penn foster education brigade: combating the dropout crisis with community partnerships

Penn Foster Partner Spotlight 1

Penn Foster education Brigadecombating the dropout crisis with community Partnerships


““

I raised myself from 11 to now. I don’t want to be like my past, I want to do something better - I want to leave a mark. I had to get a high school diploma. That’s what made me go back.

Nikkiya Gentry

Penn Foster High School GraduateDorsey Culinary Arts Student


7000 studentsdropout of school each day


75% of crimes in the usare committed by a high school dropout


dropouts are more than 2x as likely to fall into poverty


every 26 seconds, a student becomes labeled a “dropout.”

That’s 7000 students per day, most of whom need help navigating the hazards of poverty,

violence, neglect, abuse, health issues, death, or family incarceration.*

Penn Foster’s mission is not only to reduce the dropout rate, but to also shed light on the

external circumstances faced by non-completers.

As part of America’s Promise Alliance, we are fueled by a national effort to raise America’s

on-time high school graduation rate to 90% by 2020.

By helping non-completers gain access to education, we help students gain confidence,

credentials, and skills to help them better their lives and overcome challenges.

*http://forumblog.org/2014/10/high-school-dropout-rate-business/


As one of the largest high schools in the United States, Penn Foster is changing the landscape of America’s

dropout crisis by offering hybrid learning options that work.

60K 20K+

active students

graduates in 2014

85%

completion rate in hybrid settings


...regionally and nationally accredited and licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of

Private Licensed Schools, we’re one of the largest high schools in US with over 60,000

active students.

...graduated over 20,000 students in 2014.

...with education as their path to success. We work to provide an on-ramp for lower

income individauls who are increasingly being locked out of the future.

...through partnerships with youth organizations, non-profits, public and private

high schools, private sector schools/colleges, and employers.

...by simplifying the process of re-enrollment, enabling students to sign up directly

with Penn Foster or through one of the many community partnerships we’ve

fostered.

As student achievement champions, our programs are designed to give

non-completers a second chance at high school graduation.

Established on a Foundation of Trust

Showcase Proven Results

Drive Community Collaborations

Streamline Re-Enrollment

Level the Playing Field


Non-Profit Organizations


Partner Spotlight: Job Corps


To attract eligible young people, teach them the skills they need to become employable and independent, and place them in meaningful jobs or further education.

Our organizational missions are aligned to gear students towards

educational and economic success.

To prepare students to be

both college and career ready,

enabling them to do well in school

and in life.

Job Corps’Mission

TOGETHER

Penn Foster’sMission


90%A high school non-completer is NOT eligible for 90% of jobs. Meanwhile, 38% of employers cannot find qualified candidates to fill open positions.

Working with 75+ Job

Corps locations across the

US, we’ve graduated over

35,000 Job Corps students

who now have the skills

necessary for job placement.

Individualized academic tracks

that include career pathway

concentrations aligned to the 11

Job Corps industry clusters that are

offered within Job Corps career and

technical training programs.


““It means a lot to me

for someone to be out there to push you.

Kadeema White

Penn Foster High School GraduateBrooklyn Job Corps


““

I’d rather have my high school diploma because that is what employers are looking for.

Shakira Norton

Penn Foster High School Graduate Brooklyn Job Corps


““

I was a high school dropout. One day I decided to wake up and do something with my life. I joined Penn Foster, I got my diploma, and I succeeded.

Brittany Members

Penn Foster High School Graduate Miami Dade Job Corps


““

You can go at your own pace, I wouldn’t change anything about the Penn Foster program.

Benito Salazar

Penn Foster High School Graduate Miami Dade Job Corps


Partner Spotlight: YouthBuild


“We are already seeing positive results and completion rates with the Penn Foster program and are thrilled to provide our students with

another option to earn their high school credential.”

- Scott Emerick Vice President of Education at YouthBuild USA

The pilot has resulted in completion rates greater than 80%, consistent

with results of other Penn Foster partners that use the blended-learning

model.

Sharing the common values of achieving student success through education, Penn Foster

and YouthBuild partnered to propel YouthBuild’s mission to new heights. We’ve joined

forces to aid in their efforts to unleash the positive energy of young people so they can

take responsibility for themselves, the community, and their families.

This partnership program allows young people to develop their career

pathways, enter the workforce, or consider a combination of work and

learning.


““

I feel like I have developed learning strategies that will allow me to succeed in college and whatever career I choose... I gave the program a shot and it was the best decision I made in my life, I love everything about the program.

Eric Daniels

YouthBuild & Penn FosterHigh School Graduate


““

The Penn Foster program helps us because it prepares students to have options. Now, when students leave YouthBuild, they can jump right into their major at a 4 year institution.

Anthony Hubbard

Director YouthBuild Providence


““

Providing students with a high school diploma rather than a GED open more doors for students.

Mike Deragon

Lead Teacher YouthBuild Providence


““

I got excited I could go for my high school diploma instead of the GED. It means a lot more for me to be the first one in my family to finish high school.

