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Per Scholas Unveils New White Paper

Per Scholas, a prominent nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing economic mobility, recently revealed its latest white paper titled Shared Success: Leveraging Partnerships to Expand Access to Tech Careers Through the Per Scholas Satellite Model. This important document highlights a scalable approach to workforce development that aims to provide free tech training and improve outcomes while minimizing costs.

The Satellite Model: An Overview

Introduced initially in New York City in 2021, the Satellite Model allows Per Scholas to extend training beyond its traditional campuses. This is accomplished by forming partnerships with community organizations and public agencies, utilizing advanced classroom technology. Learners can engage in live, instructor-led sessions at partner venues, working alongside peers at Per Scholas campuses. This methodology combines effective centralized teaching with localized support, making quality education accessible across various regions.

As of now, the model boasts eight active partnerships across five markets, with plans to increase this by 2026. Per Scholas aims to reach no fewer than 15,000 learners annually by the year 2030, representing a significant growth in their mission to foster tech talent.

Key Findings from the White Paper

The white paper contains several noteworthy findings:

1. Expanded Access: The Satellite Model effectively reaches learners in underserved communities, removing hurdles such as transportation costs and limited training facilities.
2. Strong Outcomes: Results show that satellite learners achieve similar success rates to those in campus programs, with 85% graduation rates and 80% employment within a year of graduation.
3. Cost Efficiency: According to BDO's independent analysis, costs have been reduced per learner from approximately $12,000 to $10,000, with expectations of further decrease to $7,600 as the model evolves.
4. Ecosystem Impact: Collaborative partnerships enhance local workforce networks, broaden employer outreach, and open avenues for new funding.

A Shift in Workforce Training

As Caitlyn Brazill, President of Per Scholas, remarked, the Satellite Model represents a transformative change in workforce training scalability. Rather than merely increasing campus locations, this approach prioritizes forging robust partnerships with local entities. This allows Per Scholas to deliver high-quality training outcomes while addressing the significant barriers that have historically restricted access to tech careers.

Maryann Rainey, Senior Program Officer at Ascendium, echoed these sentiments, noting that the model showcases how quality training can be extended efficiently, particularly to lower-income areas, without compromising educational standards.

Building the Future of Workforce Development

As the nation faces a critical talent shortage coupled with untapped potential within various communities, the Satellite Model emerges as a resilient blueprint for organizations, funders, and policymakers interested in expanding their training efforts equitably. The white paper outlines crucial lessons relevant to building efficient partnerships, upholding high instructional benchmarks, and ensuring that funding models align with collaborative training strategies.

Moving forward, Per Scholas plans to proliferate the Satellite Model in existing markets, with three to five new partnerships anticipated by the close of 2026. This initiative underscores Per Scholas’s steadfast commitment to enhancing economic mobility via technology training.

About Per Scholas

With a rich history of 30 years, Per Scholas is on an ambitious trajectory to train and upskill 25,000 tech professionals each year by 2030, thereby broadening access to lucrative tech careers. Since its inception in 1995, the organization has provided free tech training to over 30,000 individuals, resulting in an estimated increase of $35 billion in personal earnings collectively. Remarkably, graduates typically earn three times their pre-training wages in their first job following the program. Equipped with 25 physical campuses and remote options, Per Scholas collaborates with various employers, spanning from established Fortune 500 companies to dynamic startups, aiming to create inclusive talent pipelines across numerous tech fields including Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, and Software Engineering.

To learn more about their impactful work, visit PerScholas.org and follow them across social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.