Joy Lieberman Learning Center Gives Hope to Students for a Brighter Future

Joy Lieberman Learning Center in University City is more than red brick and mortar. It is a place where young people have a second chance at a future they could not have begun to imagine, where high school graduation is possible when all hope was lost.

“I messed up, but I get another chance,” said alternative school student Di’ Almond Bedford. “I will be very proud of myself when I graduate,” she said as a smile spread across her face. She will graduate this school year.

Named after University City School Board member Joy Lieberman, the center serves high school students at risk of leaving school without a diploma. Two distinct alternative programs are housed at the Lieberman Center: the Alternative School Program, a credit recovery program and the Missouri Option Plus Program, a dropout prevention program. Just down the hall is the Adult Education and Literacy Center, where students are referred if they do not meet the requirements for either of the two alternative programs.

The students at the Lieberman Center have varied stories about why they were not successful in a traditional high school setting. Some students made choices that landed them at the center. Other students attribute their challenges to outside factors such as family dynamics, community dynamics and illnesses. 

“Some of these kids started getting behind in kindergarten or were held back a year or two, and then they didn’t do well in high school,” said Chris Blumenhorst, associate principal of Joy Lieberman Learning Center.

Some students at the center live on their own outside of their parents’ or guardians' homes, some students work full-time jobs and some are raising their own children or caring for their siblings. Regardless, they all have the same thing in common: They have not been successful in a traditional high school setting and they want to earn their high school diploma.

"It was a last resort for me,” said Option Plus student Ashanti King about the benefits of acceptance into the program.

"When I had my daughter I began falling behind in school. I really wanted to get my high school diploma instead of just going to get my GED. I feel like I need to make an example for my daughter,” she said. King plans to become a chef after she graduates.

The success rate fluctuates from year to year, but an average of 66 percent of students in Options Plus complete the program. The Option Plus students comprise 2 to 6 percent of the University City graduation class each year, while the Alternative School Program students make up 15 percent of the graduation class.

There are many factors considered when placing students in either of the programs. Students submit an application and must meet requirements for enrollment set forth by the state of Missouri and the University City School District.

“The Option Plus program is selective. We are predicting those who can get it done in one school year,” said Loraine Eason, Option Plus teacher.

Once a child is placed, an individual graduation plan is created, and the student signs a contract. “It is not just a behavior agreement. It is a contract to be successful,” Blumenhorst said.

A SECOND CHANCE

“I feel like I can actually graduate this year. I am going to become a lawyer,” said alternative school student Asia Muhammad.

Stephon Yancy said, “I want two majors—one in business and the other in computer engineering. I want to own my own business.”

The Option Plus program was created in 2002 by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as a way to reduce the dropout rate in the state of Missouri schools. Since its inception, more than 200 school districts in Missouri have adopted the program. University City School District adopted the program under the name Option Plus in 2003.

Once housed at University City High School, the Missouri Option Plus Program moved to the Lieberman Center at the start of the 2011-12 school year, as did the associate principal of the Lieberman Learning Center, Chris Blumenhorst. For the past 25 years, Blumenhorst has served University City students in a number of ways: substitute teacher, history and civics teacher and currently, administrator.

“I was a strong advocate that the Option Plus Program should move over to the Lieberman Center. I thought that it should be placed in an alternative setting. It has worked out really well,” Blumenhorst said.

The relocation to the center offers students greater advantages in terms of scheduling, program completion and participation in a learning community centered around “at-risk” students. The center also offers students smaller class sizes so they receive individual attention in a comfortable environment that nurtures the whole student and helps students to focus and learn.

Alternative School Program

• Students are generally one year behind their cohort group
• Have not earned enough credits toward graduation

The Alternative School Program offers a way for at-risk students to earn a University City High School diploma by:

• Attending classes daily that rotate between six different teachers who teach mathematics, social studies, English, science, art and business in line with the University City High School curriculum
• Earn 25 academic credits
• Participate in the community service program

Option Plus Program

Guidelines set forth by DESE require that applicants must be:

• At least 17 years old
• At least one year behind their cohort group—many are up to two years behind
• Demonstrate the ability to read and compute at a level sufficient to pass the GED within one school year

Students earn a University City High School diploma by:

• Passing all five components of the GED
• Earning credits in required classes: health, personal finance and government
• Attending classes on a regular basis