Per Scholas

Program basics

Seeks to increase employment and earnings through employer-informed information technology (IT) job training, mentoring, and job matching
Training is tuition free and offers full-time courses in several IT and tech disciplines. Courses range from eight to nineteen weeks, depending on subject area.
Approximately 20 percent of course time is spent on professional development training and career coaching
The program maintains strong relationships with local employers that hire IT workers, and employers help shape the curriculum

Low- and moderate-income adults

Approximately $9,000 per participant (for in-person training)

Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Newark, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

1995-present

After five years, Per Scholas participants earned $6,281 (27 percent) more per year than members of a control group
Participants of the program decreased their reliance on public benefits by 50 percent
48 percent of participants reported an increase in happiness and greater life satisfaction

Note: This content is under review
Strong sector focus and close employer connections allow programming to be closely tied to market demand and positions participants for career success.
Programming includes both standard skills training (which is developed with input from a variety of industry employers) and specific Customized Trainings, which are developed for specific firms' needs.
Per Scholas's Business Solutions team works directly with employers, engaging with both human resources and front-line managers to find positions suitable for graduates and create direct pipelines for post-graduation job placement.
Before expanding to new markets, the program conducts a 6-9 month market scan, engages with local employers and higher education partners, and develops a three-year plan for funding sustainability.
Each local site has an advisory board consisting of local employers and community-based organizations, which help establish lasting connections to each community in which the program operates.