Project REACH

Project REACH (Research on Educator Attitudes towards Challenged High-risk Youth) is a statewide study led by researchers at USC focused on understanding how school and district leaders across California view and support gang-involved and high-risk youth. While many students facing gang involvement are met with exclusionary discipline, this study explores how educators can shift toward strength-based, supportive practices that keep students engaged and connected to school.

Despite the presence of gangs in nearly every California county, little research exists on how educational leaders respond and what resources they need to do better. Project REACH centers the voices of administrators to better inform policy, practice, and training that promotes educational success for youth at the margins.

Why It Matters

Exclusion Doesn’t Work. Engagement Does

Over 50,000 California students in grades 7–11 are involved in gangs.
Traditional school policies often involve policing and punishment, strategies that reduce feelings of safety and increase dropout rates.
Yet research shows that gang-involved youth want access to education, mentorship, and support systems.

By listening to educators and focusing on real-world school practices, this study aims to inform practices and policy recommendations to school and district leaders across California on how to engage gang-involved youth and their parents/guardians to ensure academic success.

What We Are Doing

Listening to Leaders. Building Solutions.

With support from the California Community Foundation, we are conducting a statewide pilot study to understand how educators interact with gang-involved students and what they need to do better. Our focus: