Out of School Youth
Colorado - Out of School Youth
Workforce Success Story Submitted By: Adams County Workforce and Business Center
Workforce Challenge
Summer melt continues to be a challenge facing prospective college freshmen. 46% of high school graduates, from Adams County Partnership districts, are enrolling in postsecondary opportunities, which is 10.5 percentage points less than the state (based on the graduating class of 2015 enrolling in the fall directly after graduation). There is also a gap of 7 percentage points, across Partnership districts, between Non-White and White high school graduates enrolling in postsecondary opportunities (43% vs 50%).
For these students, who are predominantly Hispanic/Latino, the first barrier is their fundamental belief that college is a privilege and not their right. In addition, they lack connectedness with university and career experienced adult mentors and positive peer role models; guided pathways; financial and basic resources; and access to university and community programs and services.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more difficult for youth to get support and connect to postsecondary education.
Workforce Solution
For the fourth year, the Adams County College Works program enrolled WIOA Youth to do paid work experiences at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU). Since the pandemic limited work opportunities available on campus, for the first time ever, Adams County developed a process for issuing stipends for youth to attend classroom training directly related to the work experiences while they were limited and/or delayed. Additional workshops were provided with information to help youth transition to postsecondary including Succeeding in Online Classes, Financial Aid, Academic Advising, Virtual Campus Tour, and How to Engage with Faculty.
Outcomes & Benefits
6 youth were enrolled in this program for the summer of 2020 bringing the total number of participants since summer 2017 to 22. Of these participants 90.9% matriculated their first year of college and 81.8% of all participants were still enrolled in the fall 2020 semester at MSU and one participant is returning in the spring. These rates far surpass the typical enrollment and persistence rates of college freshmen. The equity aspect is also being fulfilled. This year, all six youth were low-income and 5 of 6 were youth of color. Many of the youth are the first generation to attend college and even in a year fraught with additional barriers from COVID-19, they were assisted to reach their goals and enter college.
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