YES, Always You! Academy: Empowering Futures Through Actionable Transition
YES, Always You! Academy is a transformative transition initiative that prepares high school students with diverse abilities for life beyond graduation. Grounded in coordinated partnerships, applied learning, and systems of support that foster independence, the program delivers purpose-driven outcomes that affirm student capability and expand postsecondary readiness.
Currently hosted monthly at the Community College of Beaver County, each session is offered at no cost and includes lunch. Themed and intentionally sequenced, sessions build practical skills, expand awareness of postsecondary pathways, and connect students with professionals and industries across sectors. Students gain repeated exposure to environments, expectations, and decision points that are essential to effective transition planning.
Always You! Academy aligns with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Pennsylvania’s 10-Year Economic Development Strategy. It supports both state and federal priorities by strengthening Indicator 13 and 14 outcomes through measurable, high-impact programming that bridges the gap between high school, higher education, and employment.
A Pathway Designed for Impact
Core Elements of the Academy
- College-Based Learning Environment
Students participate in sessions hosted on a college campus, gaining early exposure to higher education, independence, and a future-focused learning space that reflects their potential and possibility. - Career Awareness and Workforce Readiness
Industry-aligned experiences, interactive presentations, and applied skill-building connect students to career pathways and teach essential employability competencies that anchor long-term goals to real-world opportunity. - Life Skills and Independence
Sessions equip students with practical, everyday tools, from communication and time management to financial literacy, social decision-making, and self-advocacy, empowering confident, capable navigation of life beyond graduation. - Integrated School and Family Engagement
Districts coordinate transportation, and students remain fully connected to their IEP teams. The Academy fosters consistent collaboration between families, educators, and community partners to ensure shared ownership of student success. - Milestone Recognition and Celebration
Student growth is celebrated throughout the year with recognition moments that reinforce achievement, strengthen identity, and reflect the community’s collective investment in each student’s journey.
Why It Matters
In Beaver County, 72% of working-age residents ages 16–24 are not engaged in the workforce, a critical indicator of disconnection and untapped potential. This underscores the urgent need for intentional, outcomes-driven transition programming that bridges gaps and builds capacity.
YES, Always You! Academy is a direct, measurable solution. By aligning education, workforce, and community assets, the initiative strengthens postsecondary transition, activates regional talent pipelines, and promotes long-term economic mobility for students with IEPs.
This model is strategic, data-informed, and equity-centered. It is designed to affirm capacity, expand access, and deliver pathways that students, and entire communities, can build upon.
Ready to Say YES?
Families interested in YES, Always You! Academy are encouraged to contact us directly or begin the conversation with their child’s transition coordinator or special education director.
We are honored to partner with all 14 school districts in Beaver County, as well as New Horizons School, to support student transitions that are bold, well-supported, and future-focused.
The year ahead promises powerful momentum and meaningful outcomes, and YES, Always You! Academy is proud to lead this work in Beaver County with a vision to expand its impact in the years ahead.