How Project YouthBuild and Penn Foster Partnered to Turn a High School Diploma from Dream to Reality

Posted by Georgia Meyer on December 30, 2020

Obtaining a high school diploma is an important pre-cursor to entering the workforce or pursuing post-secondary education, but the reality is that for high school dropouts, it can be difficult to go back and complete their degree. As an educational, occupational, and leadership program for low-income youth who have dropped out of school, Project YouthBuild in Gainesville, Florida knows this better than most.

Since 2014, Project YouthBuild and Penn Foster have partnered to provide education to opportunity youth. The partnership offers students the chance to progress through Penn Foster’s accredited High School program and earn a diploma. Through Penn Foster, 93% of Project YouthBuild students have earned their high school diploma.

We sat down for a conversation with Project YouthBuild’s Director of Youth Services, Rachel Gillis, about what makes this partnership so impactful. At Project YouthBuild, Rachel oversees the day-to-day operations of the entire program, including students’ academic success through Penn Foster.

Rachel: Penn Foster has proven to be fundamental to Project YouthBuild and the overall success of our students. Each requirement of the Penn Foster program is linked to another piece of Project YouthBuild, ensuring that by the time students get their diplomas, they will have taken advantage of everything we have to offer.

Rachel: Before utilizing Penn Foster, our cohorts of students would work towards earning their GED. In 2014 when the tests changed, we saw a significant drop in GED attainment. This is what led us to Penn Foster, where we have seen a continued, outstanding 93% diploma completion rate. The course breakdown and functionality of each of the lessons allows students to see small successes which motivates them to continue until they have reached that end goal of earning their high school diploma.

Rachel: When forced to close the school and go to a virtual learning platform, Penn Foster was indispensable. The majority of the students found comfort in that they were already accustomed to Penn Foster. That familiarity assisted in a more seamless transition.

 

Rachel: The relationship that we have with Penn Foster has been fostered through consistent communication and ongoing support for both students and staff. Coming into this partnership, one of our goals was to find a more fluid way to tie each portion of our program together for the students. Penn Foster became that link for us. Our own requirements are seamlessly woven throughout the completion of the Penn Foster diploma. This allows the graduating students to be in the best position possible. By graduation, each young person will have taken advantage of all that Project YouthBuild has to offer. Our leadership courses, AmeriCorps hours, and even construction certifications are all contributing factors to our participants’ long-term success.

 

Rachel: Often when a young person starts our program, there is a lack of confidence from previous academic failures. Penn Foster allows for a change in mentality from an “I can’t do it” to an “I just did it” with the small, bite-size lessons and exams. The Project YouthBuild staff cheers students on in their credit success. You can literally see students’ levels of confidence morph from day one to the day they earn their diplomas.

 

Rachel: A high school diploma is more than just someone finally completing high school, it is a chance to do and be more. Before coming to us, many of our students do not see earning their diploma as something that they can accomplish. Not only does it give them confidence to go after more, but it gives them the ability to do more. College for many becomes not only a dream, but a reality for the first time. That diploma is hope.