A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Audience Approved by PEP for dropouts, age 16-25.

Description The New Jersey Youth Corps is a full-time instructional and community service program for school dropouts, with the completion of a high school curriculum and employment as the ultimate goals for each student. Students spend a half day in academic instruction and a half day in community service work. A one-month orientation that includes academic and interest/aptitude assessment is followed by placement in community service work crew projects and continuation in basic skills classes.

The Youth Corps program uses an individualized instructional approach. Instructors diagnose skill areas and design a prescription for remediation in the form of an individual educational plan with career-related goals. Instruction and service interrelate, with new skills and experiences shared between the two components. The curriculum is driven by the General Educational Development Test (GED).

A Corps is typically staffed by basic skills instructor(s), an employability skills instructor, counselor(s), crew leader(s), a job developer, coordinator, and a program director. Staff are full-time and programs operate a minimum of five days per week, 12 months per year. Staff development, monitoring, and evaluation are integrated into the Youth Corps management.

Evidence of Effectiveness Data based on 5,000 participants over a five-year period support the claims that youth who participate in the program are three times more likely to receive a high school diploma than those in traditional programs; five times more likely to be placed in jobs or job training; and likely to complete four times the hours of participants in regular adult programs.

Requirements In addition to the core staff, a site outside the walls of public schools; a site that can develop its own identity is crucial. The learning environment must not replicate an environment that connotes a negative experience for youth. Staff training covering intake procedures, counseling, referral, training, and job placement is required. Also necessary is understanding of the GED testing requirements.

Costs A typical Youth Corps costs about $300,000 per year; an average of $2,000 to $3,000 per participant.

Services Staff training, monitoring for contractual compliance, and evaluation are provided on a regular basis.

Contact

Lynn Keepers, New Jersey Youth Corps, Division of Adult Education, 240 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08625. (609) 984-5971.

Developmental Funding: New Jersey State Departments of Education, Community Affairs.
PEP No. 90-10 (2/9/90)

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[National Family Literacy Project (Dissemination Process)]

[Supplemental Instruction (SI): Improving Student Performance and Reducing Attrition]