Josue Echevarria

Penn Foster High School Student


Career Colleges


Private Sector Schools

Dozens of career colleges are using our High School Completion program

as a bridge for prospective students to earn a fully accredited diploma

and matriculate into their school. On average, we see a 70% graduation

rate and a 75% matriculation rate into the respective college.

With our programs, private sector schools no longer have to turn away students who don’t have a diploma.

Working together, we’ve helped 2,000+ students to not only complete high

school but also gain the necessary skills and confidence to further advance

their education and their careers.


Partner Spotlight:Dorsey Schools

Detroit, Michigan


““

I would say that the Penn Foster program helps our students be prepared for college and to be successful in their field.

Todd Breadon

Managing DirectorDorsey Waterford-Pontiac Campus


““

I have daughters so I realized I need to set the standard for them. I decided to go back to school. I didn’t think it would ever be my reality and now it is.

Shatea Hill

Penn Foster High School GraduateDorsey Patient Care Technician Student


““

Here, we are giving them the attention [they need], and they are striving ahead. I’m so proud of them for everything they’ve overcome.

Garrit Ketelhut

Penn Foster Facilitator Dorsey Roseville Campus


Partner Spotlight:Institute of Technology

Bridge ProgramFresno, California


““

If you really do want your diploma, you can go get it, it’s right there for you. Penn Foster is a great program to get it done with. It gave me a lot of confidence and I believe in myself way

Willie Clark Jr.

Penn Foster High School GraduateIoT Criminology Program


““

I dropped out of high school when I was 16. I woke up one day without a cent to my name and decided I’m just not going to do this anymore.

George Gaeta

Penn Foster High School GraduateIoT Human Resources AAS Degree Program


““

I feel very successful and I’m very eager because now I can move forward with the goals that I have set for myself.

Monica Murillo

Penn Foster High School Graduate IoT Human Resources AAS

Degree Program


““

I feel like it gave me a boost of confidence. The best thing was walking away with a diploma. With the Penn Foster program and IOT, everything seems like it’s falling into place.

Nina Aguirre

Penn Foster High School GraduateIoT Culinary Program


““

What I find the most exciting is that students come in and they call themselves a high school dropout and at graduation we remind them ‘you are no longer a high school dropout, you can proudly say you’re a high school graduate.’

Denise Doyle

Business Division Director Institute of Technology


Public and PrivateHigh Schools


Secondary schools, students, families, and communities across the United States have seen positive outcomes

with Penn Foster’s education solutions:

500+

Over 500 high schools across the country partner with Penn Foster to

offer students credit recovery, summer school programs, and high school

completion to keep tens of thousands of students in school and

graduating on time.

School districts in Polk County, Florida and Scranton, Pennsylvania have

increased graduation rates in their district with our Dropout Retrieval

programs.

Hundreds of non-completers got a second chance to re-enroll in high

school and don a cap and gown to accept their high school diploma.


Partner Spotlight:Polk County, FL


Polk County

700 Polk County students have graduated from the “Fresh Start” program, with a record 214 students graduation during the 2013-2014

school year alone.

In 2007, Polk County School District in Florida faced a 40% high school dropout rate. They built a “Fresh Start”

program using Penn Foster, including self-paced testing and career-focused electives for at-risk students.

A record 214

students graduated

during the 2013-

2014 school year

alone.

700 Polk County

students graduated

from the “Fresh

Start” program.

Without this

partnership these

students may never

have graduated high

school. Statistically

that leads to

unemployment, low

wages, and often

prison.

Instead, the

diploma they

received along with

the self-confidence

they gained served

as an on-ramp

to pursue future

endeavors.

214 700


““

The Fresh Start high school experience changed my life. It made my life better and helped me move on.

Jeremiah Reynolds

Fresh Start Class of 2014


““

I like the teachers, they made it very easy for me to understand. If I had any complications I could come to them.

Brittany-Marie Stewart

Fresh Start Class of 2014


Partner Spotlight Scranton, PA


Seeking to make a difference for non-completers and the communities in which they reside, the joint venture engages students in Scranton, PA

and increases their chances for success through innovative solutions that match the evolving needs of 21st century learners.

21The program offers online credit recovery, enrichment classes, and hybrid

learning options to all former Scranton students under the age of 21.

Through the partnership, Penn Foster and Scranton School District

address the fact that learning is not “one-size-fits-all.”

The partnership builds up student confidence, which then encourages

further academic pursuit and sets them up for success in future careers.


Since 1890, Penn Foster has been a leader in career-focused distance

and blended learning, with a mission to provide affordable and accessible

education to all.

Through the power of education, we strive to build up student confidence for

success in future careers and further academic pursuits.

Throughout the years, over 13 million people have enrolled in our College, Career School and

High School to further their education and better position themselves for life success.

About Penn Foster

Privately licensed by the State Board of Pennsylvania, with regional and national accreditation, we are

one of the largest high schools in the United States with over 60,000 students.

Key to our mission of “democratizing education” and extending our reach to underserved populations

is building a robust partnership strategy with educators and businesses across the country.


Learn More aBout Partnering with Penn Foster

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