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YouthBuild: A Program Providing Education, Job Training, and Leadership Development to Disadvantaged Young People

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Intervention Details

Subjects

English Language Arts, Math, Science & STEM

Academic Programs

Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, Career and Technical Education, College Preparatory, General Education, Remedial Education, Special Education Services

Duration

6-12 months

Grades

9, 10, 11, 12, Ungraded

Personnel

Other

Intervention Summary

YouthBuild is a program that provides education, job training, and other services to disadvantaged young people who have not completed high school. It is intended to target young people's educational and employment outcomes, as well as their personal development. The program includes a mix of education, vocational training (typically in construction), counseling, leadership development, and community service. Eligibility is usually limited to out-of-school young people ages 16 to 24 who have dropped out before completing high school and who meet one of the following criteria: They are from low-income or migrant families, are in foster care or are aging out of it, are ex-offenders, have disabilities, or are children of incarcerated parents.

Statistical Finding Summary

Positive effect on earning a GED

Positive effect on participation in vocational training

Positive effect on enrollment in two-year colleges

Positive effect on employment rates during Year 2

Positive effect on wages and earnings at 30 months

Positive effect on civic engagement, particularly volunteering

No effect on other measures of youth development or attitudes

No effect on arrest or conviction rates

No effect on involvement in the criminal justice system

Source

Cynthia, M., Jillian, S., Lisa, S., Lisbeth, G. & Megan, M. (2016). Building a Future: Interim Impact Findings from the YouthBuild Evaluation (ED571142). ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED571142.pdf.

Data Sample by Population

These charts show the characteristics of the student populations studied. When assessing programs, you may want to prioritize interventions that yielded success in a similar demographic environment as your school or district.