Education

For all individuals, education is an important aspect to being able to gain and maintain employment and to being able to support oneself, and potentially one’s family. Opportunity youth are much less likely to earn a high school or college diploma than their connected peers.¹

With the global economy continuing to move toward requiring a more skilled workforce,² it is even more vital for youth to be supported in their educational pursuits. It is important to note that learning happens everywhere young people spend their time: in formal settings such as schools, but also in formal and informal out-of-school time programs, peer groups, and communities. There are many different methods adults in every setting can use to support opportunity youth in their education and learning. These methods range from family engagement and financial supports to emotional supports and mentorship.

• Educational Assistance. These types of programs work to support opportunity youth in the educational arena, specifically focusing on issues like education and conservation experience, tuition and application assistance, tutoring programs, and language classes.
• Mentoring Programs. Mentorship programs are able to address the more social aspects of the educational experience. Mentors can also help opportunity youth navigate the education system, while also providing guidance on career pathways.
• Practical Assistance. Programs that focus on the more practical side of the educational experience can be easily overlooked, but are immensely important. These types of programs provide assistance for things like transportation, assisting in balancing family and school responsibilities, and access to basic needs, like housing, health care, and food.
• Restorative Discipline. In contrast to punitive discipline, where students would receive a punishment such as suspension or expulsion, restorative discipline focuses on “helping students understand the impact of their actions on others” and often includes some form of peer agreement.³

Resources

The Condition of Education 2024 (PDF, 53 pages)
This publication from the National Center for Education Statistics details the state of American education and outcomes tied to education.

LINCS: Career Pathways
This initiative from the U.S. Department of Education is a method for those who work in adult education, post-secondary education, and workforce development fields to explore instructional and programmatic best practices, policies, and issues in providing career pathways services.

References

¹ Lewis, 2019
² Price Waterhouse Coopers, 2017
³ Lewis, 2019