Projects | John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities

Teacher writes algebra equation on white board

Academic outcomes | Schools/districts (9–12)

What really helps ninth graders who are struggling in math?

Mixed-level algebra classes — with teachers who receive extra training — are more effective than remedial math classes, with no negative effects for grade-level students.

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Mental health and wellbeing | Government agencies

Evaluating a Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team pilot program

Gardner Center researchers identified significant benefits when mental health clinicians and police officers respond to 911 calls — including meaningful reductions in involuntary psychiatric detentions.

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Young man consults with teacher about class schedule

Mental health and wellbeing | Schools/districts (all)

Fostering belonging across the middle-to-high school transition

When students don’t feel like they belong, they are less likely to do well in school. The Gardner Center and local school partners are hoping to change that.

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Young research fellow being interviewed by TV news station

Student research fellows share what matters to them and their peers

From LA to Oakland, over 50 high school and college research fellows have produced recommendations about teaching methods, mental health, college enrollment, and more.

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Students at an alternative high school learn medical skills

Alternative high schools | College and career | Linked Learning | Schools/districts (9–12)

Case studies: What makes a great alternative high school?

Successful alternative schools across the state have a few things in common, including multiple pathways for students with different interests and needs and high levels of personalized support.

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Students graduate from an alternative high school

Alternative high schools | Schools/districts (9–12)

The data are in: How students fare in alternative school settings

The first comprehensive data about alternative schools in over a decade show that students have high and steady positive transition rates, such as earning a GED or returning to a comprehensive high school.

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College and career | Youth-led research | Schools/districts (9–12) | Nonprofits | Foundations

Paid research fellowship engages students in problem-solving

The Gardner Center’s Youth Action Research Fellowship brings new insights to its community partners and helps students develop key leadership skills.

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Out-of-school programs | Schools/districts (K–8) | Nonprofits

The promise of the Aim High summer learning program

Research shows that the Aim High summer program has measurable, positive effects on key predictors of student success, like absenteeism, suspensions, and test scores.

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Attendees talk with one another at the annual collaborative conference

Alternative high schools | College and career | Schools/districts (9–12)

California Learning Collaborative on Alternative Education

The Gardner Center is home to the California Learning Collaborative on Alternative Education, which brings together school leaders from across the state to learn from one another and improve the effectiveness of alternative high schools in their areas.

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Academic outcomes | Early childhood | Schools/districts (all)

Babies born too early likely to face educational and behavioral setbacks

Moderate and late preterm births are associated with increased risk of low performance in mathematics and English language arts, as well as chronic absenteeism and suspension from school.

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School leader high fives student during assembly

Community schools | Schools/districts (all)

Case studies: Oakland's community schools in action

This series chronicles the challenges, successess, and lessons learned by several schools in the Oakland Unified School District when it launched an ambitious effort to transform itself into a community school district.

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Two counselors in Redwood City set up an event to bring awareness to mental health

Mental health and wellbeing | Schools/districts (all)

Mental Health Collaborative supports local schools

Since 2020, the Gardner Center has collaborated with the Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing and local K–12 district partners to build district capacity to support student mental health and wellbeing.

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Student and teacher work in school greenhouse packaging lettuce

Alternative high schools | College and career | Linked Learning | Schools/districts (9–12)

How to successfully support students in Linked Learning high schools

Gardner Center researchers developed a framework for high schools to support students in Linked Learning pathways — and then documented how schools and districts put it into practice.

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Four boys with their arms around each other on soccer field

Community schools | Mental health and wellbeing | Schools/districts (K–8)

Oakland Unified School District: The nation's first full-service community school district

For almost 10 years, the Gardner Center documented Oakland Unified's ambitious effort to become the nation's first full-service community school district.

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Mental health and wellbeing | Schools/districts (all)

Study of teen mental health in San Mateo reveals challenges, offers hope

Collaborating across schools, building new support systems, and gathering more relevant data could help students before they reach a crisis.

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Kids get on a school bus on a rural street

College and career | Schools/districts (9–12) | Foundations

Bolstering college readiness in a rural school district

Educators concerned about low rates of college readiness in Humboldt County use a “cycle of inquiry” approach to analyze, study, and act on data.

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A Live in Peace case manager works with a student aiming to graduate from high school

Out-of-school programs | Schools/districts (9–12) | Nonprofits

San Mateo County tackles truancy and low high school graduation rates

Students with Amazing Goals program helps teens find success.

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Gardner Center Deputy Director Jorge Ruiz de Velasco leads a meeting

Alternative high schools | Schools/districts (9–12)

California Task Force on Alternative Education

Since 2017, the Gardner Center has convened a task force that advises the California Department of Education about how to improve outcomes for youth in alternative school settings.

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African American girl doing art project outdoors

Out-of-school programs | Nonprofits | Foundations

The power of engaging youth to establish an arts organization in East Palo Alto

Priorities for the EPACENTER were established by the young people it would eventually serve.

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Academic outcomes | Community schools | Multilingual learners | Schools/districts (K–8)

Redwood City community schools fuel improvements in attendance and English proficiency

Programs to promote family engagement were particularly successful in moving the needle.

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Multilingual learners | Out-of-school programs | Nonprofits

Informal exposure to English sparks language development

Hearing and speaking English in after-school programs promotes fluency among English learners.

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Out-of-school programs | Youth-led research | Schools/districts (9–12) | Nonprofits

Free handbook to guide your own student research team

Want to initiate your own Youth Engaged in Leadership and Learning (YELL) program? This free handbook from the Gardner Center will help you launch your own youth research team.

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