Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't know where to post this.

"Maryland launches nation’s first state-funded ‘service year’ option for high school graduates.

Maryland high school graduates can now participate in a “service year” where they will be placed in jobs throughout the state to help jump-start their careers while giving back to the community."


https://wtop.com/maryland/2023/10/maryland-launches-nations-first-state-funded-service-year-option-for-high-schoolers/

Service Year programs are the worst no benefits, not employees, and easy to be exploited. I would never encourage participation in such a program.

Many HS graduates won’t be going straight to college — if at all; have limited connections for networking; and would be interested in working in a field that interests them more than a job at McDonalds might. What resources can you suggest for these students - that might meet their needs better than this service year program? I’m sure the $6,000 completion bonus will be very helpful as the young adults set up their next goals.

I was one of those youth and the original commenter. I went and got a job that provided health insurance, provided a stipend for my college courses when I did enroll, while having the protections of an employee.

Just had a niece go through the Americorps program where her nonprofit organization emotionally abused them, took away their holidays, cut their pay after relocating ($3600/mo -> $1800), and then proceeded to fire her whole team with 2 weeks to find a new job.

At that rate any job in DC would pay her more than the Service Year including the stipend, which is taxed. They get away with paying below minimum wage.

I think the key to success is going to be what things are available and how meaningful/useful will they be? If you can get a place in an organization that provides you with valuable skills and connections its a great path forward. I have no idea what kind of oversight and checks and balances are in place to ensures it works well for both the HS grad and the organization

Anonymous wrote:This is geared towards the lower-achieving tranche of the graduating population.

Which is fine as they too do need guidance and opportunities to find what they are good at or interested in.

I would recommend simultaneously taking few evening courses at community college to stay in touch with academics, in case they decide to go back to college.

This is geared towards the lower-achieving tranche of the graduating population.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't know where to post this.

"Maryland launches nation’s first state-funded ‘service year’ option for high school graduates.

Maryland high school graduates can now participate in a “service year” where they will be placed in jobs throughout the state to help jump-start their careers while giving back to the community."


https://wtop.com/maryland/2023/10/maryland-launches-nations-first-state-funded-service-year-option-for-high-schoolers/

Service Year programs are the worst no benefits, not employees, and easy to be exploited. I would never encourage participation in such a program.

Many HS graduates won’t be going straight to college — if at all; have limited connections for networking; and would be interested in working in a field that interests them more than a job at McDonalds might. What resources can you suggest for these students - that might meet their needs better than this service year program? I’m sure the $6,000 completion bonus will be very helpful as the young adults set up their next goals.

In principle I think that is a great idea, depending on how it’s implemented.
Germany has something like that and I know many people who have done it and really enjoyed it.

Anonymous wrote:Didn't know where to post this.

"Maryland launches nation’s first state-funded ‘service year’ option for high school graduates.

Maryland high school graduates can now participate in a “service year” where they will be placed in jobs throughout the state to help jump-start their careers while giving back to the community."


https://wtop.com/maryland/2023/10/maryland-launches-nations-first-state-funded-service-year-option-for-high-schoolers/

Service Year programs are the worst no benefits, not employees, and easy to be exploited. I would never encourage participation in such a program.

Didn't know where to post this.

"Maryland launches nation’s first state-funded ‘service year’ option for high school graduates.

Maryland high school graduates can now participate in a “service year” where they will be placed in jobs throughout the state to help jump-start their careers while giving back to the community."


https://wtop.com/maryland/2023/10/maryland-launches-nations-first-state-funded-service-year-option-for-high-schoolers/