A Chance for Dropouts, Young and Old, to Go Back to School

New York Times article focuses on Goodwill Excel Centers, a promising practice highlighted in our guidance Reconnected: Help Impoverished young Adults Rewire Their Life Trajectories.

The graduation rate at Excel Centers in Indiana is about 20 to 25 percent; while that appears low, the model of eight-week terms makes traditional measurements difficult.

“In terms of bang for your buck, that graduation rate still looks good,” said Kate Hovde, a senior adviser in education at the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania. “The benefits of earned income over their lifetime is still significant.” The organization included the Goodwill Excel Center in Indiana as part of a report released last month to help inform donors about programs and strategies to help young adults who have dropped out of school and are not working.