Per Scholas

Per Scholas is a national nonprofit that drives positive and proven social change in communities across the country. Through rigorous and tuition-free technology training and professional development, Per Scholas prepares motivated and curious adults who are un- or underemployed for successful careers as IT professionals, and creates onramps to businesses in need of their talents.

Per Scholas was founded in 1995 by Lewis Miller and John Stookey in the South Bronx, New York City. Today Per Scholas provides solutions in six cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Cincinnati and Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region, and New York, NY. To date, Per Scholas has trained 6,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life-changing skills and careers in technology.

Per Scholas offers a free IT training and workforce development program. The program targets unemployed and underserved adults.

Per Scholas offers a targeted range of tuition-free technology and professional development training that vary based on local market demands. Each Per Scholas program, regardless of its location, combines these essential components: high quality, hands-on technical skills training led by certified and experienced instructors; extensive job skills instruction; and individualized support for job placement, as well as personal and career advancement.

The success of the Per Scholas training programs (relative to earlier workforce development programs) is attributed in large part to its understanding of the industries its students will enter. The organization works in close partnership with many prominent corporations, its instructors are experienced experts in the field, and its leadership consists of leading professionals in the IT field. Training is also structured to fill specific demands in the labor force.

Per Scholas' outcomes -- proven in a five year, randomized and controlled study undertaken by Public/Private Ventures with funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and verified by a two-year randomized and controlled study called WorkAdvance, undertaken by MDRC and CEO -- are dramatically better than those arising from other workforce development efforts, community colleges or technical schools. Unlike at many of these types of institutions, 85% of Per Scholas students graduate, and an equal percentage of graduates demonstrate their learning by earning industry-recognized IT professional certifications. Further, Per Scholas supports its graduates after their placements, with a program of continued training, career advancement coaching, financial planning services, and other support services.

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