Absence of conflict of interest.
Citation
Highlights
- The study's objective was to examine the impact of the Urban Alliance High School Internship Program on education, employment, and earnings.
- The study used a randomized controlled trial to assign participants to the High School Internship Program or the control group. Data sources included student applications, program administration data, and surveys. The authors used statistical models to compare outcomes between the treatment and control groups.
- The study found that program participants were more likely to have obtained paid employment in the year following graduation than control group participants.
- This study receives high evidence rating. This means we are confident that the estimated effects are attributable to the Urban Alliance High School Internship Program, and not to other factors.
Intervention Examined
Urban Alliance High School Internship Program
Features of the Intervention
The Urban Alliance High School Internship Program provides job skills training, paid work-based learning, and mentorships to high school students. The program is available in select underserved community high schools and aims to assist students who would otherwise have not pursued skilled labor fields or considered higher education. The program takes place during the school year for high school seniors. The program also includes alumni services such as education and professional resources available to students. While students with GPAs between 2.0 and 3.0 are targeted, the program is not restricted to high school seniors with those GPAs.
Features of the Study
The study used a randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of the Urban Alliance High School Internship Program on education, employment, and earnings. The program participants included high school seniors from select schools with expected graduation in the 2017-2018 school year. Program applicants were randomized into the treatment or control group. Of the 1,435 eligible high school students, 981 were randomly assigned to the treatment group and 454 were randomly assigned to the control group. High school students assigned to the treatment group could participate in the High School Internship Program, while those assigned to the control group could not participate in the program. The study sites included schools in Baltimore, Chicago, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC. Across the sites, 58 percent of study participants were female, 66 percent were African American, 15 percent were Hispanic, 39 percent had work experience, and the average age was 18 years at prework.
Data for the study were collected from various sources. Baseline information was retrieved from student applications. Program information was retrieved from Urban Institute’s Education Data Explorer, and education information was gathered from the participating schools. Follow-up information was gathered via survey. The authors used statistical models to compare differences in outcomes between the treatment and control groups.
Findings
Education and skill gains
- The study found no significant differences in high school graduation rates between treatment and control group members.
Employment
- The study found that program participants were significantly more likely than control group participants to have a job in the year following graduation.
Earnings and wages
- The study found no significant differences in earnings between treatment and control group members.
Causal Evidence Rating
The quality of causal evidence presented in this report is high because it was based on a well-implemented randomized controlled trial. This means we are confident that the estimated effects are attributable to the Urban Alliance High School Internship Program, and not to other factors.