Overview

Job Corps, a federally funded education and job training program for economically disadvantaged youth, offers remedial education, GED (General Educational Development) preparation, vocational training, job placement assistance, and other supports. Job Corps participants typically reside in a Job Corps center while enrolled in the program and can remain in the program for up to two years.¹

Research

One study of Job Corps met What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) evidence standards. This randomized controlled trial was based on a nationally representative sample of all eligible applicants who applied for Job Corps in late 1994 and 1995. The study sample included 11,313 students from more than 100 Job Corps centers nationwide. Based on this one study, the WWC considers the extent of evidence for Job Corps to be small for the progressing in school and completing school domains. This study did not examine the effectiveness of Job Corps in the staying in school domain.²

Effectiveness

Job Corps was found to have no discernible effects on progressing in school and potentially positive effects on completing school.

Absence of conflict of interest

The Job Corps study summarized in this intervention report was prepared by staff of Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR). Because the principal investigator for the WWC dropout prevention review is also an MPR staff member, the study was rated by staff members from ICF International, who also prepared the intervention report. The report was then reviewed by the principal investigator, the WWC Technical Review Team, and an external peer reviewer.