The National Academy Foundation (NAF) supports a national network of nearly 500 career academies that are based in public high schools in 40 states and Washington DC and serve 44,000 youth, ages 14-18. Career academies, organized as "small learning communities," are supported by specially trained teachers who help students achieve academic success and prepare them for productive careers.

Evaluation Status: Proven Effective

A 15-year randomized control evaluation by MDRC of the career academy model found long-term positive employment outcomes for participants. (NAF is one of the foremost organizations implementing the career academy model.) Career academy students were much more likely to stay in school through 12th grade, had higher attendance rates and earned 11 percent more than their peers eight years after graduation. MDRC is currently launching a five-year follow-up evaluation, tracking approximately 50 career academies.

EMCF Investment

In 2008, the Foundation made a $2 million investment in the National Academy Foundation. Over the next two years, NAF will pilot an effort to implement a network-wide performance management and outcomes tracking system, develop a plan to roll out a national data system, address key organizational capacity needs, and increase the total number of youth served from 44,000 to 47,000.

For more information, visit NAF's website at www.naf.org.