Skip Navigation
Monday, 16 December 2019 14:03

Latinos in Action

Written by
Rate this item
(0 votes)

Latinos In Action (LIA) offers an asset-based approach to bridging the graduation and opportunity gap for Latino students, working from within the educational system to create positive change. Our program operates as a year-long elective course taught by a highly qualified teacher at the middle school, junior high, and high school level with the goal of empowering Latino youth to lead and strengthen their communities through college and career readiness. We accomplish this by focusing on four pillars: leveraging personal and cultural assets, excelling in education, serving the community, and developing leadership skills. Because of this unique combination, the LIA model has proven effective throughout the United States.

How it works:

By design, LIA students engage in three evidenced-based, core components during class time:

College and Career Readiness Curriculum:

Our culturally relevant, college and career readiness curriculum bolsters students’ current academic performance while preparing them for their futures as college-bound students and contributing members of society. The curriculum offers high-quality instruction on post-secondary education options and readiness, personal development, professionalism, and an exploration of one’s cultural heritage through literary and performing arts.

Leadership Development:

Each LIA student gains real-life leadership experience by participating in student-lead service, social, and professional committees. We are scaffolding their leadership skills and then infusing the students back into the school community, better prepared to lead and serve.

Literacy Tutoring:

From approximately October to April, LIA students serve as role models, mentors, and literacy tutors for neighboring elementary school students. This partnership helps both parties develop linguistic proficiency, refine social skills, and deepen their understanding of the value of being bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural.

 

Weber School District Latinos In Action

  • All Weber School District high schools (Bonneville HS, Fremont HS, Roy HS, and Weber HS) have a LIA program. 
  • Seven of the junior high schools (Orion JHS, Rocky Mountain JHS, Roy JHS, Sand Ridge JHS, South Ogden JHS, T.H. Bell JHS, Wahlquist JHS) have a LIA program.
  • Partnership schools (Country View ES, Farr West ES, H. Guy Child ES, Lomond View ES, Majestic ES, Municipal ES, North Park ES, Roosevelt ES, Valley View ES, and Washington Terrace ES) support tutoring services for students. 

Students in the LIA program are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA and cannot accrue more than four absences or tardies in any class. These students complete 30 hours of service per school quarter. Eighty percent of student class time is devoted to tutoring services and building relationships with elementary partnership schools. Students in the LIA program plan fund-raisers to pay for appeal and activities. Additional service projects include cleaning parks, creating hygiene kits, and school improvement projects. 

 

Read 46807 times Last modified on Thursday, 02 July 2020 10:05