Per Scholas is thrilled to have been featured in the New York Times, celebrating our success in preparing underemployed and underrepresented individuals for cutting-edge tech careers.

For nearly three decades, Per Scholas has offered free, comprehensive training programs that have transformed lives and careers across the nation. From its humble beginnings in the South Bronx in 1995, Per Scholas has expanded to 24 cities and trained over 25,000 people, with 85% being people of color and 40% women. Our organization also works closely with tech employers to ensure that graduates possess in-demand skills upon graduation, and offers professional development training and job attainment support for learners. A rigorous analysis from MDRC  found that, by 2020, the economic benefits of the training – including increased wages and reduced dependence on social services – totaled an estimated 800% of the training costs.

Per Scholas’s commitment to providing free, high-quality training is made possible through donor support, with contributions directly funding various aspects of the program, from textbooks to comprehensive learning support. The New York Times Communities Fund has supported Per Scholas since 2023, helping to maintain our policy of never charging learners for any aspect of their training.

Read the full article here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rafael Gerena

[email protected] | 689-239-3127

Social Finance Partners with Per Scholas to Offer Living Expense Loans to Learners

The Zero Percent Loan program helps participants to cover living expenses with support from Social Finance, a grantee of the Google Career Certificates Fund

Boston, MA and New York, NY (December 16, 2024)—Social Finance, a leader in innovative workforce investments, has partnered with Per Scholas on a pilot program that offers living expense loans to participants in Per Scholas’ three-month, no-cost IT Support training program. The Zero Percent Loan (ZPL) program helps participants to cover living expenses while they complete the Google IT Support Certificate—training for in-demand, well-paying jobs with pathways to economic mobility—allowing them to focus on gaining the skills needed for these careers.

There are many good jobs that need to be filled, but they often require a degree or credential. These training programs are out of reach for many prospective participants who must decide between pursuing training and working so that they can cover their living expenses.

The Per Scholas ZPL is managed by Social Finance, a grant recipient of the $100 million Google Career Certificates Fund. The program supported by the Google Career Certificates Fund aims to drive $1 billion in aggregate wage gains for more than 20,000 people while providing wraparound support services such as professional coaching, interview prep, and job placement assistance. With the ZPL, learners receive $3,000 over the course of the three-month long Per Scholas program. The loans are flexible, allowing learners to use them according to their needs for expenses such as rent, groceries, transportation, or childcare. Learners only repay the ZPL via no-interest, low monthly payments if they secure jobs making above a minimum salary. Repayments received are reinvested back into the program to allow more learners to benefit.

Per Scholas piloted the loan across 21 IT support cohorts at eight campuses—Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, North Carolina, and Philadelphia—and aims to expand the program with support from additional partners.

“The Zero Percent Loan program is a game-changer in Per Scholas’ mission to drive economic mobility and build a diverse, inclusive tech workforce,” said Plinio Ayala, president and CEO of Per Scholas. “By tackling the often-overlooked challenge of living expenses during training, this initiative reduces financial barriers that have long kept talented individuals from reaching their full potential. With the support of Social Finance, Google.org, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the Charles Koch Foundation, we are not just empowering learners to gain critical skills for in-demand careers—we are creating a model for lasting economic equity and reshaping the future of opportunity in the tech industry.”

Early results from the pilot demonstrate the impact of the ZPL, with participants achieving an 83% graduation rate compared to 70% for non-participants, a statistically significant improvement. Detailed in a newly released report by Per Scholas, the pilot ran from June 2023 to March 2024, with nearly 60% of all eligible learners applying for the ZPL.

“We designed this program, made possible through the Google Career Certificates Fund, to support learners as they prepare for jobs that lead to economic mobility. We are encouraged by the early results of the Zero Percent Loan pilot with Per Scholas, which show greater persistence among learners using the loan,” said Jake Edwards, VP of Impact Investments at Social Finance. “We are excited to apply learnings from the partnership, and other training providers supported by the Fund, to build the knowledge base of what works to help more learners upskill at scale.”

The program is already helping learners improve their job prospects and earning potential. Wanting to switch careers, Tori Haynes—who had been working as a security guard and DJ—was encouraged by a Per Scholas alum to consider Per Scholas training to pursue her interest in a career in tech. Tori enrolled in Per Scholas’ IT Support course in Baltimore. The ZPL provided Tori with the financial stability to focus on the program, helping her gain technical and professional skills. Tori now works as an IT Support Specialist at a real estate company and is exploring opportunities in emerging technologies, including AI.

