As summer comes to a close, we need to recognize that returning to school is not simple for every Hartford young person. Many young people face barriers to education that they cannot overcome alone. Barriers include low income, unstable housing situations, early parenting, and trauma. Involvement with foster care, justice system, or gangs add to their barriers. Some young people have given up on a system that they don’t know how to navigate. They are at a crossroads and we can make a difference. By providing additional support now, we can help to shape a brighter future.
According to the Dalio Education Study Connecticut’s Unspoken Crisis: Getting Young People Back On Track, disconnection from education is a growing concern. “In 2022, one in five of Connecticut’s young people were either at-risk or disconnected. These are 119,000 young people who have either dropped out of school or are in danger of dropping out of school, and who are, for those aged 18 to 26, unemployed and in many cases unemployable.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (September 2023) reports the median annual earnings without a high school degree is $36,816. With a high school degree, earnings soar by almost $10K to $46,748. There is an economic impact on the community too. Increased earnings bring increased tax revenues while reducing the cost of supportive services. As students find success and move out of poverty, they help prepare the path for their children and families to gain economic independence.
Our Piece of the Pie is helping to address this crisis. We are focused on supporting our young people, delivering educational services, and making systemic changes in the educational system. We provide alternative education services through our OPPortunity Academy (OA) designed for over-aged and under-credited youth to earn their high school diploma. OA students benefit from anchoring support, innovative education strategies, and guidance in planning for their future.
At OPPortunity Academy our blended learning model is a strategic combination of online and in-person instruction designed to support students in learning at their own pace, accelerating mastery of content and credit attainment. Students engage in active, experiential learning connected to real-world experiences. Unfortunately, the current funding model for education isn’t meeting the needs of alternative education students. OPPortunity Academy receives limited funding from school districts. To provide this proven model we raise almost $500K annually to fill the funding gap.
We recognize that the educational challenges are systemic and we are committed to addressing Connecticut’s Unspoken Crisis at many levels. Hartford’s Mayor Arunan Arulampalam recently launched Hartford’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Education. This group of elected leaders, advocates, and community members will develop recommendations on actionable steps to address challenges faced by Hartford Public Schools and identify opportunities for progress. OPP’s President and CEO Hector Rivera will serve as a Commission Co-Chair and OPP’s Director of Finance Amilcar Hernandez will serve as a Commission Member.
Hector Rivera shared, “This Commission will allow us to strategically and intentionally look at some of the district’s most glaring needs and partner with local, state and national experts to develop recommendations. Our goal is to produce an impactful outcome and opportunities in service to our students and families.”
Girard Dawes, OPP’s Senior Director of Youth Engagement, presented on an education-focused panel at the Hartford 119K Commission Meeting outlining how our OPPortunity Academy is meeting the needs of disconnected young people. And, our young people are also change agents. Our Youth Leadership Council is helping youth learn to use their voice for positive change as they speak truth to power at conferences and within government forums and work groups.
Our Piece of the Pie is committed to helping young people on their education journey. As we learn about the challenges each young person faces, help identify resources, and provide anchoring supports we see the impact first-hand. Our OA graduates tell their stories with pride. A recent graduate’s advice is “If you aren’t on track at another school, being at OA is a whole different school experience. As long as you want to put in the work, OA is there to help you through it.”
Not only does this restorative approach help young people, it has a positive economic impact on the community. The Dalio Education Foundation reports, “This crisis will continue to have significant costs for taxpayers. By helping today’s 63,000 disconnected young people to get back on track, Connecticut would save $400 million in costs and realize up to $350 million in additional tax revenues annually.”
We encourage you to learn more about the crisis facing young people today.
- Learn about the 119K Commission at https://119KCommission.org
- Discover the Dalio Education Foundation sponsored-research at https://www.DalioEducation.org
With your support, we can make a difference for youth as they strive to meet their educational goals and reach for their dreams.
