The National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC), in collaboration with the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC) and with the support from the Lumina Foundation for Education, has launched an initiative focusing on connecting out-of-school youth (ages 16-24) to higher education. Through this initiative, NYEC seeks to develop a national policy framework, informed by research and practice, to promote the development of federal policy intended to improve college access, retention, and success for out-of-school youth transitioning from youth employment/development programs to colleges and state universities.
To date, NYEC has conducted a review of existing research and literature on programs that provide opportunities, services, and supports for out-of-school and at-risk youth at the secondary education level, during transition to postsecondary education and work, and once enrolled in a postsecondary institution. In addition, NYEC, in conjunction with Decision Information Resources (DIR), Inc., conducted a research study to identify successful interventions and promising strategies designed to improve the postsecondary attendance, persistence, academic performance, and completion rates of disadvantaged youth.
For more information about the Transition to Higher Education Initiative please contact Nancy Martin, Director, Capacity Building Initiatives, nm@nyec.org, or Mala B. Thakur, Executive Director, mt@nyec.org.
