Giving Compass' Take:

• Project Rise was a recent endeavor to understand how individuals 18-24 who did not have a high school diploma could be integrated into the workforce through intensive programs that included education, skills training, internships and job development.  

• The results of this project were widely successful. Can other organizations emulate the program initiatives of Project Rise to find success in youth development work?

• Read about the impact of investing in social mobility in youth at an early age to encourage better life outcomes as they grow older. 

Educational attainment and early work experience provide a crucial foundation for future success. However, many young adults are disconnected from both school and the job market.

Neglecting these young people can exact a heavy toll on not only the individuals but also society as a whole, for example, through lost productivity and tax contributions, increased dependence on public assistance, and higher rates of criminal activity.

Project Rise served 18- to 24-year-olds who lacked a high school diploma or the equivalent and had been out of school, out of work, and not in any type of education or training program for at least six months. After enrolling as part of a group (or cohort) of 25 to 30 young people, Project Rise participants were to engage in a 12-month sequence of activities centered on case management, classroom education focused mostly on preparation for a high school equivalency certificate, and a paid part-time internship that was conditional on adequate attendance in the educational component.

After the internship, participants were expected to enter unsubsidized employment, post-secondary education, or both. The program was operated by three organizations in New York City; one in Newark, New Jersey; and one in Kansas City, Missouri.

Within 12 months of enrolling in Project Rise, more than 25 percent of participants earned a high school equivalency credential or (much less commonly) a high school diploma; 45 percent of participants who entered with at least a ninth-grade reading level earned a credential or diploma. Further, about 25 percent entered unsubsidized employment in this timeframe.

Policymakers, practitioners, and funders interested in implementing programs for young people similar to Project Rise should recognize the need for an adequate level of staffing, especially for case management and the internship component.

Read the full article about Project Rise by  Michelle S. Manno, Edith Yang at MDRC