Per Scholas Chief of Staff Tamara Johnson joined teams from across the nation this week in a discussion hosted by the White House Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) to build a strong cyber workforce in the U.S. More than 500,000 cybersecurity positions are currently open across the country, according to the White House. 

“Access to diverse communities, assessing aptitude, and retention are among the top challenges shared by employers in the room at the White House event. Any solution to solving the cyber talent gap will need to address these three challenges in a scalable way,” Tamara said. 

Per Scholas was invited to share the innovative ways our model boosts the cyber workforce – and connects underrepresented professionals with high-impact careers. Per Scholas commits to the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, where we lead the effort to train 5,000 cyber learners over the next 5 years and grow its national Registered Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program to 40 cyber apprentices in 2024.

The event featured remarks from White House leaders and voices from across a dozen industries, including Per Scholas Pittsburgh alum Dominic Ragghianti. Learn more about the nationwide effort in the latest White House press release.

As cyber risks increase, so does the need for skilled cyber talent. However, a critical talent shortage is leaving organizations scrambling for solutions. Employers and the government are exploring innovative recruitment and training methods to address this gap. One solution is Per Scholas’ new cybersecurity apprenticeship program registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. Through this program, we will train 40 apprentices by the end of the year, with a goal of training 5K cyber learners during the next five years.

“Apprenticeships are not internships,” says Alanna Hughes, senior vice president of strategy and innovation for Per Scholas. “Registered apprenticeships do not have to be bureaucratic nightmares just because they are more structured,” she says. “We make it easier on the employer to take advantage of the perks by managing the administrative pieces.”

Read more about the need for cyber talent and our new apprenticeship program here!

As a result of more than 500,000 cybersecurity positions currently unfilled across the country, The Biden-Harris Administration and the federal government are overhauling the federal hiring process to become fully skills-based for an entire series of technical employees. By opening the talent pool up to individuals who have gained experience through training programs and apprenticeships, more cyber talent can enter the workforce without needing to meet a college degree requirement. Along with this advancement, the White House Office of the National Cyber Director announced organizations, including Per Scholas, committing to help build the U.S. cybersecurity workforce.

Read the rest of the White House Press Release here!

Per Scholas alumna Ayana Dunlap participated in Stand Together Foundation’s Future of Work panel discussion at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego along with Steve Taylor, Director and Senior Fellow of Education & Workforce at Stand Together Trust, and Ken Ruggiero, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Ascent Funding. 

The panel explored policy and funding reforms crucial for ensuring financial accessibility to alternative education options, beyond traditional college routes. Ayana shared her journey with Per Scholas, highlighting its pivotal role in her tech industry breakthrough and subsequent high-growth career. “Per Scholas laid the IT foundation for my tech career. Many wonder how I advanced so swiftly.” Today, she’s the Assistant Vice President of Operations and Information Technology at the Bank Policy Institute in Washington D.C. 

Learn more about the panel and Stand Together Foundation’s key takeaways here. 

Last week, Per Scholas’ Diverse by Design in collaboration with Enterprise Talent Solutions hosted an innovative panel focused on the future of AI – Securing Tech Futures: Unsung Heroes of AI.

Moderator Omoanatse McCarther, Per Scholas Diverse by Design Senior Director, was joined by four industry experts to discuss the future of AI technology and its integration into our workforce. Panelists included Marta Bezoari – EVP & Co-Head, Human Resources, PIMCO; Rafiki Cai – Visiting Community AI Scholar, University of San Francisco & Volunteer CTO, Friends of the Congo; Eyal Darmon – Public Service Generative AI Lead, Customer Experience Lead, & Managing Director, Accenture; and Tiffany Hsieh – Director, Innovation Programs, JFFLabs.

This inspiring conversation touched on lesser-known tech roles and support AI development, maintenance, and integration, such as programmers, cybersecurity experts, and data analysts. Panelists discussed the idea that AI’s role is to augment our capacity to perform our work, rather than replace us. This stellar panel and their insightful advice will continue creating systems that serve us all.

Stay in touch with us to learn about our future panels!

Per Scholas is thrilled that Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet has introduced the Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act, which aims to expand funding for proven workforce development programs such as Per Scholas to provide workers with more opportunities in high-paying careers such as IT, healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services.

