Success Stories
Rigor & Relationships: Student Voice Drives Change Across Simon Youth Academies
Overview
Simon Youth Foundation (SYF) is a national nonprofit helping students at risk of dropping out graduate and pursue post-secondary education. SYF partners with public school districts to create Simon Youth Academies in Simon Malls, offering flexible education with one-on-one learning, personalized support, and small class sizes. SYF also supports post-secondary opportunities through college counseling and a national scholarship program, awarding over $1 million annually to graduating seniors in communities with Simon Malls.
Student voice is a guiding pillar in day-to-day operations and long-term planning as the foundation works alongside students who face challenging realities beyond the classroom. In the 2014-15 academic year, the foundation launched its first comprehensive student listening effort through YouthTruth. It now has a regular practice of gathering and acting on student feedback to inform strategy and programmatic changes at both the network and school level.