Youth Civic Engagement in Urban School Reform

RFA is analyzing the campaigns of two Philadelphia youth organizing groups, the Philadelphia Student Union (PSU) and Youth United for Change (YUC), to transform their neighborhood high schools into small schools. RFA’s study investigates how the youth groups build alliances in their neighborhoods and city-wide in order to influence the School District of Philadelphia’s high school planning process. In addition, RFA staff are working with student researchers from each of the youth groups, teaching them research skills, so they can document their campaigns and the changes in their schools.