Teenager wearing her cap and gown holding her infant daughter in celebration of her graduating high school

Providing Educational Services and Support to Expectant and Parenting Youth

The Education Leading to Employment and Career Training (ELECT) program provides resources and educational services to help expectant and parenting youth earn a high school diploma or its equivalent, transition to employment or higher education, and become successful parents and self-sufficient adults. The ELECT Program is a collaboration between the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) using Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds.

There are 25 ELECT programs across the Commonwealth.

ELECT program services are available to students who are:

  • under the age of 24 and attending a High School Equivalency (HSE) program approved by PDE
  • under the age of 22 and attending an educational entity pursuing a high school diploma approved by PDE
  • expecting and/or parenting (custodial or noncustodial parents)
  • receiving TANF benefits.

or

  • have a personal monthly earned income that does not exceed 235 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guideline (FPIG).

* Participants turning 22 while attending their senior year of high school may remain in the ELECT program until the end of their senior year. Participants who turn 24 while enrolled in ELECT may continue their education but are not eligible to remain in ELECT upon turning 25 years of age.

ELECT programs offer a variety of year-round programming and services to participants through individual case management, education, and supports.

Academic Support and Post-Secondary Planning

  • Tutoring and homework assistance
  • Attendance tracking and grade report monitoring
  • Needs assessments and improvement plans
  • Vocational, career, and job readiness training
  • Post-secondary education exploration (financial aid and college preparation)

Retrieval Services

  • Re-enrollment in school or High School Equivalency (HSE) program
  • Enrollment or re-enrollment in ELECT

Individual Case Management

  • Mentoring
  • Access to childcare and transportation
  • Incentives and ongoing accountability plans
  • S.M.A.R.T. goal setting and tracking
  • Material resource support
  • Physical, emotional and mental health supports

Education

  • Prenatal and sexual health
  • Secondary pregnancy prevention
  • Child development and parenting skills
  • Co-parenting and healthy relationships
  • Personal finance and family budgeting
  • Personal health and well-being
  • Health care and nutrition
  • Domestic violence and substance abuse

Guest Speakers, Field Trips, Special Events, and Activities

In alignment with Pennsylvania Department of Education ELECT Operational Guidelines, all programs are expected to meet or exceed the following outcomes:

Graduation Rate
75 percent or higher of all expectant and parenting youth eligible to graduate each program year will earn a high school diploma or HSE.

Secondary Pregnancy
85 percent or higher of participants, including those who are legally married, will not become pregnant or father a second pregnancy while enrolled in the ELECT program, regardless of the outcome of the pregnancy.

Student Retention
75 percent or higher of ELECT participants enrolled at any time during the program year will remain active in the ELECT program through the end of the program year.

Academic Performance as Measured by Grade Point Average (GPA)
75 percent or higher of students enrolled in the ELECT program will attain a program year average GPA of at least 2.0 (based on a 4.0 or 100 percent system) OR an increased GPA from quarter to quarter of the program year for participants with less than a 2.0 GPA.

School Attendance
75 percent or higher of students enrolled in the ELECT program will meet 75 percent of their expected attendance for the school year or will show improvement in their attendance if less than 75 percent.