How Does Access to Childcare Affect High School Completion in Philadelphia's Multiple Pathways to Graduation Programs?

There are roughly 15,000 young Philadelphians who lack a high school diploma and are not currently enrolled in school or employed in the labor force. Many of these youth are over-age and under-credited, and are struggling with the difficult task of reengaging with education while also prioritizing the needs of their own young children.

What current barriers exist to their high school completion, and can we begin to break down those barriers by providing a better system of childcare and parenting supports? These are the questions we address in this report. We hope it will bring together systems and stakeholders to improve outcomes for parenting students in Philadelphia’s alternative education programs.