Per Scholas
Program basics
- Seeks to increase employment and earnings through employer-informed technology job training, mentoring, and job matching
- Training is tuition free and offers full-time courses in several IT and tech disciplines. Courses range from ten 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 tech workers, and employers help shape the curriculum
Strength of evidence
Evidence level: Proven (highest tier)
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Proven (highest tier)
Ranked as having the highest level of evidence by Social Programs That Work
Target population
Low- and moderate-income adults
Program cost
Approximately $9,000 per participant (for in-person training)
Implementation locations
- Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Newark, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
- Per Scholas: Columbus, OH
Dates active
1995-present
Outcomes and impact
- 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
Keys to successful implementation
- 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.
