This article describes a community school initiative…

Discusses how service learning can play an integral role in reclaiming youth. Advocates service learning as an effective part of the reclaiming process because it engages a variety of senses and makes learning more accessible for students with different learning styles. (GCP)

This article summarizes the educational challenges facing students from migrant farmworker families. A university-based dropout recovery program has been successful at helping their students leave behind the label of "dropout." (Contains 10 references.) (Author)

The Academy For Learning (AFL) serves urban students with emotional and behavioral problems. Through a Personal and Social Responsibility program, students develop skills for personal growth and service learning. Many alternative programs for troubled students offer little more than a curriculum for containment and control. In contrast, students…

Autonomy is a basic human need having influence on motivation. Facilitating student autonomy is an essential ingredient of effective programs for maximizing internalized change and increasing motivation in troubled and troubling youth. This article examines the theoretical concepts of autonomy and control related to choices and considers their…

While anecdotal reports have strongly supported restorative practices, there is a need to expand the evidence base through empirical studies of the efficacy of these interventions. This article highlights such emerging findings reported by Paul McCold of the Institute for Restorative Practices in collaboration with researchers from Temple…

Many youth use substances and engage in other high-risk behaviors in an attempt to allay the emptiness accompanying broken belongings. Schools can play important roles in fostering connections and creating the natural high that comes from success. (Author)

A charter school serving a residential program for students at risk employs creativity in the arts to motivate academic achievement, provide productive after-school programming, and build a sense of community.

Schools are searching for more effective strategies that will enable all students to thrive and succeed. Evidence indicates that the fine arts can provide a unique avenue for reaching challenging students with principles of brain-based learning. This article describes HEARTS, an after-school fine arts program which taps and develops the talents of…

The author combines principles of cooperative learning where older students at risk of dropping out are recruited to teach violence prevention to younger learners. The secondary students learn problem solving and conflict resolution skills while providing a positive model through cross age peer tutoring.

Schools lack effective strategies for incorporating at-risk students as productive members of the broader educational community. Student misbehavior regularly results in removal from the educational setting, typically through the use of in- or out-of-school suspensions, even though research does not demonstrate that any kind of suspension serves…

The Life Space Crisis Intervention has developed a comprehensive school-wide strategy for building positive learning climates for all students and providing effective interventions for students presenting challenging problems. This model contains three levels of prevention and intervention: all staff are trained, teachers receive more in-depth…

The authors acclaimed and innovative inner-city programs for children and their families-Peacemakers, Beacon Schools, and Harlem Freedom-offer indelible stories of lives lost and lives turned around. Children, families, and neighbors learn to come together to rebuild and empower their respective communities. (BF)