West40 Regional Safe Schools Program

Suspension or expulsion can interrupt a student's path through school. Our West 40 Regional Safe School gives sixth- through twelfth-graders a different educational setting when they have experienced suspension or expulsion, or face the possibility of expulsion. Schools start the process with a referral to our Regional Safe School team. We offer structure, encouragement and safety while earning students' trust and building relationships. Academic coursework and credit recovery continue alongside career exploration and paid internship opportunities, connecting school work with possible roles beyond graduation.

We help students take responsibility for their learning and their behavior as they prepare to continue their education. The program belongs to West 40's wider academic and social-emotional support network in West Cook County. Within that network, our advocacy programs use mentoring, goal setting and family engagement to address barriers to learning. Participating families can also access essential items through Heart 2 Heart resources. We work on students' academic coursework and credit recovery while helping them take ownership of responsibilities and behavior toward others. Schools use the referral process to begin a student's participation in the Regional Safe School program.