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Residential education is an umbrella term for community-like settings where at-risk children live and learn together, outside their homes, within stable, supportive environments. Whether called a prep school, children's home, boarding or residential charter school, residential education is a viable and important option for thousands of children, particularly teenagers. Residential education serves children severely challenged by homelessness, abuse, neglect, and low-income, high-crime neighborhoods.

The majority of children live in community-like settings, in single-family homes with a married couple on a campus. Other children, mostly in urban areas, live in boarding school-style dormitories with adult mentors. The average length of stay is significantly longer than most other residential programs, underscoring a sense of connection and belonging.

Family interaction and connection are maintained whenever possible and appropriate. Whenever possible, children are in programs in close proximity to their families. Enrollment is usually voluntary, often a choice made by families and the children themselves.

Though programmatic models differ, each program shares a core mission: to provide a way for young people to excel through high-quality education. Enrichment programs - including after-school tutoring, recreation, information technology, the arts, and clinical therapy, when necessary - are offered on campus or made easily accessible off campus.

Residential education is one of a number of solutions for at-risk children. Long recognized as a desirable model for children from more affluent families, residential education affords at-risk children a similar opportunity - helping them navigate a solid course in career, relationships, and in life.

Though the exact number of residential education programs is difficult to determine because of the broad terminology used to describe the different programs, it is estimated that there are over 200 residential education programs throughout the United States and many more worldwide.

What Distinguishes Residential Education?

1. Education: Support for high-quality education is given through ongoing and safe relationships with caring adults who nurture the children academically, emotionally, and sometimes spiritually. Approximately 80% of CORE-member residential education program graduates go on to attend college.

2. Enrichment: On campus programs in sports, recreation, and the arts, in addition to tutoring, homework assistance, and usually some clinical treatment, are provided. Values and social skills are also taught.

3. Family-Like Setting: The majority of children live within campus communities in single-family homes with two married houseparents. Others, especially in urban areas, live in dormitories with adult residential advisors. The presence of stable, concerned adults in children's everyday lives preserve a semblance of family life.

4. Family Preservation: Efforts are made to keep children geographically close to their homes so that family connections can be maintained, when feasible. The majority of children remain in either the same state or in counties close to their families. Keeping siblings together is also a priority, and can often be accomodated in residential education's larger group settings. Enrollment in a residential education program is usually a voluntary choice; 65% of the time made by the family.

5. Different from Residential Treatment: Residential treatment centers provide temporary environments in which mental health care is primary. By contrast, residential education emphasizes academic and life skills achievement in family-like settings with a longer length of stay; mental health care is provided when necessary.

6. Different from Group Homes: Group homes typically have staff that work in shifts rather than live-in staff. The focus is in providing a shorter-term, safe shelter for at-risk youth. Residential education allows longer stays, live-in adult staff, and a strong focus on education.

7. Flexibility, Freedom, and Choice: Provisions for weekends with family, off-campus activities, and flexible academic schedules are offered. The goal is to create an environment as much like a healthy home as possible.

8. Longer Lengths of Stay Promote Stability and Community: Children who live in one setting, with the same adults, for a longer period of time experience a greater sense of connection and belonging.

9. Prevention-Focused: Without longer-term programs like residential education, which invest in the futures of children, it is probable that many would end up in juvenile justice facilities or residential treatment centers. Such facilities are shorter-term and generally not education-focused.

10. Graduate Support/Post-Permanency Services: Children who graduate from residential education programs often maintain strong and lasting connections to their houseparents, teachers, and other students. The majority of CORE-member residential education programs offer college scholarships. For some students, the program becomes the "home" to which he or she initially returns for vacations and holidays. In addition, a few programs offer post-high school housing and transitional life skills programs while students are in college or working. For many graduates, the residential education community remains an anchor of support and connection throughout their life.

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Professional Organizations

Residential Education Programs


References

Flint, Anthony, "Boarding School Approach to Youths At Risk Questioned", Boston Globe, August 16, 1993.

Goldsmith, Heidi, "The Renaissance of Residential Education in the U.S." Conference Summary, October 2000.

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