Problem
On December 5, the educational opportunities available to young, Black males in Chicago were limited by a decision to revoke the Urban Prep West Campus charter.

Solution
Urban Prep will appeal to the Illinois State Charter School Commission to be authorized under its authority. As a part of the appeal, we must demonstrate support for Urban Prep West Campus. For that, we need you!

The Urban Prep West Story
In 2009, Urban Prep answered the call to open a charter public high school serving boys on Chicago's West Side. Our students are our city's most at-risk population. They are all African-American males, 85 percent qualify for free-reduced lunch and 29 percent have Individual Education Programs (IEPs). They are victims and survivors of gun violence and trauma--in fact, ten of our West Campus students have been shot and five killed since we opened. The West Campus provides a curriculum with double the English credits and more core-courses than traditional public schools, an extended school day, robust after-school programs, and daily mentoring promoting social-emotional growth and positive self-esteem.

Despite elements of our society working to destroy young Black males and despite financial challenges caused by reduced funding and increased expenses, Urban Prep has continued to fulfill its mission by improving outcomes for our students. Our West Campus' student graduation rates are higher than those for their peer groups in public schools across the city and country; the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) rates the school as "Commendable"--the second highest rating available; and 100% of Urban Prep West graduates have been admitted to four-year colleges and universities.

With your help, we will #KeepUP this important work by fighting to keep Urban Prep's West Campus open. Please join our campaign by SIGNING our petition, SUPPORTING our students with a donation and SHARING our work with your networks. Visit www.keepupwest.org for more information.

Urban Prep West Campus students work hard for their futures; it's time for us to #KeepUP.