GED-to-College

Type:
Program model: Educational program for out-of-school youth

Description:
The GED-to-College model was developed to address two issues that research has revealed about GED recipients: many GED recipients who enroll in higher education do not persist in attaining post-secondary credentials; and the lifetime earnings of GED recipients are more in line with the earnings of high school dropouts than high school graduates.

The model creates a pathway for disconnected youth to earn a secondary credential and supports them through access to and persistence in College. The model targets out-of-school youth ages 17-24 who lack a secondary credential and test at or above the 7th grade level in literacy and numeracy. This model focuses on connecting pre-GED programming to post GED success in college by exposing out-of-school youth to the following:

Academic, professional and social-development activities -- including rigorous GED instruction aligned with college readiness standards, post-secondary preparation, career planning and exploration, and opportunities for work experience, internship and training
Transition support to post-secondary education and/or employment
On-going support to advocate and navigate the social, financial, academic, and bureaucratic challenges they may encounter once matriculated

Upon successful completion of this program, participants will have achieved the following:

Increased basic skills
Attainment of GED as their secondary credential
Successful enrollment in college as their preferred post-secondary placement

During Program Year 2011-2012:
75 youth were served in the GED-to-College program with the following results:

58% demonstrated literacy and numeracy gains
51% attained a credential and 58% secured a post-secondary placement

Youth Eligibility	Not in school and lack a secondary credential Ages 17 to 24 Test at or above the 7th grade equivalent in literacy and numeracy Desire the GED as their secondary education credential Want to enroll in college upon attainment of the GED
Contracted Provider Organizations	District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund Temple University - Center for Social Policy and Community Development YESPhilly

Funding:
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

System connections:

Project U-Turn

Philadelphia Council for College and Career Success

Philadelphia Works, Inc.

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