The bill seeks to address the skills gap by investing in programs that offer long-term economic mobility, particularly for individuals without college degrees. These programs, although ready to serve both workers and employers, are currently underfunded. The Act proposes the creation of the Workforce Development Innovation Fund within the U.S. Department of Labor, which will allocate funding to evidence-based training programs that have shown measurable economic benefits for job seekers and employers. This funding will help support and prioritize effective programs and training models that have proven success in moving learners into well-paying jobs, ultimately supporting families and communities nationwide.

“Per Scholas applauds Senator Bennet for introducing this impactful resource to our workforce system. The passage of a new Workforce Development Innovation Fund would mean effective workforce training providers across the nation, like us, can keep investing in America’s most valuable asset – our people,” said Plinio Ayala, President and CEO, Per Scholas. “Prioritizing improvements based on evidence would scale programs with the best track record of helping workers and their families achieve self-sufficiency. A resource like this will allow us to reach more people, and bring economic prosperity to more communities.”

Read more about the bill and its transformative legislation.

Last year, Per Scholas joined the Defense Department Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program and Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) for an induction ceremony and annual event in Alexandria, Virginia. Per Scholas joins more than 70 new partners to MSEP — bringing the number of employers to more than 700.

Military spouses have long struggled with maintaining employment due to Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves and other challenges associated with military life. Unemployment among military spouses stood at 21%, according to the 2021 Survey of Active Duty Spouses. In 2022, overall civilian unemployment was 5.3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

MSEP connects military spouses with hundreds of partner employers who commit to recruiting, hiring, promoting and retaining military spouses. Since its inception in 2011, MSEP employers have hired more than 275,000 military spouses. 

Providing opportunities to spouses for meaningful employment strengthens financial stability among military families, which promotes force retention and military readiness which are essential to national security.

“Per Scholas is proud to be part of the Military Spouse Employment Partnership through our Vets in Tech initiative. Our outreach goes beyond Veterans – we know the impact a thriving career has on military spouses and the military community as a whole,” states Per Scholas Director of Veteran Recruitment and Partnerships George Darby III. “This partnership will unlock key benefits and crucial support, and enable Per Scholas to enroll at least 1,000 veterans and military spouses over 3 years, of whom at least 80% will be people of color and 20% identify as women.” 

In order to effectively serve those who have served our country, Per Scholas is tailoring our proven program to meet the specific needs of veterans and military spouses through:

• Strategic Partnerships to recruit eligible veterans and military spouses, provide supportive resources, and assist with job attainment
• Targeted Recruitment Efforts that focus on customized recruitment materials, local partnerships, advertising on military platforms, and uncovering connections between veteran alums
• Learner Support to address the unique barriers that veterans and their families face
• Benefits Access for enrolled learners through GI Bill/VA Approval; Department of Defense Skillbridge; Army Career Skills Program (CSP), and Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) and this partnership

To learn more about Per Scholas Vets in Tech, click here!

As part of Per Scholas’ ongoing dedication to empowering veterans and military spouses, we are thrilled to share that Per Scholas recently received approval from the Department of Defense Skillbridge program, designed to support transitioning service members across all branches of the military, of whom there are 200,000 each year, by allowing service members to continue drawing their full salary and benefits while pursuing specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships to gain valuable civilian work experience during their last 180 days of service.

Thanks to the impactful connections we’ve built over the past year, our application was accelerated for approval in record time, allowing Per Scholas to begin empowering veterans and military spouses to launch thriving careers in tech. This approval applies to our most popular training track: IT Support, and we are actively seeking approvals for our remaining training tracks (Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, and AWS re/Start). With a strategic rollout aimed at increasing awareness among service members that they may now access their salary while enrolled in our program during their last six months of service, we anticipate a marked growth not just in the number of applications we receive, but the conversion rate for active service members seeking to translate skills acquired during their service into high-quality careers.

Per Scholas aims to enroll at least 1,000 veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses over the next three years. In line with our commitment to diversity, we expect that at least 80% will be people of color, and at least 20% will be women. 

“The Skillbridge program approval is monumental for Per Scholas, veterans, and military spouses. Through our Vets in Tech initiative and Skillbridge approval, we will be able to unlock potential for the military community,” states Per Scholas  Director of Veteran Recruitment and Partnerships George Darby III. “This will unlock key benefits and crucial support, and enable Per Scholas to enroll at least 1,000 veterans and military spouses over 3 years and gain valuable civilian work experience during their last 180 days of service.”

