About the Intervention
Urban Alliance High School Internship Program provides high school seniors at risk of disconnecting from work and school with training, mentoring, and work experience to help them successfully transition to higher education or employment after graduation. The program targets seniors in high school at risk of not transitioning to further education or meaningful work, aiming to serve middle-of-the-road high school students who maintain a GPA of 2.0 to 3.0, but not limited to that group. Program components include: (1) a paid internship in an office setting from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. after school Monday through Thursday starting in late fall, with full days during summer following graduation; (2) soft and hard skills job training through three to six weeks of pre-work training (one to one and a half hours daily after school) and workshops most Fridays after school throughout the year; (3) coaching and mentoring provided by Urban Alliance program coordinators (with caseloads of approximately 30-35 interns) and job mentors at internship sites; and (4) alumni services consisting of individual coaching, alumni events, and paid internship opportunities during summer breaks from college. Interns earn starting hourly wages close to city minimum wage ($8.25 in DC, $7.25 in Baltimore), which can rise to $10.00 per hour based on performance. Program coordinators require training to deliver the intervention.
Statistical Findings
No effect: on SAT taking
No effect: on ACT taking
No effect: on FAFSA completion
Positive effect: on comfort with FAFSA and scholarships
No effect: on college applications
No effect: on high school graduation
No effect: on senior year suspensions
No effect: on chronic absenteeism senior year
No effect: on cumulative GPA
Positive effect: on soft skill comfort at one year
Positive effect: on soft skill comfort at two years
No effect: on hard skill comfort at two years
No effect: on goal setting
No effect: on time management
No effect: on college attendance
No effect: on four-year college attendance
No effect: on two-year college attendance
No effect: on completing one year of college
No effect: on completing one year of four-year college
No effect: on completing two years of college
No effect: on completing two years of four-year college
No effect: on attaining two-year degree or enrolling in third year
No effect: on retention rate of college attended
No effect: on graduation rate of college attended
Positive effect: on 75th percentile SAT score of college attended at one year
No effect: on 75th percentile SAT score of college attended at two years
No effect: on holding postprogram job
No effect: on current employment
No effect: on postprogram wages
No effect: on money accumulated
More Intervention Details
Focus Areas
Economically Disadvantaged, Drop-OutsPrograms & Services
General EducationDelivery Methods
Face-to-FaceDisability Support
N/ATarget Groups
Student(s)Citation
Brett, T., Devlin, H., Michael R., P., Rebecca, D., Sara, E. & Tanaya, S. (2017). Pathways after High School: Evaluation of the Urban Alliance High School Internship Program. Research Report (ED615700). ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED615700.pdf.
Study Demographics
These charts show the demographic makeup and geographic setting of the research study that evaluated this intervention's efficacy. When assessing the fit of an intervention, consider whether it was found effective in a context similar to your own.
Participant Race
What was the racial breakdown of this study's data sample?
Participant Gender
What was the gender breakdown of this study's data sample?
Other Participant Characteristics
Geographical Setting
What was the setting of this study?