The end of the school year is always busy, and now that our ELC and high school graduations are behind us, it’s time to reflect on this past year. Every year comes with highs and lows, and I am pleased to say that this year, our positives outweighed the negatives!
Earlier this year, New Legacy was the recipient of FamilyU Seal, a national recognition certificate from Generation Hope that is awarded to colleges, universities, and nonprofits that present outstanding efforts in supporting student parents. I am proud to share THIS VIDEO from Generation Hope featuring students and NLCS leaders sharing the impact New Legacy leaves on two generations of learners.
For example, New Legacy is in the last year of a two-year partnership with the Center for Assessment, Design, Research and Evaluation (CADRE) in the School of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder. CADRE surveyed our alumni about our personalized, real-world learning (RWL) approach to education. When looking at some of their Key Findings, it’s encouraging to see our school is going in a positive direction.
What Alumni Are Doing Now
Most alumni are working in paid jobs and living with relatives. A few patterns stand out:
- Alumni who were parents during high school pursued a wider range of postsecondary paths, including higher education, apprenticeships, and full-time parenting, whereas nearly all non-parent alumni are working or job-seeking.
- Alumni in education or training showed more continuity; those in the workforce were more likely to have changed course.
- Childcare remains a significant obstacle for many parenting alumni, a challenge likely compounded by recent Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) disruptions. Despite these challenges, alumni report high satisfaction with their progress, their postsecondary experience, and life overall.
- Alumni who felt more prepared at graduation were more likely to have clear professional plans, reported higher incomes, and expressed greater life satisfaction.
As mentioned above, one of the biggest challenges now and going into next year is Early Childhood Education funding, specifically cuts in CCCAP. With the ECE cuts in Colorado, New Legacy will continue to ask for support.
Thank you to community members like you for your support in the form of donations, foundation support, and volunteer support (like our amazing board and committee members). Because of you, students can make comments like this: “My favorite part about being a student (at New Legacy) is the opportunities you get and how much they could change your life.”