“When I found out I got the loan, it was such a relief—it was one less thing to worry about. It allowed me to concentrate fully on my studies and gave me a cushion so I didn’t have to work constantly to make ends meet,” Tori said. “Some people literally can’t pursue education because they can’t afford it. Doing this program for free and with the extra financial help? That’s a miracle for some people.”

The Google Career Certificates were developed by Google employees to support skilling in high-demand fields within 3-6 months—with no degree or experience required. The Google Career Certificates Fund began supporting learners with training providers including inaugural training providers Merit America and Year Up in 2022. In addition to training and wraparound support, learners are also connected to an employer consortium of over 150 companies that consider Google Career Certificates graduates.

To learn more about Per Scholas’ IT Support training program and how you can enroll, visit perscholas.org.

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About Social Finance

Social Finance (SF Advisors, LLC) is a national nonprofit and registered investment advisor. We work with the public, private, and social sectors to create partnerships and investments that measurably improve lives. Since our founding in 2011, we have mobilized more than $400 million in new investments designed to help people and communities realize improved outcomes in workforce and economic mobility, health, and housing. Learn more at socialfinance.org.

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, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Indianapolis, December 3, 2024 – Per Scholas Indianapolis received a $75,000 grant from Glick Philanthropies to support economic mobility opportunities in the tech workforce. Glick Philanthropies – a family of charitable initiatives dedicated to building community and creating opportunity that empowers everyone to reach their full potential – recently announced more than $1.86 million in grants to 40 nonprofit organizations.

With this grant, Per Scholas Indianapolis will continue to support the community’s needs by providing tuition-free tech training to individuals traditionally underrepresented in tech, helping them launch high-growth careers, and partnering with employers to build sustainable and diverse talent pipelines.

Theron Wilson, Managing Director of Per Scholas Indianapolis stated, “We are so honored and grateful for this generous gift to help further our mission in the local and surrounding communities of Indianapolis. This grant will help power economic development by building a more diverse, skilled, and thriving technological workforce.”

Glick Philanthropies awards grants to tax-exempt organizations serving central Indiana and communities where Glick Company-managed properties are located. Grants support efforts to:

Build Community

• Provide affordable housing
• Support a healthy democracy
• Strengthen Jewish cultural life

Create Opportunity

• Expand equitable opportunities in the arts
• Close education achievement gaps
• Improve access to basic needs
• Increase economic mobility

“Nonprofit organizations are uniquely positioned to understand community members’ needs, partner with them to provide support, and connect them to essential resources,” said Marianne Glick, chair of the Glick Family Foundation. “At Glick Philanthropies, our role is to walk alongside these nonprofit organizations to build community and create opportunity. We hope these grants empower our nonprofit partners to reach more people with thoughtful, innovative programs.”

For more information about Per Scholas Indianapolis’s work, please visit https://perscholas.org/locations/indianapolis/. For more information about Glick Philanthropies, visit glickphilanthropies.org.

About Per Scholas

Per Scholas Indianapolis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that prepares learners to enter the technology workforce through intensive training in both Technical Skills and Professional Development. In addition to skills training, Per Scholas provides individuals often excluded from tech careers access to employer networks. Per Scholas envisions a technology workforce as diverse as the customers it serves.

About Glick Philanthropies 

Glick Philanthropies is an Indianapolis-based family of charitable initiatives dedicated to building community and creating opportunity that empowers every person to reach their full potential. Glick Philanthropies includes Glick Family Foundation, Glick Housing Foundation, the Glick Fund at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), and the Glick Fund at Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis (JFGI). Since 1982, we have awarded $320 million to charitable causes in

Per Scholas Newark is thrilled to celebrate its 5th anniversary, marking five years of transformative impact on the lives of more than 1,000 individuals and underscoring the powerful partnership with Prudential Financial that made this milestone possible. Together, we’ve built a bridge to opportunity for countless Newark residents, providing no-cost tech training and access to sustainable career pathways in cybersecurity, software development, and Cloud AWS, IT support.

Per Scholas Newark wouldn’t be here today without Prudential’s commitment. When Per Scholas began considering Newark as a location, Prudential welcomed us with open arms, offering foundational investment and market insights that allowed us to expand to Newark and plant the seeds for growth. Their support didn’t stop with funding; Prudential’s ongoing involvement has paved the way for deep-rooted connections within the Newark community. Since day one, Prudential has continued as a key partner, helping Per Scholas Newark grow into one of the city’s premier tech talent developers.

