Scholarship Prep South Bay highlights benefits of trauma-informed learning environment

WILMINGTON, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A network of public charter schools is focused not just on students, but on the whole person.

Scholarship Prep does it through a method called trauma-informed education.

Every day at Scholarship Prep's South Bay campus starts with a morning meeting, designed to teach students how to regulate their emotions. The meetings also give students an opportunity to check in with staff and address challenges before class begins.

"Whether it's smaller or big, we can deal with it. Give the triage what the student needs and then get them back into class for learning," Principal Allison Vann said.

Vann says it comes down to meeting the student and their families where they are. Here, 84% of students are socio-economically disadvantaged with 13% homeless.

"No student here has to feel left out. No student here has to go hungry. No students here has the feel like nobody cares because there's snacks for everybody. You just go and grab one," Vann said.

The resources available make all the difference. There's everything from food distribution to laundry services, to what are called rainbow carts, with basic hygiene supplies.

Students are also encouraged to use "Calming Corners" to deal with stress and anxiety. Plus, mandatory training for all staff in trauma-informed education.

"Everybody on our campus is trauma trained across the board. If you're not, you just don't work here," Vann said.

The trauma-informed education is through Loyola Marymount University's School of Education, something that is implemented at all of Scholarship Prep's five campuses.

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