By Jean Eddy, Contributor.
To change the way kids learn about careers and prepare for their futures, American Student Assistance® (ASA) awards grants to youth-serving nonprofits to scale promising career readiness models and programs. NAF was a recipient of such a grant in 2023, and the funds made such a measurable impact that ASA is excited to award an additional grant to the organization this year. The new grant, $5 million over two years, will expand the success of NAF’s proven design to more high schools across the country.
Below, we’ll share NAF’s formula for success, the results it has achieved, how ASA’s funds will help, and what school districts, employers, community organizations, and philanthropic partners can do to enable high schoolers nationwide to graduate future ready.
NAF’s approach to career readiness
Since its inception 45 years ago, NAF has championed immersive, career-focused programs in high schools. Based on its experience over the years, the organization has developed a proven design that includes four core elements:
1. Academy Development and Structure—By creating small learning communities, or academies, within public schools, career readiness programming is integrated into existing educational systems to maximize reach and minimize cost.
2. Program of Study—Academy program of study covering high-demand career fields like engineering, finance, and health sciences, is based on current standards and industry practices and includes professional learning to empower educators to engage and inform students.
3. Advisory Boards—NAF brings together businesses, community leaders, and educators to bridge the gap between school and workplace, and ensure students have access to opportunities to explore careers and develop future-ready skills.
4. Work-Based Learning and Internships—Through authentic, hands-on learning experiences, students can explore their interests, practice technical and durable skills, and identify the right education and career pathways for them.
Academy students graduate future ready
NAF’s design has proven successful. While less than half of Gen Z students say they have enough information to choose the best post-high school pathway for them, students attending NAF academies are the exception. In a recent survey of 25,000 NAF students, 68% agreed or strongly agreed that their academy is fully preparing them to attend college. Ninety-nine percent of NAF seniors graduate high school and 88 percent plan to go on to postsecondary, with others planning to join the military, or another career training
Today NAF’s footprint includes 634 academies across 34 states and territories. All in all, it has enabled more than 650,000 high school students to explore career pathways, gain real-world skills, and graduate future ready.
New partnership will help extend success
To scale the success of NAF’s program even further, ASA is awarding the organization an additional grant of $5 million over two years. This is a bold investment that will accelerate high-impact initiatives, including a new five-year strategic plan—and positions the partnership to unlock up to $14 million in matching funds over the next seven years. The funds will be used to deepen work-based learning experiences, expand career exploration initiatives, and advance educator professional development.
By leveraging ASA’s expertise in career exploration and experiential learning initiatives in high schools, postsecondary pathway navigation, and student agency, the partnership will increase and enhance employer, community partner, and policy maker relationships to further NAF’s mission.
Visit NAF or contact development@naf.org to learn more about matching funding, or to do your part to help more students become future ready by hosting student internships, providing educator professional development for career readiness learning, or sharing your expertise.