Beyond financial support, Prudential has shown its commitment by actively hiring Per Scholas alumni. To date, more than 10 graduates have joined the Prudential team in roles across Engineering and IT infrastructure, a testament to their trust in Per Scholas-trained talent. By embracing Per Scholas alumni, Prudential helps create pathways for economic mobility and contributes to the diversity and inclusivity of Newark’s tech ecosystem.

Prudential employees have gone above and beyond, dedicating time, knowledge, and resources to Per Scholas Newark. Over 100 Prudential Financial employees have volunteered, providing invaluable mentorship to our learners. These volunteers have participated in more than two dozen events, from networking lunches, site visits, and guest lectures to resume reviews, panel discussions, and keynote speeches at graduations. This consistent engagement offers our learners real-world insights and strengthens their professional networks.

Prudential’s involvement with Per Scholas has been present for years. Back in February 2023, Per Scholas Newark hosted a hackathon in partnership with members of Prudential Financial’s Global Technology team and the Blueprint to Black Wealth initiative, presenting a unique opportunity for our mid-level career alumni to flex their skills in a competitive environment. Alumni were challenged to design an event-management app prototype, judged by Prudential executives. This experience not only showcased alumni’s technical abilities but also placed them in front of influential decision-makers at Prudential.

Additionally, volunteers from Prudential provided critical professional development support for our learners. Between September 2023 and August 2024, volunteers from Prudential participated in two learner-engagement events. In September 2023, a Prudential Executive from Human Resources was a guest speaker at a ceremony that celebrated the graduation of four cohorts in IT Support and Cybersecurity; and in October 2023, Prudential hosted 17 Cybersecurity Per Scholas learners at their Global Technology offices for a Talent Showcase and onsite visit.

On June 11, 2024, Per Scholas’ National Board and Leadership teams, and Newark’s Advisory Board, convened at our Newark campus for a national board meeting and to acknowledge the five-year anniversary. This all-day event included a panel discussion on Bridging the Tech Talent Gap: Employer Insights on Per Scholas Graduates and Hiring Trends, where a Prudential Executive from their Global Technology department was one of the panelists. 

Since opening in 2018, Per Scholas Newark has served over 1,000 learners, many from communities historically underserved in educational and employment opportunities. Our learner demographics reflect this diversity: 91% identify as people of color, 37% as women, and 42% are young adults aged 18-29. Furthermore, nearly half of our learners entered the program with only a high school diploma or equivalent, illustrating Per Scholas’ commitment to breaking down educational barriers.

Graduates from Per Scholas Newark are securing high-wage, sustainable employment opportunities, with an average initial placement wage of $26.43 per hour. Supported by Prudential’s investment, Per Scholas Newark has achieved an impressive 85% graduation rate, with 80% of graduates moving into regional tech roles earning an average of $21 per hour. Through our robust training, personalized career coaching, and Prudential’s involvement, learners are prepared to meet real-life challenges head-on, gaining skills in emotional intelligence, navigating imposter syndrome, and maintaining their mental and emotional well-being.

As Per Scholas Newark celebrates this milestone, we extend heartfelt gratitude to Prudential Financial for their belief in our mission and their steadfast partnership. In five short years, together, we have built a legacy of empowerment and economic advancement in Newark, providing countless individuals with the skills, confidence, and support they need to thrive. As we look to the future, Per Scholas Newark is committed to further expanding opportunities for tech talent in the region, uplifting our community, and continuing our transformative work alongside Prudential Financial.

Click here to see the upcoming training cohorts as we continue to unlock potential in Newark! 

The Atlanta Hawks, State Farm Arena, and Stand Together recently announced a collaborative social impact partnership aimed at fostering local community and education efforts. This initiative includes several impactful programs to support economic mobility, youth empowerment, and educational innovation. Per Scholas is one of the partnering organizations participating.

For Per Scholas, this partnership is a vital opportunity to amplify our mission. As part of the “Building a Brighter Future” initiative, we will showcase the value of hiring individuals with nontraditional credentials. By engaging business leaders and hosting interactive networking events, this collaboration will highlight the success stories of technologists trained through immersive programs, helping to create more inclusive hiring practices in the Atlanta area.

