Building Bridges Between Education & Youth Development : Building Bridges Between Education & Youth Development Milbrey McLaughlin June 24, 2002 National Forum of the Coalition for Community Schools


Building bridges… : Building bridges… Warrant for bridges: What is the rationale? The evidence? Building materials and strategies: What resources are needed? Available? Challenges to constructing bridges: What will it take?


What’s the warrant?: What’s the warrant? > 25% of youth at risk of not achieving productive adulthood Teachers say they “can’t teach these kids” Research on personal assets that support positive youth development Evidence on contexts that support personal assets


Personal & Social Assets That Facilitate Positive Youth Development: Personal & Social Assets That Facilitate Positive Youth Development Physical good health habits & risk management skills Intellectual Knowledge of essential vocational and life skills; school success; thinking, reasoning and decisionmaking skills Psychological and emotional good mental health, positive self-regard & social identity, coping skills, ‘planfulness,’ personal autonomy, prosocial values Social Connectedness, attachment to conventional institutions,civic engagement


Conclusions About Personal and Social Assets: Conclusions About Personal and Social Assets Individuals do not necessarily need the entire range of assets to thrive;but all youth need assets in all four domains All youth need a variety of experiences to develop their full potential; more than school reform matters to school success Education reformers and others must adopt an expanded conception of “learning” & “teaching”-- beyond academics


Program & Context Features That Influence Asset Development: Program & Context Features That Influence Asset Development Physical and psychological safety Appropriate structure Supportive relationships Opportunities to belong Positive social norms Support for efficacy and mattering Opportunities for skill building Integration of family, school, and community efforts


Conclusions about program & context features: Conclusions about program & context features Schools can’t do it alone; community resources can make particular and important contributions Continued exposure to positive experiences & opportunities supports acquisition and growth of these assets Youth thrive when messages and supports from school, family and community are coherent and mutually reinforcing


Community Counts: Community Counts How youth organizations matter for youth development Milbrey W. McLaughlin


We studied diverse youth organizations: We studied diverse youth organizations 120 youth organizations in 34 different communities-- urban, rural, mid-sized local affiliates, grass roots, public agencies... sports, arts, club programs, community service….


What youth achieved in community organizations: What youth achieved in community organizations Academic recognition & plans for further education Self-confidence, efficacy and optimism-- Life skills Civic responsibility and connection to community


Are these benefits sustained?: Are these benefits sustained? Have gotten some kind of post-high school training Hold steady jobs Are engaged parents Are active members of their communities Nearly all of the 60 youth we have followed for more than a decade


Dimensions of an Intentional Learning Environment: Dimensions of an Intentional Learning Environment Bransford, Brown & Cocking, 1999 Assessment- Centered Knowledge- Centered Youth- Centered Community


Bridges can bring..: Bridges can bring.. Enhanced opportunities to learn Enhanced opportunities to teach Positive youth development across all personal assets Increased capability of teachers both those in and those out of school Civic will to invest in opportunities for youth development


Materials for bridging learning environments in & out of school...: Materials for bridging learning environments in & out of school... Spaces and times for learning Agents of learning and teaching Content, methods and materials of learning Communicators across contexts Assessment of performance & progress


What will it take to build strong bridges?: What will it take to build strong bridges? Re-forming school/community relations & intentional connections Creating of a coherent system & voice among community organizations Investing in community supports for youth development Identifying youth as vehicle for change Developing of a community-level accountability system & compelling vision of community goals for youth