YPI and Public School Choice
The new Public School Choice process in the Los Angeles Unified School District provides an historic opportunity for experienced organizations to operate LAUSD schools in 2010-11. YPI is partnering with parents, teachers, and community agencies to apply for multiple schools through the Public School Choice RFP, including San Fernando Middle School and new elementary schools in the San Fernando Valley and Central Los Angeles. YPI and partners will expand our innovative 'full-service community schools' model to operate non-charter public schools in the District. Full applications are due January 11, 2010 and selections will be made in February. For more information about the Public School Choice process, go to the LAUSD website. For information on YPI letters of intent, go here. |
 State Superintendent Jack O'Connell Announces $26 Million for YPI
At an October 20th press conference at Pacoima Charter Elementary School, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, State Senator Gloria Romero, Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes, and LAUSD Board Members Nury Martinez and Tamar Galatzan joined YPI Executive Director Dixon Slingerland in celebrating $26 million in afterschool funding from the California Department of Education. LAUSD Assistant Superintendent Al Cortes also spoke in recognition of the strong partnership with the Beyond the Bell Division. YPI now operates afterschool programs at 56 schools and is the largest afterschool provider for charter schools in the nation. YPI is serving 6,300 students every school day in its afterschool programs. More Information |
 Mayor Villaraigosa Announces FamilySource Centers
On October 19, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced the City's innovative new poverty strategy, FamilySource Centers. YPI is one of the sixteen selected FamilySource Center operators, receiving $1 million annually to increase academic achievement and raise family incomes. The YPI Hollywood FamilySource Center will provide services such as case management, legal services, tutoring, mentoring, college preparation, financial literacy, parenting classes, youth leadership, referrals to emergency and health services, housing, and job readiness workshops. YPI's partners include Hollygrove, Thai CDC, SALEF, UCLA, Bet Tzedek, and Los Angeles Valley College.
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 Full-Service Community Schools Act
The U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has introduced the Full-Service Community Schools Act to dramatically increase FSCS funding as part of ESEA/NCLB reauthorization. YPI is working with the Majority Leader's office to support this important effort. The FSCS Act is also a priority for the Obama Administration. YPI received one of only ten FSCS grants in the nation from the U.S. Department of Education in 2008, and was recognized nationally as a leader in this field as early as 2004. YPI has expanded this promising model through the FamilySource Center in Hollywood (above) and the San Fernando Valley Poverty Initiative. Program Information
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 E-Rate Funding for YPI Charter Schools
The federal Schools and Library Program funded the Bert Corona and Monsenor Oscar Romero Charter Schools E-Rate requests for more than $330,000 for the 2009-10 school year. Technology requested will provide phone and internet service, electronics and cabling, and maintenance of technology services to support student learning. |
 Time Warner Cable Donates Computer Lab and Broadband
Time Warner Cable has donated $75,000 in home broadband internet accounts for families graduating this year from YPI's Family Technology Project (FTP). Time Warner Cable has also committed to funding a $50,000 computer lab at a location to be selected by YPI. FTP provides a 100-hour computer literacy course for parents who then earn a complete home computer system with broadband internet at no cost. 750 families have graduated to date and received brand new home computers, with an additional 200 expected to graduate in 2009-10. Program Information |
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 $395,000 for Specialized Services
YPI has received $395,000 in specialized services funding from the City of Los Angeles Community Development Department to support the Family Technology Project and other community initiatives in Pacoima.
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 YPI Preschool Opens for 72 Families
Parents in North Hollywood can now enroll their children ages 3-5 in YPI's new Preschool Program in North Hollywood. Offered in two classrooms at the Colonia Corona housing complex, the program serves 72 children each day with one full-day class and two part-day classes. Program Details |
 Subsidized Employment Funding
YPI has been awarded $220,000 by the City of Los Angeles for a CSBG ARRA Employment Program to serve 17 low-income clients. The program will offer 1,000 hours of subsidized employment for each client, while providing referrals for financial literacy and filing for the Earned Income Tax Credit through the FamilySource Center. |
 Reconnections Academy
The City of Los Angeles has awarded a $600,000 Reconnections Academy grant to YPI and partner YO! Valley. This grant will provide 150 clients ages 21-24 with workforce readiness classes and subsidized work experience. Clients will be specifically trained for health care careers in coordination with area clinics and hospitals. Key partners include Los Angeles Valley College, the LAUSD Division of Adult and Career Education, and Communities In Schools. |
 Richie Valens Mural Restored
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Richie Valens' tragic death in 1959, fifteen youth in YPI's Summer Youth Employment Program worked with muralist Manny Velazquez to restore the Valens mural at Pacoima Middle School. Supporters of the project included City of Los Angeles Councilmembers Tony Cardenas and Richard Alarcon, as well as LAUSD Board Member Nury Martinez. More than 200 people attended a YPI-hosted community event to unveil the restoration featuring the Ernie Valens Band. |
 Success For All Recognizes YPI
The Success for All Foundation has highlighted YPI and partner Pacoima Charter Elementary School for their strong results in raising student achievement at the school over the past decade. Since YPI first partnered with Pacoima Elementary School in 2001, the school's Academic Performance Index (API) score has risen 342 points. Click on Top California education official visits Success for All school (Nov 2009). |
 YPI Staff Update
For the first time in its history, YPI now has more than 1,000 staff, operating out of 95 program sites across Los Angeles. YPI has also promoted veteran staff into three new positions: Iris Zuniga-Corona as Chief of Staff, Mercedes Perez as Director of Evaluation and Research, and Karina Favela as Director of School and Community Partnerships. In addition, Jerry Levinson has joined YPI as Controller and Yvette King-Berg is returning as Executive Director of YPI Charter Schools.
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