AYPF PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES
A recent study, The New Forgotten Half and Research Directions to Support Them, commissioned by the William T. Grant Foundation, finds that many young people who enroll in college fail to complete their studies and attain a degree and that these youth fare no better in the labor market than those with only a high school diploma. And while 37 percent of on-time high school graduates enroll in community colleges and intend ultimately to pursue bachelor’s degrees, nearly half (46 percent) drop out within eight years, earning no degree and incurring significant expenses. These young people, who pursue but do not complete their higher education, are, according to the authors, the new forgotten half.
This discussion addressed the challenges facing students and the institutions that serve them, and talked about strategies to help the new forgotten half get ahead and achieve their potential.
Forum For Thought Blog The Forum for Thought blog is operated by the American Youth Policy Forum, and highlights diverse points of view and information from the intersection of policy, practice and research.In honor of Foster Care month in May, Policy Research Assistant Garet Fryar hosted a four-part series highlighting foster care youth voices. The series focuses on range of Foster Care-specific issues, including the value of adult mentors and the role that therapy can play when transitioning out of the system.How do we use language in education policy? Deputy Director Jennifer Brown Lerner illustrates the importance of using precise language in our work.Guest bloggers James Rosenbaum and Barbara Veazey follow up on our recent Capitol Hill forum, and explain how students with “some college” but no degree are the new forgotten half.Click here to view all AYPF publicationsClick here to find all briefs and reports
RECOMMENDED READING AND RESOURCES
Check these out – recommended reading from the AYPF staff:CompetencyWorks Implementing Competency Education in K-12 Systems: Insights from Local Leaders This report is a comprehensive look at how districts across the country have been transforming their districts from the time-based system to a competency-based model that puts students and their learning at the forefront.CLASP DC Course, Counselor, and Teacher Gaps: Addressing the College Readiness Challenge in High-Poverty High Schools This report offers a new analysis of education data on high schools in the 100 largest school districts that highlights the role of inadequate K-12 preparation as a barrier to postsecondary success for students who live in poverty.William T. Grant Foundation Webinar Reducing Inequality Initiative: New Directions for Research On June 22, Program Officer Vivian Louie will lead a webinar to discuss new research interests and strategies for applicants to develop strong letters of inquiry. The conversation will center on gaps in understanding and opportunities for future research.National Summer Learning Association Accelerating Achievement Through Summer Learning This report is a resource for program providers, education leaders, policymakers, and funders who are making important decisions about whether and how to strengthen and expand summer learning programs as a way to accelerate student achievement. Profiling thirteen diverse models, the report demonstrates how high-quality summer learning programs address a variety of K-12 education priorities to deliver strong outcomes for children, youth, and educators.Lumina Foundation Connecting Credentials: A Beta Credentials Framework This tool framework uses competencies – what the learner knows and is able to do – as common reference points to help understand and compare the levels and types of knowledge and skills that underlie degrees, certificates, industry certifications, licenses, apprenticeships, badges and other credentials.
The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF), a nonprofit, nonpartisan professional development organization based in Washington, DC, provides learning opportunities for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers working on youth and education issues at the national, state, and local levels.AYPF events and publications are made possible by a consortium of philanthropic foundations: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, William T. Grant Foundation, The Wallace Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and others.
