Report: 200,000 Georgia Young Adults “Disconnected”
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ATLANTA - Not in school and not working. That's the story for more than 200,000 Georgians ages 16 to 24, a situation called "disconnected" in a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. More than 6 million young people nationwide are facing the same challenges, and it's not because they don't want to work, or pursue more education. Part of the problem is the economy.
Elizabeth Turner, research associate at the Georgia Family Connection Partnership, says the numbers are startling.
"Georgia has the third-lowest rate of teen employment in the nation. Fewer than one in four young people, ages to 16 to 19, are employed. "
Only 55 percent of young adults ages 20 to 24 in Georgia are employed; again, the third-lowest rate in the nation.
While the statistics aren't encouraging, the report outlines multiple ways states, the federal government and local businesses and organizations could help get young people on the right track.
Turner says there's an example in Athens that gets kids closer to work-force-ready upon graduation, especially for those at a disadvantage for reasons such as poverty.
"Classic City High School Performance Learning Center, for example, is helping students who are not succeeding in a traditional learning environment. In 2009, 80 percent of all students enrolled in the learning center improved their grades across all subjects by 10 points."
And there's another angle Turner highlights.
"The technical college system of Georgia and Georgia Department of Education are working to better support youth transition from education to the work force through dual enrollment programs and career-focused educational pathways."
The full report, "YOUTH AND WORK: Restoring Teen and Young Adult Connections to Opportunity," is at www.aecf.org.
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