Penn Foster Education Brigade: Combating the Dropout Crisis with Community Partnerships

Penn Foster Partner Spotlight 1
Penn Foster
Education Brigade
Combating 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 Graduate
Dorsey Culinary Arts Student

7000 students
dropout of school each day

75% of crimes in the US
are 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’s
Mission

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
Brooklyn Job Corps

“
“
I’d rather have my
high school diploma
because that is
what employers are
looking for.
Shakira Norton
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
Miami Dade Job Corps

“
“
You can go at your
own pace, I wouldn’t
change anything
about the Penn
Foster program.
Benito Salazar
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 Foster
High 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 Director
Dorsey 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
Dorsey 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 Program
Fresno, 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.
IoT 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
IoT 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
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
IoT 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 Private
High 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.
21
The 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
FOSTEREDU.PENNFOSTER.EDU @FOSTER_EDU PENN FOSTER LINKEDIN
1-800-961-6407
PartnerSolutions@PennFoster.edu

Penn Foster Education Brigade: Combating the Dropout Crisis with Community Partnerships

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