Poway Unified School District (PUSD) and Special Olympics Southern California have signed an agreement to bring Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools ® programming to school sites across PUSD. Unified Champion Schools ® programming promotes social inclusion by bringing together students with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) through sports and education-related activities, ensuring that all students become part of each school’s social fabric. Poway and Del Norte High Schools have already adopted this program successfully.
Unified Champion Schools® programming is currently offered in more than 10,000 schools across the U.S. including 49 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. While there is at least one Unified Champion School in 25% of all the school districts across the U.S., Poway Unified is one of fewer than 25 school districts of its size across the country to implement Unified Champion Schools® programming across its entire district, making PUSD a leader in school districts promoting inclusion through Unified programming. The district will start with implementation at all high schools this year.
Interim Superintendent Greg Mizel stated about the agreement, “We are excited about this partnership and are already seeing the positive impact it has on students at Poway and Del Norte High Schools. We prioritize inclusion and belonging on all of our school campuses and are looking forward to the opportunities that the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools programming will create to foster deeper connections between our students.”
Special Olympics Southern California will provide programmatic materials and initial funding for the programming.
“Poway Unified’s commitment to inclusion and opportunity for all its students is a game-changer in the lives of so many people in its community of schools.” Said Special Olympics Southern California President and CEO Kelly Pond, “Across the district, both students with and without intellectual disabilities will thrive socially, learn new skills and create friendships that will last a lifetime.”
The Unified Champion Schools® strategy utilizes three core components to provide the most opportunity for creating positive school climates: Special Olympics Unified Sports ®, inclusive youth leadership and whole school engagement:
Special Olympics Unified Sports: Students with and without intellectual disabilities meaningfully participate in sports activities on teams for training and competition. Students develop athletic skills while forming friendships, fostering respect for each other, and becoming leaders on and off the field. In grades Pre K-2, students participate in school-based physical and social activities which promote the development of motor, social, emotional, and learning skills, all while promoting sport readiness and inclusive play.
Inclusive Youth Leadership: Students with and without disabilities work together to lead and plan advocacy, awareness and other inclusive activities throughout the school year.
Whole School Engagement: Faculty and student leaders create awareness and educational activities that promote inclusion and reach the majority of the school population. These are youth-centered, school-focused initiatives that activate all students, engage educators, involve the entire school, and promote campus cultures of acceptance and social inclusion where all young people are agents of change.
For more information on Special Olympics Southern California, visit SOSC.org. For more information on Poway Unified School District, visit powayusd.com
About Special Olympics Southern California
Special Olympics Southern California enriches the lives of athletes and their communities through sports, leadership programs, and athlete health initiatives. Our free, year-round programs lead to improved health, self-confidence, and independence among athletes with intellectual disabilities and encourage acceptance and inclusion in the community. Special Olympics Southern California has earned a four-star ranking from Charity Navigator for exceeding industry standards. This ranking is the highest Charity Navigator offers to an organization and is given because Special Olympics has demonstrated strong financial health and a commitment to accountability and transparency. Learn more at www.sosc.org.
About Poway Unified School District
The Poway Unified School District is located in northern San Diego County, California. PUSD operates 41 schools located in the cities of San Diego and Poway: 25 elementary schools (TK-5), two elementary & middle school combination (TK-8th), six middle schools (6-8), one continuation high school, five comprehensive high schools (9-12), one middle college and one adult school. We serve over 35,000 students and our District is the third largest school district in San Diego County.