BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM
When Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana realized that many of the people in its job-training programs lacked a high school diploma, it recognized a chance to make a lasting difference in its community. Rather than focusing simply on job training, Goodwill made the courageous decision to establish The Excel Center, a tuition-free charter high school for adults.
The effort attempted to overcome a major impediment to employment: education. The Excel Center used state per-pupil financing to change lives for the better by providing flexible schedules, free on-site childcare, transportation assistance, and life coaching.
More than a decade later, data from the University of Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) confirms the Excel Center’s positive performance. Graduates of the program not only get better jobs but also earn better salaries and have greater work stability than their colleagues who did not complete the program.
Measuring success: job and earnings
LEO researchers Jim Sullivan, Rebecca Brough, and David Phillips evaluated the economic benefits of graduating from The Excel Center. Their findings are extraordinary. Graduates had an average earnings rise of almost 40 percent within five years of applying to the program. This bump resulted in an estimated $80,000 in additional lifetime earnings over those who applied but did not enroll. Notably, these findings were obtained without any direct financing from Goodwill for the study, though Goodwill did give data assistance.
Higher wages weren’t the only perk, though. Graduates also found more stable jobs, with a 22 percent rise in continuous employment in the same industry over five years. Notably, Excel graduates were 19 percent less likely to work in low-wage industries such as hospitality and were more likely to find work as pharmacy technicians, dental assistants, or in HVAC maintenance.
Industry-recognized credentials for career advancement
One of The Excel Center’s distinctive qualities is its emphasis on industry-accepted qualifications. Along with their certificates, students received certifications in fields such as phlebotomy, child development, and nursing support. These credentials opened the door to professions in industries such as healthcare and education, which are known for paying better incomes and providing job security. Some graduates used these credentials to enhance their studies, enrolling in local community colleges. In Indiana, 30 percent of Excel grads received college credit, compared to just 11.5 percent of their non-enrolled classmates.
The wider economic impact
Beyond the personal benefits for graduates, the Excel Center provides a large return on investment for the governments that sponsor it. Because graduates earn more over their lifetimes, they pay more in taxes. According to the LEO study, each additional dollar of government financing for The Excel Center provides $20 in benefits for the average student in the form of an increase in after-tax lifetime earnings.
This outcome contrasts sharply with federally supported programs like Job Corps or Adult Education and Literacy, which primarily assist adults in passing a high school equivalency exam, such as the GED. According to research, while a GED can be useful, it has a limited influence on lifetime wages, particularly for women. The Excel Center’s strategy, which combines a high school diploma and career credentials, provides a more comprehensive solution.
Addressing a national challenge
The necessity for adult education initiatives such as The Excel Center is obvious. More than 23 million adults in the United States do not have a high school diploma or GED certificate. This education gap hinders people’s access to numerous employment opportunities and causes them to earn much less than their peers. The Excel Center concept is helping to close this gap by providing a thorough and supportive educational experience that not only awards diplomas but also prepares students for stable, well-paying jobs.
A growing national model
The success of The Excel Center in Indiana has prompted a nationwide expansion. Today, the program runs 18 campuses in central and southern Indiana, and Goodwill has collaborated with other regions across the country to introduce adult high schools to states such as Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, and Washington, DC.
In Arizona, for example, the LEO research had a direct impact on the state’s choice to join the Excel Center. Arizona lawmakers altered state law in February 2020 to create a continuing high school program for adults, spurred on by Goodwill testimony and reinforced by LEO data.
The Excel Center’s success story demonstrates that addressing adults’ educational requirements can result in long-term economic advantages for both individuals and society as a whole. As more governments consider using this model, the potential to improve lives and local economies expands.
The Excel Center’s mission is more than just education; it is to effect long-term, systemic change. Jim Sullivan of LEO expressed it this way: “The Excel Center provides a pathway to higher wages and better jobs, offering adults a chance to improve their lives and contribute more to their communities.”
