In the fall of 2001, Monument High School opened its doors as the first Public Safety and Criminal Justice high school in New England. This year Monument High School begins the school year with over 40 school partners with public safety, criminal justice, higher education and community organizations in Boston. Thanks to continued support from Nextel Communications and Boston P.A.L, Monument High School leads a charge of nation-wide small school reform.

On March 13th, 2003 Nextel donated $72,000 to the Boston Police Activities League. On January 21st, 2005 Nextel donated an additional $30,000. Since 2003, the Monument High School has continued to grow in both size and scope. In 2003, 9 students completed internships at 3 public safety locations. In 2004, 14 students completed internships at 3 public safety locations. In 2005, 29 students completed internships at 9 public safety locations.

Based upon the program’s continued growth and success, the Monument High School Public Safety Internship is now a model program for urban education. The program provides low income, inner-city students with after-school paid internships that align with the small school’s public safety pathway focus. The internship’s goal is to provide urban young people with real work experience that is connected to their career interest in the public safety field. Through professional work-based learning opportunities, students make essential connections between the classroom and the workplace, develop transferable skills, and experience meaningful mentor relationships with professional adults in the public safety field.

2004-2005 PUBLIC SAFETY INTERNSHIP SUMMARY
In the fall of 2004, Monument High School’s Director of Development, Jonathan Sproul, interviewed possible candidates for the Public Safety Internship. The 41 applicants completed surveys which revealed that many students had not participated in extracurricular activities, community service or employment. Please see survey results:

BEFORE PUBLIC SAFETY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
- 44% (18/41) Participated in school-based after-school club
- 9 % (4/41) Previously participated in community service
- 9 % (4/41) Worked part-time jobs currently
- 92% (34/37) Sought summer jobs

After the interview and application process, 29 students received placement into public safety internships at 9 public safety locations including the Boston Police Department, Boston Fire Department, Boston EMS, Boston Park Rangers, United Sates Coast Guard, South Boston Municipal Court and other participating public safety organizations. At the June 16th Awards Ceremony, Public Safety Interns participated in the event’s pinning ceremony that ranked each intern as Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, or Corporal. Of the 30 accepted applicants, the post-internship survey showed a vast improvement in student active participation:

AFTER PUBLIC SAFETY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
- 100% (30/30) Participated in at least two after-school activities
- 100% (30/30) Participated in job readiness and career workshops
- 96% (29/30) Completed Public Safety Internship Program
- 96% (28/29) Received full or part time summer employment in 2005

The results demonstrate that the program engages and retains students throughout the school year. Moreover, this internship readily prepares students to seek employment. This internship model will continue to positively impact the lives and futures of its participants.