Additionally, the partnership aligns with Per Scholas’ broader goals of economic empowerment by spotlighting the untapped potential of diverse talent pools. By working alongside the Hawks, Stand Together, and other community-focused organizations, Per Scholas reaffirms our dedication to transforming lives through technology and driving systemic change in the workforce.

For more details on the initiative, visit the official announcement on Stand Together’s site or explore the Hawks’ announcement.

The US education system and employers alike are currently grappling with significant changes. Traditional degree programs are more expensive than ever and typically require a multi-year commitment. At the same time, there’s a growing skills and experience gap in the workforce. After years of working toward traditional degrees, graduates aren’t prepared to fill the roles that employers critically need to fill.

While colleges and universities do an excellent job of equipping young people with critical thinking and communication skills, that’s insufficient in today’s marketplace. Employers desperately need a new type of worker who has experience with the latest technology and an innate understanding of today’s business world. As a result, the top job openings now typically require six months to a year of experience. That’s a problem for many recent college graduates.

Fortunately, a new approach to education and workforce development is helping build skilled talent for today’s workforce: apprenticeships. Employers are partnering with hands-on learning institutions for innovative apprenticeship programs in industries as diverse as technology, healthcare, and manufacturing. By integrating work experience into education, learning organizations like Per Scholas are closing the skills gap to create a new and ready workforce.

Per Scholas’ Approach to Apprenticeships

Over the past 25 years, Per Scholas has built a reputation for understanding the ever-shifting tech talent market. We have always sought to design unique solutions that benefit our alumni and the employers they go to work for. Historically, we’ve achieved that through placement programs. Over the years, Per Scholas has placed its alumni with more than 850 businesses and organizations. The shift toward apprentice programs, and especially ​​tech apprenticeships, was a natural fit for us.

Look, for example, at our cybersecurity training. Since 2016, we’ve prepared more than 2,000 diverse workers for entry—and mid-level cybersecurity roles. In our job training programs, cybersecurity learners obtain Cisco, CompTIA CSA+, and Splunk certifications and real-world experience within our growing partner network.

One of our first cybersecurity employer partners was Barclays, who quickly realized the power of apprenticeships. In the inaugural Per Scholas-Barclays program, more than 40 Per Scholas learners earned apprenticeships, internships, or full-time jobs with the international financial services organization.

Per Scholas’ approach to apprenticeships works for a few reasons. First is our proven curriculum, which equips apprentices with the skills employers need, especially in the technology and cybersecurity fields. Then there’s our commitment to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech. Per Scholas alumni are 85% people of color and more than 40% women. Over one-third of the alumni are adults under 30 who are early in their career journeys; two-thirds do not have a four-year degree. By embracing diversity, we bring new talent into the workforce, ready to bridge the gaps that have held employers back.

The Multi-Faceted Benefits of Per Scholas Apprenticeships

Per Scholas apprenticeship programs are so successful because they benefit all stakeholders. For example:

• For apprentices: Practical experience, direct mentorship, and a pathway to a stable career without the financial burden of a traditional four-year degree.
• For employers: Building a talent pipeline, enhancing retention, and cultivating skills that align precisely with organizational goals.
• For communities and the economy: Apprenticeships contribute to local economic development by providing high-quality jobs and increasing earning potential.

Real-World Apprenticeship Success Stories

Barclays may have been among the first Per Scholas apprenticeship partners, but they aren’t the only one with a success story. Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company in the financial services industry, has also seen how our alumni can thrive when given the chance. Nationwide has taken 49 Per Scholas software engineering apprentices. So far, Nationwide has hired more than 80% of them in full-time roles.

Regardless of the partner company, we’ve found that Per Scholas apprenticeships pay off. For every $1 invested in apprenticeships, organizations realize an average ROI of $1,47. [1] Apprentices are paid on a progressive wage scale, making these programs cost-effective, even before any potential tax credits or employment grants that might be available from the state and federal governments.

Why More Industries Should Adopt Apprenticeship Models

The skilled talent shortage continues, but Per Scholas and our apprenticeship programs are quickly bridging the gap. Apprenticeships not only create a new talent pipeline, but they’re also good for local communities and the American economy. With Per Scholas’ commitment to diversity and inclusion, apprenticeships actively improve our learners’ lives and make stronger companies. The numbers even show that apprentices are a great investment.

While we’ve had great success in tech, healthcare, and financial services companies, we believe more industries should adopt apprenticeship models. If this is something your organization can benefit from, we want to hear from you. Contact us today at [email protected] to tell us about your talent needs.

