Editorial: The New York Times

• Per Scholas has been successfully preparing underemployed men and women for cutting-edge tech careers for almost 30 years - free of charge.
• The organization, which began in South Bronx in 1995, has morphed into a nationwide workforce training provider in 24 cities, preparing workers for careers in information technology, cloud computing, software engineering, and cybersecurity.
• Learners who participate can expect 30 to 40 hours of classwork per week, and three hours per day of post-class studying for 12-15 weeks.
• Per Scholas works closely with key tech employers on curriculum matters, ensuring their students have in-demand skills when they graduate.
• Beyond giving students current job skills, Per Scholas also provides financial coaching and career development. Costs for tuition, materials, and certifications where applicable are covered.
• So far, it has trained over 25,000 people; 85% of them are people of color and 40% are women. Most students do not have degrees beyond a high school diploma.

Conclusion: Supporting Per Scholas signifies investing in their proven training programs that successfully prepare underemployed individuals for in-demand tech careers. Moreover, the program offers equal opportunities for people of color and women, who are frequently underrepresented in the tech sector.

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