In order to effectively serve those who have served our country, Per Scholas is tailoring our proven program to meet the specific needs of veterans and military spouses through:

• Strategic Partnerships to recruit eligible veterans and military spouses, provide supportive resources, and assist with job attainment
• Targeted Recruitment Efforts that focus on customized recruitment materials, local partnerships, advertising on military platforms, and uncovering connections between veteran alums
• Learner Support to address the unique barriers that veterans and their families face
• Benefits Access for enrolled learners through GI Bill/VA Approval; Department of Defense Skillbridge; Army Career Skills Program (CSP), and Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) and the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP)

To learn more about Per Scholas Vets in Tech, click here.  

This week, all eyes were on the U.S. House of Representatives as they took potential action on the bipartisan A Stronger Workforce for America Act (HR 6655), legislation that brings a long-awaited reauthorization to WIOA. 

HR6655 passed the house in a roll call vote 378-26 and will now move on to the Senate. This vote marks a critical milestone in our government moving closer to creating opportunities for more Americans through skills training and workforce development.

For nearly 30 years, Per Scholas has helped to change the face of technology by providing immersive training that enables people who are often underrepresented in the tech field to launch thriving careers and connect them with employers who are seeking talent to grow. The Stronger Workforce for America Act, introduced this spring by Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) is an important step forward in supporting high-quality, cohort-based educational opportunities that directly meet employer demands. 

This legislation will:

• Reduce barriers for workforce development providers and participants, by allowing Eligible Training Providers to accept participants while their eligibility determination is still being reviewed by the local workforce board. 
• Streamline the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) and authorize conditional eligibility for workforce development providers that have demonstrated impact. This provision creates more efficiency in the ETPL process and encourages states to reduce the burden on multi-state providers.
• Require states to establish standards for Eligible Training Providers that clearly link to labor market outcomes. This makes it easier for effective programs to launch in new markets and helps workers identify educational options that are effective at helping launch new careers. 
•  Require that workforce boards spend 50% of WIOA funds on skills development, creating more access to needed training programs. 
• Encourage innovation by allowing states to use up to 20% of their funds through Critical Industry Skills initiatives. This will reduce red tape for states and workforce development providers to build effective partnerships through a competitive grants process and could be even stronger with the inclusion of Senator Bennet’s (D-CO) Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation bill.

Per Scholas will continue to step up for our learners and technologists by advocating for more innovation in the workforce system. There are still critical resource needs, such as funding for effective workforce organizations to scale their efforts and develop new models that address emerging labor market needs— improving programs that general long-term economic improvements for the people that need it most. The impact of this bill is one that will transcend its initial purpose. Workforce development and opportunities for Per Scholas alumni empower them to thrive with new in-demand skills and experience. 

Per Scholas Columbus alumni Jenice Edmunds completed the IT Support and Software Engineering cohorts. As a mother of 6, she showed resilience throughout her life but needed an immersive training program to take her to the next level in her career. 

“Through this course, I learned that I knew more than I thought, and have more to share than I realized. When I started my previous Per Scholas training, I knew nothing at all, but as time went on, I gained knowledge and understanding. With this training, I was able to build on what I taught myself by filling in the knowledge gaps,” Edmunds recalled. 

Now, Jenice is an Agile leader and her son has started Per Scholas’ training, creating significant generational advancement for her family. She commends Per Scholas’ training as an invaluable program that has changed her life. 

This is but one example of the potential that HR655 has to impact American families in a life-changing way. In reshaping WIOA, we look now to the Senate to pass legislation that meets the demands of America’s ever-evolving contemporary workforce before Memorial Day. 

Per Scholas Selected by Stand Together Foundation to Become Catalyst Impact Partner 

Per Scholas joins the second cohort of Catalyst Impact Partners, receiving management training, access to new customer-first impact measurement approach, and up to $300,000 in grants over the next three years.

Bronx, NY, March 25, 2024 – Per Scholas is proud to announce it has been selected to participate in Stand Together Foundation’s Catalyst Impact Grant Program, an initiative cultivating a group of the country’s most transformative nonprofits that demonstrate a better way to transform individual lives and create lasting change.

The Catalyst Impact Grant Program awards each incoming Impact Partner with Principle Based Management™ coaching and consulting, access to a new customer-first measurement approach created by Stand Together Foundation to understand and differentiate their impact, and grants up to $300,000 over three years. By 2025, Stand Together Foundation’s goal is to invest in up to 100 Catalyst partners who have successfully completed the Catalyst Program, committing up to $30 million to accelerate nonprofit impact and transform how society thinks about addressing poverty and social barriers.

