To prepare the next generation of technologists, Per Scholas developed the Technology Careers Exploration Program (TCEP) that promotes and guides high school students towards postsecondary technology training. TCEP partners with high schools to provide modules in which students perform simulated work-based learning tasks in IT Support, Computer Networking, and Cybersecurity. The curriculum establishes the context for IT across industry sectors, as students learn protocols for professional communication in a business environment. The outcome of the modules is to measure the increase in students’ knowledge of technology careers. Among pilot schools in the Bronx, 47% of students who had no prior exposure plan to pursue postsecondary pathways in technology.

A core component of TCEP is teacher training. This summer Per Scholas hosted an Externship in which high school teachers learned from industry professionals, unpacked the skills their students will need, and navigated the curriculum resources.  25 NYC teachers participated in the two-week remote Externship that included meetings with representatives from Bloomberg, Citibank, DarkTrace, Google, JetBlue, NYC Cyber Command, PDT Partners, and Spotify, as well as Per Scholas staff, students, and alumni.  In the Fall, these teachers will facilitate the TCEP modules asynchronously with the support of Per Scholas’ compendium to remote learning and remote desktop solutions for students to access hands-on technical activities. Per Scholas appreciates all our partners and the NY Advisory Board members who contributed to making an impact on our youth. While the format of this school year is in flux, TCEP will continue to find ways to build an evidence base for scale, reaching 1,000 students and providing remote support for teachers. There are opportunities for industry professionals to volunteer with high school students and promote sponsorship of TCEP. Visit the TCEP homepage, see here, and contact NextGen@perscholas.org for more information.

The pandemic has heightened the need for relevant workplace skills. Arguably, community colleges have an opportunity to provide these skills and training at scale – and many are partnering with employers and workforce training organizations. Per Scholas is piloting a model with a CUNY college – Guttman Community College. Through this partnership students enrolled in a two year Associate degree who are majoring in IT take a credit-bearing Networking course at Per Scholas, earning industry-recognized certifications.

This summer, the program has been extended to include a credit-bearing internship at Per Scholas. Students are performing simulated network solutions for a client guided by a Per Scholas instructor. They each have a mentor from Salesforce and participated in mock interviews with volunteers from PIMCO. Students will graduate with an AA degree, certifications, and career navigation experiences that will bridge them to entry-level networking positions while continuing their studies to earn a four-year degree.

Per Scholas stands ready to be part of reimagining postsecondary pathways as vehicles to scale job-focused IT training in this new economic reality. Per Scholas appreciates the support of Carnegie Corporation of NY for this pilot. For more context, see this recent report on Reimagining Community College from Opportunity America.