Diakonie Newsletter

"Because Failure is Not An Option for our Youth:" Kennedy Charter Public School

In recent years, reforms in the federal child welfare system have presented nearly every child-serving ministry with challenges--and opportunities. One CHHSM ministry, Elon Homes for Children in North Carolina, has adapted to this change by learning how to serve children and families in a different way.

"Our board, which operates on a policy governance model, consulted experts from around the state and the country," says the Rev. Dr. Fred Grosse, president of Elon. "We determined that, although we still provide long-term, residential and specialized foster care and know it is an important service, we believe that it needs to be short-term and in concert with the community and the family. To make a difference long-term for the young people we serve, education is the answer."

To answer this need, Elon created Kennedy Charter Public School in Charlotte, now in its ninth school year. The school serves students grades 6-12, from the community and the child welfare system, who are at risk of failure in the traditional public school setting because of social, emotional, or academic difficulty. The school's approach includes the strategies you might expect from child welfare experts: high academic and social expectations, clear academic and behavioral goals, and an emphasis on behaviors that foster success.

But in addition to a positive school environment, Kennedy Charter Public School offers smaller class sizes than traditional public schools and provides students with individual attention and opportunities for hands-on learning. North Carolina's Standard Course of Study provides the structure for the school's curriculum, but each student has a Personal Education Plan specifically tailored to her/his needs. The curriculum includes physical education, computer skills training and Spanish, and includes both remedial and advanced classes on Saturdays. And, to answer the most basic needs of its students, Kennedy serves breakfast and lunch six days a week.

What results is Kennedy Charter Public School achieving? Last June, the school graduated its fifth class, with nine high school seniors, and promoted 12 eighth grade students to the high school. This fall, after a summer of advertising and registering new community students, the high school has expanded to more than 200 students and the middle school has 50 young people enrolled. Among the new offerings is a freshman seminar to assist students in making a successful transition to high school.

"Now we can form long-term relationships with kids that we never had before," says Grosse. "Kids come to us in middle school and stay through high school, and they foster relationships with our educators. If they need emotional or mental health help, we can refer them to Elon's Ph.D. therapists. If they are achieving academically beyond the scope of the school, we can send them to the community college.

"Kids do want to achieve," concludes Grosse, "and Kennedy Charter School gives them a chance to do it."

To learn more about Elon Homes for Children, including Kennedy Charter School and the new Elon School, a 9-12 college preparatory school planned for the grounds of Elon's former residential campus, please visit www.elonhomes.org.