Educational Services

Education is a major focus in the programs offered at A Place Called Home. The Gailhac Learning Program, which is supported by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary and named for their Founder, Father Jean Gailhac, keeps our educational component alive. Father Gailhac's unconditional love of children, especially the neediest, continues to inspire the sisters of RSHM, and mirrors the commitment that APCH has in its mission to help the youth of our community.

The goal of The Gailhac Learning Program is to ensure that 85% of program participants advance to their next assessed grade level, are reinstated back into the traditional educational system, or graduate from high school. The six Educational Services Program components, which are on-going throughout the year, share two objectives: (1) to cultivate an environment that encourages educational achievement and (2) to provide educational resources that target specific age levels as well as specific educational levels.

Gailhac Learning Center provides tutoring, homework assistance and academic report services complimenting the work students do in school. The Center's focus is to accent the current curriculum of LAUSD with a fun and interactive method of reinforced learning. On any given day when visiting the Gailhac Learning Center you will find youth peering at bugs through microscopes, using measuring tools to bake cookies for math, participating in group storytelling and writing or pulling the name of the next book to read from the "Harry Potter Sorting Hat."

Over the years, the Center has successfully bolstered grade point averages, and seen the confidence of our youth soar.

The Alternative Education Work Center (AEWC) at A Place Called Home is an adult school that is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school is a drop-out prevention and recovery program for High School students located right on the premises of APCH. What makes this collaboration special is the one-on-one attention that youth receive with the help of LAUSD instructors, APCH staff and our volunteers. Each student works at his/her own pace in completing a series of "contracts" that qualify them for GED and California High School Exit Exam testing. Once the student completes the required contracts and feels ready to test, APCH can assist with testing fees and transportation to the testing site. Our students receive whatever support they need to have a successful completion of their High School requirements. Over 100 students attend this program annually and we happily celebrate with 15-30 graduates each year. The graduates celebrate with a commencement ceremony in conjunction with the Jefferson High School adult program, giving them the full High School experience.

Computer Education provides technological learning for youth and their families. Our computer curriculum is approved through LA Trade Tech as an accredited course. Up to 40 youth and community members can participate per semester in our series of accredited classes which include ESL and Basic Computer Skills coursework. During our regular rotation, our computer lab serves as a place where youth can research and complete homework assignments as well as create and design websites and graphics.