Project Duration
October 2021 – August 2026
Description
Through a partnership with the UP Partnership and the Aspen Institute, the RMC will engage in a data-driven longitudinal study following Opportunity Youth (OY) in San Antonio into either the labor market or postsecondary education (or both) between Fall 2021 and Summer 2026 to map out the pathways taken by OY. This study will begin tracking OY at the point that they exit OY programs. In addition, and in order to gain a fuller understanding of the entire OY population, we will identify the total population of OY in an area (based on high school of graduation) through data collected from the Education Research Center (ERC). We will also submit a request to the ERC to upload participant data we collect from OY programs in order to compare the difference in the relative size of the OY population receiving and not receiving services. This partnership is motivated by several research questions:
- What trends can be identified for OY in San Antonio?
- What are the fields of study for OY enrolled in post-secondary education (2 year, 4 year) or workforce training?
- Are OY earning industry-based credentials from their postsecondary institution? Which credentials?
- What are the industries that OY enter?
- What are their wages once they enter the workforce, and how do their wages change over time?
- How do each of these metrics disaggregate by race and gender?
- What services are students getting in H.S. specific to AOYC/specific to college?
- Are OY earning a livable wage, and, if so, how much time does this take?
- Working with Northside and San Antonio Independent School Districts, where do the graduating seniors end up the fall of proceeding their high school graduation?