[1] https://nationalapprenticeship.org/roi

On October 24th, Blue Meridian held their annual Partnership Summit, which brings together organizations with a shared commitment to improve the lives of marginalized communities in the US. The concept of this year’s summit was “Unlocking Potential,” an integral theme close to Per Scholas’ heart.

Per Scholas’ President and CEO, Plinio Ayala, was a featured speaker at the event, hosting a breakout room panel discussion entitled “Changing the Face of Technology.” Plinio discussed Per Scholas’ commitment to unlocking potential for individuals, families, communities, companies, and local economies through technical skills training. He highlighted the significance of diversity in tech, and the importance of connecting our skilled alumni with employers, enabling alumni to launch thriving, high-growth careers in tech.

Two of our wonderful Per Scholas alumni were featured in the panel: Moja Chatman, who graduated from Per Scholas’ AWS re/Start course in September 2020 and now works as a Junior Software Developer at Barclays, and Jadah Stone, who graduated from Per Scholas’ Network Support course in 2019, and now works as a Systems Engineer at Saks Cloud Services.

Jadah and Moja shared their experiences at Per Scholas, as well as their journey’s to success post-graduation, and emphasized the importance of organizations like Per Scholas in helping others who wish to find a pathway to economic mobility.

Per Scholas New York recently celebrated a momentous graduation ceremony at Barclays, one of our valued Founder’s Circle supporters. The event recognized the hard work and dedication of 91 technologists, each of whom successfully completed intensive training in highly sought-after fields including Cybersecurity and IT support. These graduates represented various cohorts, including Cybersecurity at Brooklyn/Stanley Issacs satellite, Bronx IT Support, IT Support at Brooklyn/CommonPoint Queens satellite, and IT Support from Brooklyn/JCC Staten Island satellite. The graduation not only celebrated the individual achievements of these technologists but also underscored Per Scholas’ ongoing commitment to creating pathways for diverse talent to enter and thrive in their technological careers.

During the ceremony, Debbie Roman, Managing Director of Per Scholas New York, delivered a wholehearted speech encouraging alumni to view this milestone as the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning and growth. In addition to Roman’s inspiring remarking, industry leaders such as Craig Robertson, CEO of the Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) at Barclays and Wale Akinwande, Per Scholas National Board and Senior VP and Chief Auditor at S&P Global, emphasized the importance of persistence and innovation as these new technologists enter into an ever-evolving field. 

Meanwhile, Per Scholas Kansas City marked a historic moment with its inaugural graduation on Friday, August 30, 2024, celebrating 16 graduates from its IT support cohort. Per Scholas President and CEO Plinio Ayala attended and addressed the Kansas City technologists, acknowledging their achievement and the bright futures ahead of them in an industry ready for skilled professionals. Ayala’s remarks captured the transformative impact of Per Scholas’ programs, as these graduates prepare to apply their new skills and continue to drive change in their communities. 

These ceremonies serve as reminders of the ongoing commitment Per Scholas holds to empowering individuals from underrepresented backgrounds with meaningful careers in technology. As we continue to expand across the country, the success of these alumni reinforces our mission to build a more inclusive tech workforce and demonstrates the power of opportunity and education to change lives. We are excited to witness the future contributions of these technologists and remain committed to supporting their journeys ahead.

Per Scholas is grateful to be a recipient of the Texas Talent Connection Grant program, from the Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The $350,000 investment will support our campuses in Houston and Dallas in scaling no-cost technical skills training, professional development and job placement services to Texas learners, serving Collin, Dallas, Denton, Fort Bend, Harris, Houston, and Tarrant counties. The funds will create new pathways to job opportunities such as help desk analysts, desktop support technicians, and associate network engineers in the information technology industry. 

Administered through the Texas Workforce Investment Council, over $6.3 million in grants were awarded this month to organizations leading innovative education and workforce skills training programs that ensure Texas’ growing workforce and businesses are prepared to successfully operate in an ever-changing 21st century economy. 

“Our cities are seeing growth in tech roles across industries, especially in education and technology,” said Per Scholas Houston Managing Director Tondalayo Hall. “To meet the demand and ensure that more Texans have access to the economic mobility that the innovation sector offers, organizations like Per Scholas are critical in building on-ramps for those new to the field.”

To learn more about this grant, read the full press release.