Florida Youth Challenge Academy in Starke, Florida on DonorsChoose

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When I analyzed which cadets were spending the most time with the primary source binders, I noticed that most had low reading skills who historically never read for pleasure. Many of our cadets arrived missing valuable background knowledge; the primary source materials filled those gaps. Each time cadets were at the reading station, I was guaranteed to hear questions such as, \"Ma'am, did you know computers used to look like this?\" or \"Ma'am, have you seen this ad for penicillin that was in Life magazine?\"\r\n\r\nHistorically, cadets who score a Level 2 on the TABE reading test struggle to pass the GED. However, after using these resources, the overall Social Studies GED pass rate for all cadets was 80%. Even among those who scored a Level 2 in reading, 69% passed. Perhaps most notably, of the five Level 2 cadets who did not pass the test, only two had spent significant time with the primary source binders—suggesting that engagement with these materials is a key factor in their success","fullyFundedDate":1758798760097,"projectUrl":"project/reading-like-a-historian-primary-sourc/9674165/","projectTitle":"Reading like a Historian - Primary Sources","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Walsh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10237181_orig.jpg?crop=189,189,x0,y7&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756825140797","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/sharonwalsh"},{"teacherId":10237181,"projectId":9673829,"letterContent":"Thank you for funding \"Reading Like a Historian.\" The cadets not only appreciated the historical books provided by the Clay Education Foundation, but they also learned vital information from them. These resources provided valuable entertainment, strengthened reading skills, and directly contributed to improved GED test pass rates.\r\n\r\nThe cadets were excited to see the books from the very first day we unpacked them. I immediately heard comments like, \"Ma'am, when can we check them out to read at the barracks?\" and \"Ma'am, can I just sit over here and read this one?\" Once I added the books to a station rotation, I was met with a chorus of, \"Is it my time at the reading station?\"\r\n\r\nThe cadets genuinely enjoyed the books. When I analyzed which cadets were spending the most time with the books, I noticed that most had low reading skills who historically never read for pleasure. Many of our cadets arrived missing valuable background knowledge; these books filled those gaps. Each time cadets were at the reading station, I was guaranteed to hear questions such as, \"Ma'am, did you know Rosa Parks was a real person?\" or \"Ma'am, you mean kids used to have to work 14 hours a day? Is that why we have child employment laws?\"\r\n\r\nHistorically, cadets who score a Level 2 on the TABE reading test struggle to pass the GED Social Studies. However, after using these books, the overall Social Studies GED pass rate for all cadets was 80%. Even among those who scored a Level 2 in reading, 69% passed. 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About this school

Florida Youth Challenge Academy is a rural public school in Starke, Florida that is part of Clay County School District. It serves 119 students in grades 9 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.9:1. Its teachers have had 3 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades 9 - 12

119 Students

8 Teachers

5629 State Road 16 W Bldg 3800

Starke, FL 32091 View local requests

http://floridayouthchallengeacademy.org/

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Florida Youth Challenge Academy Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Florida Youth Challenge Academy Demographics

54%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

49%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Florida Youth Challenge Academy Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

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