Academic Programs
The Academic Decathlon is an educational competition for high school students of all academic achievement levels. Each year, the United States Academic Decathlon selects a theme of study. Students are assessed in art, mathematics, music, literature, economics, science, and social science related to the annual theme. LA Unified high school teams have the opportunity to compete at the regional level, with selected teams potentially advancing to state and national competitions.
Academic Pentathlon
The Academic Pentathlon is an educational competition for middle school students of all academic achievement levels. Following the same theme as the high school Academic Decathlon, Pentathletes are assessed in five areas: fine arts (including art and music), mathematics, literature (including essay writing), science, and social science. LA Unified middle school teams can compete at the regional level, with the opportunity for selected teams to advance to state and national competitions.
Battle of the Books
Battle of the Books (BoTB) is a reading comprehension competition that immerses students in the world of their favorite books. Students spend the fall and early spring reading books in preparation for the BoTB competition. Teams participate in several rounds to determine the most knowledgeable BoTB team in the YS PLUS program. On the competition day, BoTB students represent their schools in a trivia game, often dressed as characters from their favorite books.
CyberPatriot
CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) to inspire K-12 students toward careers in cybersecurity and other STEM disciplines. A key component is the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition, where teams of five students work through competition rounds. Students are given virtual operating systems and must find and fix cybersecurity vulnerabilities while maintaining critical services. The top teams in the nation are invited to the National Finals Competition.
Do the Write Thing
Do the Write Thing is a writing initiative aimed at addressing and preventing youth violence. Students submit essays, poetry, and other literary works to become ambassadors for violence prevention. Two students are selected to serve as Los Angeles Ambassadors and represent the city in Washington, DC.
Language in Action Program
The Language in Action Program (LAP) provides International Newcomer students and Emergent Bilinguals in grades 1 through 12 with interactive, activity-based language development opportunities during the after-school program. Students practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English in a safe and nurturing environment.
Locally Designed
The Locally Designed and Funded Intervention Programs are available for grades UTK-12. Schools should refer to the respective Reference Guide for guidance when planning to offer a locally designed and funded intervention program. These academic interventions, offered outside the regular instructional school day, are designed to support students in achieving grade-level standards. The locally designed plan must be submitted to Beyond the Bell for review and approval before the program begins.
Outdoor and Environmental Education Program
Celebrating a century of teaching in the great outdoors, the Outdoor and Environmental Education (OEE) Program offers unparalleled opportunities for students to immerse themselves in nature. With a focus on hands-on activities aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and a commitment to social-emotional learning, our Naturalists guide students through transformative experiences at our diverse outdoor education centers: Clear Creek, Point Fermin, and Canyon Creek. Whether by lakeside, seaside, or along mountain trails, these experiences forge tangible connections to the outdoors and foster climate change literacy.
The Day of Discovery (DoD) is a comprehensive single-day field study program provided in collaboration with community organizations. DoD provides outdoor learning opportunities for students in grades kindergarten through 12, offering enriching experiences aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Through DoD, students have opportunities to engage with community partners such as Friends of the L.A. River (FoLAR), USS Iowa Battleship, Los Angeles Zoo, Heal the Bay Aquarium, Marine Mammal Care Center, and Cabrillo Aquarium. These visits provide hands-on learning experiences that supplement classroom education. The Skyhook Eco Van Program brings the field study experience directly to schools. The Eco Van program focuses on Earth's four systems: atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere and emphasizes real-world experiences, thus enhancing students' understanding of environmental science.
Spelling Bee
The YS Spelling Bee features unique team and individual competitions. Students represent their schools, striving to earn points to win the team trophy. During the event, the best spellers are identified and compete in a spell-off to ultimately crown a Spelling Bee champion.
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STEMYS
STEMYS (pronounced STEM-EEZ) is a collaborative competition focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Students from each YS PLUS site form teams to represent their school in an Olympic-style tournament. Utilizing methods such as the engineering design process, teams compete using catapults, bridges, cars, and more to determine the YS PLUS STEMYS champion.
Title I Intervention Program
The Title I Intervention Program (TIIP) allocates Title I funds to select schools to provide expanded learning opportunities for at-promise students, students not meeting grade-level standards, or students at risk of not graduating from high school. Eligible schools may offer academic support to students in grades kindergarten through 12 in small group settings before school, after school, or on Saturdays.
Spring Academy
In collaboration with our agency partners, Beyond the Bell provides after-school support for Locally Designed Spring Academies. The Beyond the Bell program begins at the conclusion of the Spring Academies and operates until 6:00 pm. Students have access to a nutritious supper and are eligible to participate in a variety of educational and enrichment activities.
Summer School, UTK-8 Program
The UTK-8 Summer School Program provides expanded learning opportunities during the summer for students from universal transitional kindergarten (UTK) to 8th grade. The program helps students master fundamental skills, receive targeted academic support in small group settings, and engage in in-person enrichment activities such as Art and Science Day Camp.
Winter Academy
Beyond the Bell, in collaboration with our agency partners, provides after-school support to schools participating in the Winter Academy. The Beyond the Bell program starts at the conclusion of the Winter Academy and continues until 6:00 pm. Students have access to a nutritious supper and can participate in various educational and enrichment activities.