BLUEPRINT

2.9 Strengthen and expand partnerships between Department of Education high
schools and college access programs and allocate public funding to support
college access and retention services run by community-based organizations.
Community-based organizations run college access and retention programs
that help students navigate the college admissions and financial aid processes.
Expanding these programs and their partnerships with public schools ensures
more students can access these services.
2.10 Establish alternative measures for admission to Gifted and Talented programs.
Gifted and Talented programs currently select students through tests. Alternative
measures will identify other students with exceptional academic promise.
2.11 Engage community-based organizations to lead a public awareness campaign
about Gifted and Talented admission for parents in districts with low participation.
Participation in Gifted and Talented programs is significantly lower in low-income
neighborhoods. Community-based organizations can address this issue by informing
parents about options to enroll their children in more rigorous programs.
2.12 Enact structural reforms to ensure access for all students to Gifted and Talented
programs. By increasing the number of Gifted and Talented program slots
and ensuring that all neighborhoods have Gifted and Talented classrooms, the
City can ensure that more children can participate in these critical programs.
B. Enhance New Yorkers’ Ability to Enter and Succeed in the Workforce
Low-income New Yorkers continue to face many structural barriers to
entering and succeeding in the workforce. Building upon UNH members’
extensive track record of providing comprehensive education and training
programs for high-need youth and adults, these recommendations focus
on adult education and workforce development programs that ensure all
residents can access decent jobs with sustainable wages and benefits.
3. Adult Education and Workforce Development
3.1 Scale up investment in community-based adult education programming to
$90 million within the next five years. As New York State prepares to adopt a
new testing system for high school equivalency diplomas with higher academic
standards, expanding community-based adult education will allow more New
Yorkers to improve their literacy and numeracy skills, allowing them to earn a
diploma and pursue further education, career and training opportunities.
3.2 Expand the Young Adult Literacy Program from $3 million to $10 million. With
high numbers of young adults across the city disengaged from the educational
system and lacking basic literacy skills, expanding the proven Young Adult Literacy
Program will give these young adults a second chance through literacy
instruction, internships and support services.
3.3 Expand the Summer Youth Employment Program to serve 100,000 youth per
summer. Expanding the Summer Youth Employment Program to provide at
least 100,000 jobs each summer will ensure that the City’s youth are engaged
in positive summer activities that double as critical work experience opportunities.
This expansion will end the annual rejection of over 100,000 youth
applicants each year due to lack of funding.
3.4 Expand employment opportunities for out of work youth and other unemployed New
Yorkers. The majority of jobs added to New York City’s economy since the Recession
have been low-wage, and many New Yorkers lack the basic skills necessary to
obtain better jobs. Investing in the Young Adult Internship Program and Jobs to Build
On will provide real education and training opportunities to youth, adults and unemployed
individuals to improve their skills and put them on track to self-sufficiency.
5 United Neighborhood Houses