Dear YouthBuild Philadelphia Community Members and Friends:

Internationally and now in our region, the spread of COVID-19 has caused great concern for public health and education systems. YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School has closely monitored the health and safety of our school community. We are thankful to report that there have been no known cases among our students, staff or alumni.

In coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Philadelphia Department of Health and Human Services, and The School District of Philadelphia, YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School has made the determination to close our physical school building through at least June 18, 2020.

To continue to support our students and ensure they remain on track for graduation, we have made some adjustments to our school calendar and instructional model during this two week period. YouthBuild Philadelphia’s Spring Break, originally scheduled for April 6-10, has been rescheduled for March 16-20. Beginning on March 23, students will have access to daily live video instruction led by academic teachers and workforce development instructors. Those who are unable to participate in this instruction due to technology limitations will be provided independent work packets and reading. 

All elective courses, extracurricular activities, school-sponsored trips, and service events during this time have been postponed indefinitely or canceled. Students will continue to receive attendance credit on days that they participate in virtual instruction, and their AmeriCorps service terms will be put on hold for the duration of this virtual learning period.

Students facing barriers or challenges will be provided with a list of resources to aid in barrier removal and success during this time. To the extent possible, we will continue to provide mental health services, financial supports, food access, transportation and other support services throughout the time our building is closed.

Click link below to view our Continuity of Education Plan:

Our decision to close was not made lightly. We have been in constant direct contact with public health and education officials across the city and state, and are following the lead of The Philadelphia School District and Pennsylvania Department of Education in making this determination.

Finally, we encourage those impacted or potentially impacted by the spread of COVID-19 to take necessary precautions to maintain a healthy community: practice good personal hygiene by washing or sanitizing hands, avoid large gatherings and confined spaces, and avoid social interaction altogether if you are sick. For a full list of recommendations for avoiding COVID-19 exposure, please visit The City of Philadelphia’s COVID-19 resource page. We will continue to monitor COVID-19 and will provide any significant updates when relevant. 

Thank you very much for your support of YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School. We appreciate your commitment to our program, and your understanding as we navigate this pressing public health concern.

Sincerely,

Scott Emerick
Executive Director
YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School