YouthForce NOLA partners with 21 Orleans Schools to promote career pathways programming

YouthForce NOLA is pleased to announce awards for school partnership grants for 2017. Sixteen high schools in New Orleans, across 13 charter management organizations, responded to the request for proposals released last spring. Following the 2017 grant cycle, YouthForce NOLA is now partnered with 21 of 25 open enrollment public high schools in New Orleans to help them provide career pathways programming to students.

In addition to the financial award, all funded schools receive support from the YouthForce NOLA collaborative, including coaching, site visits, family engagement resources, and planning tools.

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As a result of this remarkable 84% school engagement rate, YouthForce NOLA is well positioned to meet its three key goals:

1.  20% of the Class of 2020 will earn industry-recognized culminating credentials that will place them on high-wage, high-demand regional career pathways

2.  10% of the Class of 2020 will complete YouthForce internships in aligned high-wage regional industries

3.  Citywide, more students will demonstrate employer validated, career-ready soft skills

Since YouthForce NOLA’s inception in 2015, the number of high school students earning industry credentials has expanded by 300%. With school, employer, and training-provider engagement all gaining momentum at a rapid clip, YouthForce NOLA is actively turning its vision- for New Orleans public school graduates to thrive economically, and be the most sought after talent for hiring and advancement in the region’s high-wage, fast-growing industries- into reality.

The Selection Committee, comprised of individuals from four Steering Committee organizations and YouthForce NOLA staff, applied a rigorous rubric to review schools’ applications. After conducting site visits and follow ups, the Selection Committee recommended funding all 16 applicants at some level. With these new schools engaged, 21 of the 25 open enrollment public high schools are partnered with YouthForce NOLA!

2017 School Partnership Grant Recipients

Explore ($10,000):
Provides funding to research and explore career pathways programming and its components through workshops, conferences, and site visits, with expressed intent that schools will use these resources and experiences to help develop their vision.

  • Eleanor McMain Secondary School

  • Livingston Collegiate Academy*

  • McDonogh 35 Senior High School

  • Morris Jeff Community School

Pilot + Plan ($40,000):
Provides funding for schools to further refine their vision and plans for career pathways programs of study through the implementation of a robust pilot.

  • Abramson Sci Academy*

  • Einstein Charter High School*

  • G.W. Carver High School

  • KIPP: Booker T. Washington High School

  • KIPP: Renaissance High School

  • Lake Area New Tech Early College High School

  • Rooted School

  • The NET Charter High School

  • Sophie B. Wright Charter School*

  • Walter L. Cohen College Prep High School

Implementation ($300,000):
Provides funding for schools to implement a comprehensive, integrated whole-school career pathways program of study plan over three school years.

  • New Orleans Military/Maritime Academy (NOMMA)

  • ReNEW Accelerated High School

*Denotes one-year grant extension of 2016 award amount.

Jasmine Henderson