Posted on July 30, 2026

To support the hiring and salary of a GED/Life Skills Instructor who will lead GOSO’s Next Step Scholars Program, a new classroom-based initiative serving justice-impacted young adults ages 22-24. Nearly 60% of GOSO participants enroll without a high school diploma or GED and read, on average, at a second-grade level, making access to consistent, structured classroom instruction essential to their progress. When the New York City Department of Education reduced the age limit for its Pathways to Graduation program from 24 to 21, participants in that 22-24 age range lost access to classroom-based GED instruction mid-progress. The Next Step Scholars Program fills that gap through small-group and individualized GED instruction integrated with life skills and workforce readiness training, delivered in a trauma-informed, culturally responsive environment. GOSO strives to reduce recidivism and support greater long-term stability among court-involved youths aged 16 to 24 through education, employment, and emotional well-being services. This dedicated classroom will better ensure that their older participants are not left without a viable path forward.