Hawaii’s high cost of living means young people must make smart choices, ones that help them to be upwardly mobile. Recent research shows that graduating from the University of Hawaii results in higher lifetime earnings. But not all high school graduates are willing to enroll. For them, the upwardly mobile life choices are far from clear.
How can we improve access points for students to receive information about the full range of available post-high school options, and guide them towards a path with a reasonable chance of upward mobility?
High schools can and should do far more to help students in the 11th and 12th grade think about their future transition after high school and guide them to either:
Enroll – apply for and attend college;
Enlist – join the military;
Employ – have the credentials and skills for immediate employment in a living wage job; or
Explore – continue career exploration through an internship, apprenticeship or work based learning.
By increasing the number of high school graduates with a clear plan, we will see more students that graduate from college, join the armed forces, apprentice in the skilled trades, or find an entry-level job where there is a real chance at advancement and upward mobility. In short, young people in Hawaii can have a greater sense of hope for the future.
Compared to a decade ago in Hawaii, there are far more resources and information to guide young people to enroll in college, but limited support to help students to learn about and pursue the remaining options.
This Request for Partnership seeks to identify up to four public high schools that wish to strengthen transition pathways to help students learn more about how to Enlist, Employ or Explore. We are specifically looking for school partners who are deeply concerned about life after high school and eager to test innovative ideas targeting students, particularly 11th and 12th grade students.
Each selected school will be provided up to $50,000 to support one or more of the following activities from December 2024 through August 2027:
- Early identification of student interests (RIASEC, YouScience, etc);
- Improve career exposure specific to non-degree pathways, especially those entry-level options that lead to advancement and upwards mobility;
- Set forth clear student pathways such as apprenticeships, entrepreneurship, service and/or the military;
- Provide stronger implementation of the personal transition plan (required for every high school student now but not often used effectively) through better counseling, advising and mentorship;
- Increase visibility of these pathways; and/or
- Offer better support throughout the job application process.
We encourage applicants to be as creative as possible in how you apply these funds. Examples of approved use of funds include food, transport, events, training, professional development, consultants and direct service costs. Please note that we will prioritize applicants that demonstrate a clear understanding of how to sustain efforts beyond the life of the grant.
Timeline
| October 1, 2024 | RFP Application Opens |
| November 1, 2024 | Request Writeups due |
| November 20, 2024 | Grant Selection Announcement |
| December 1, 2024 | Projects Begin |
Application Instructions
Applications will be considered through our grants management platform Fluxx beginning October 1, 2024. Please return to this page for the application link. Should you require assistance, please contact Maria Quidez.