Per Scholas is one of 25 Catalysts selected to join the Catalyst Impact Grant Program’s second cohort, which officially kicked off in January 2023. Nonprofits selected have the key ingredients to break the cycle of poverty. They put people at the forefront, see the unique potential in every individual, and are changing the way the country thinks about, talks about, and tackles poverty. The grant program is designed to provide resources for increased effectiveness, including management training and customer feedback tools to help nonprofits grow, scale, and replicate their success. Click here to view a full list of the 2023 Catalyst Impact Partners.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Stand Together Foundation and the Catalyst Impact Grant Program to further empower our learners and alumni to unlock potential in their tech careers,” reflected Per Scholas President and CEO Plinio Ayala. “Stand Together Foundation’s support resonates with our mission as we continue to change the face of technology and uplift individuals and communities, meeting the needs of employers through our innovative tech training.” 

Stand Together Foundation partners with the highest impact nonprofits around the nation, all committed to empowering the individuals they serve through a principled approach. This means that instead of treating people as problems to be managed with sweeping, top-down plans, these organizations help people realize their full potential through bottom-up empowerment and solutions that help individuals transform themselves and the world around them. Today, Stand Together Foundation partners with over 300 nonprofits across all 50 states.

Per Scholas was selected through an extensive vetting process and accepted into the program after a rigorous evaluation focused on impact, customer surveying, reach, and principle alignment. Stand Together Foundation’s Catalyst Impact Partner Initiative represents an investment in the diversity of nonprofits, audiences, and solutions as the way to end poverty. 

The 25 Impact Partners have diverse program models across the nation and are uniquely suited for rapid iteration and experimentation based on data collection and customer feedback. Each of these organizations focuses on relationships with their customers and prioritizes individual transformation rather than transactional services.

“Our Catalyst partners take a unique approach to helping people overcome barriers that is anchored in a strong belief in people,” said Evan Feinberg, executive director at Stand Together Foundation. “This initiative is about deepening our partnership so that Catalysts can scale their reach, better understand their impact, and ultimately transform the way society thinks about addressing social barriers. If these organizations continue to grow in their effectiveness, and everyone in the country hears about what they are doing, we can transform the entire social sector in America.”

Catalyst Impact Partners will be encouraged and supported to:

• Model a “customer-first” impact vision. Catalyst Impact Partners will participate in Stand Together Foundation’s pioneering measurement approach to understand impact through customer feedback.

• Advance a management culture that empowers employees. Catalyst Impact Partners will focus on leveraging Principle Based Management to empower their employees to empower the people they serve.
• Build the movement toward empowerment. Identify with and advocate for a culture of openness, dignity, mutual benefit, and empowerment among philanthropists, nonprofits, and the broader social sector.

Click here to learn more about Catalyst Impact Partners.

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About Per Scholas

For nearly 30 years, Per Scholas has been on a mission to drive equity and opportunity in the ever-advancing technology landscape by unlocking the untapped potential of individuals, uplifting communities, and meeting the needs of employers through rigorous tech training. By teaming up with dynamic employer partners, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups, we’re forging inclusive tech talent pipelines, fulfilling an ever-increasing need for skilled talent. With national remote training and campuses in 20+ cities and counting, Per Scholas offers no-cost training programs in the most sought-after tech skills, spanning Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, Software Engineering, and more. To date, 25,000+ individuals have been trained through Per Scholas, propelling their professional trajectories into high-growth tech careers with salaries three times higher than their pre-training earnings. At Per Scholas, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging aren’t just buzzwords—they’re in our DNA. 85+ percent of our learners are people of color, two in five are women, and more than half hold a high school diploma as their highest educational credential. Learn more by visiting PerScholas.org and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. 

About Stand Together Foundation

Stand Together Foundation is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in America by driving change from within communities. We are building a community of social entrepreneurs who believe in people, work from the bottom up, and unite with anyone to do right. Since 2016, we have committed over $120 million and counting to fuel the innovation of nonprofits throughout the country to build stronger, safer communities where all people can learn, contribute, and realize their full potential. Our goal is to help nonprofit leaders maximize their impact to transform more lives out of poverty. Learn more at www.StandTogetherFoundation.org.