SOAR Academy YTC Receives State Recognition for Civic Learning

San Diego SOAR Academy at the Youth Transition Campus (YTC) received an honorable mention from the California Department of Education’s Civic Learning Awards program, which honors and recognizes measurable schoolwide achievements in civics. 

SOAR Academy YTC was the only school in the county to be recognized and was the first court school ever to submit an application. 

The awards program, now in its 12th year, is co-sponsored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero. In total, 34 California schools received a Civic Learning Award.

“We know how important it is to reach all learners, especially those who are incarcerated or traditionally underserved,” said Dr. Gloria E. Ciriza, San Diego County superintendent of schools. “Receiving this recognition is a testament to our belief and to the efforts shown by the students and educators at YTC.”

YTC is a school program operated by the San Diego County Office of Education at a youth facility managed by the San Diego County Probation Department for incarcerated youth.

The school was recognized for the civics lessons that took place as students created projects for the Aspen Challenge, a program that challenges young people to design solutions to critical issues facing humanity. 

Two groups of students created programs to help deter youth from engaging in substance use. One team created Elevate the Youth, a flag football league that helps youth tempted by substance use or gang affiliation have another option. The second team created Joy for Kids, a place and program for students that are tempted to use substances and have gang affiliation. They proposed a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club to provide a safe space for youth to have positive interactions and access essentials like toiletries and basic needs.

Both teams created a logo, a T-shirt, and had a bake sale to raise money for their programs.

Helping students identify causes and issues relevant to them is an important strategy for engaging youth in civics learning at YTC. As incarcerated students, they have perspectives on the justice system that most high school students do not. Students chose these projects because the topics were relevant to them, and for some, it was also a way to give back to their communities.

“Justice-involved youth often carry the burden of finding ways to repair the harm they may have caused in their communities,” said YTC Teacher Kara Wilson. “Projects like this offer them one meaningful way to give back and show support, even within their current circumstances.”

Civic Learning Awards have been presented more than 500 times to traditional, charter, and magnet schools since they began in 2013. In recent years, community schools and continuation schools have submitted high-ranking applications.

“I find these award applications truly inspiring—each one is deserving of recognition,” said Chief Justice Guerrero. “They highlight the powerful stories of committed educators who, despite the challenges, are finding creative ways to ensure students can fully engage with and understand civics.”

“When young people advocate and raise their voices, they have the power to drive meaningful change in their communities,” said Superintendent Thurmond. “Education is fundamental to achieving our democratic ideals, and these schools have played an exceptional role in shaping the leaders of the future.”

Applications are reviewed and scored by a panel of judges composed of representatives from the California courts and the California Department of Education who are not tied to counties or districts in the pool. 

In addition to the information provided by the applicant, points are added for schools in districts with Local Control and Accountability Plans that include terms and actions associated with civic learning. Applicants also earn points for participating in the Judges in the Classroom program and for creating processes and criteria related to the State Seal of Civic Engagement.

Read more about the awards recipients and learn more about the program at the California Department of Education website.