For teens who feel unsafe in traditional schools, Learn4Life replaces fear with belonging

For many teens, bullying isn’t just another bad day at school; it’s a daily battle. In traditional schools, limited adult supervision can leave students vulnerable, targeted not only for their looks or interests, but for things far beyond their control, like disabilities, housing or food insecurities, or simply for being different. “There is a better way,” said Lindsay Reese, area superintendent for Learn4Life, a network of 80+ non-classroom-based charter schools. “What works for us is that we offer flexible schedules and one-on-one instruction, so students come in on different days and times, and it has essentially eliminated opportunities for bullying.”

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Learn4Life provides a welcoming environment where every student feels seen, supported and protected while in school.

Reese said that many of its students transferred to Learn4Life to escape bullying. Like Valerie G., who was bullied from day one of high school, and when the teachers and staff didn’t offer her support from the bullies, she gave up and began failing her classes. “On my first day at Learn4Life I was ready to be judged – it was my defense mechanism,” said Valerie. “But instead, I was greeted by staff who didn't care about my past or judge me because of my brown skin or the way I looked or my previous school record. All they wanted to do was help me. They helped me get back on track.” Today Valerie is flourishing, taking dual enrollment classes at a community college with plans to go to college and medical school.

A recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows that 34 percent of students age 12 – 17 reported being bullied in the previous 12 months. Teenagers who were bullied were nearly twice as likely to experience symptoms of anxiety or depression. Students who are repeatedly bullied receive poorer grades and participate less in class discussions. Then they get mislabeled as low achievers because they do not want to speak up in class for fear of getting bullied.

October is Bullying Prevention Month, designed to educate parents about bullying’s negative effects on the physical, social, emotional, academic and mental health of their child that may persist into adulthood. A focus is on preventing and responding to instances of bullying.

“We have a strict policy against bullying, and more importantly, we’ve eliminated the structure where bullies thrive,” Reese said. “Plus, we teach students coping and resiliency skills, which help them deal with life’s ups and downs, and restorative justice to teach youngsters the effects their actions have on other people.”

To find out about Learn4Life’s educational model , visit www.Learn4Life.org.

About Learn4Life

Learn4Life is a network of nonprofit public high schools that provides students with personalized learning, career training and life skills. Each school is locally controlled, tuition free and gives students flexibility and one-on-one attention they need to succeed. Serving more than 64,000 students through a year-round program, we help them prepare for a future beyond high school. For more information, please visit www.learn4life.org.

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