ERIC Number: ED535856
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Feb
Pages: 10
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
YES Prep Public Schools (Formerly YES College Preparatory School): Honing the Pathways of Growth
Newstead, Barry; Howard, Don
Bridgespan Group
Chris Barbic, a Teach For America corps member, started Project Youth Engaged in Service (YES) in 1995. He wanted to offer his former elementary-school students an alternative to the low-performing middle schools they otherwise would attend. Since then Barbic has led a high-energy team of educators in refining a comprehensive approach to helping students with limited resources achieve the dream of a college education. YES takes a comprehensive view of student development, preparing youth for four-year college graduation while at the same time instilling values of community service and good citizenship. Barbic and his leadership team initially kept the organization small, wanting to prove the YES educational model worked before expanding. But by 2004, with one integrated 6-12 campus in operation, two others in development, and 10 years of experience with the model, they were ready to grow. YES' leadership needed to take a step back, rigorously assess their options, and develop a business plan that would guide the organization through its next phase. They engaged the Bridgespan Group to help YES make the needed decisions to move forward with confidence. This paper describes how YES achieved its expansion goals. (Contains 1 exhibit.)
Descriptors: Academic Achievement, Student Development, Educational Change, Middle Schools, Comprehensive Programs, Change Strategies, Public Schools, Educational Improvement, Improvement Programs, College Preparation, Developmental Studies Programs, Educational Objectives, Organizational Objectives, Organizational Theories
Bridgespan Group. 535 Boylston Street 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02116. Tel: 617-572-2833; e-mail: contact@bridgespan.org; Web site: http://www.bridgespan.org
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Bridgespan Group
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A