MIT Solve

Solution Overview & Team Lead Details

What is the name of your organization?

Goodwill Excel Center Midsouth Inc.

Is your organization registered as 501(c)(3) status with the IRS?

Yes

Is your organization a 509(a)(3) supporting organization?

No

Is your organization a fiscal agent or a fiscal sponsor?

No

What is your organization’s stage of development?

Scale

What is the name of your solution?

Workforce Development, Wrap Around, Support

Provide a one-line summary or tagline of your solution.

Provide adults the opportunity and support to earn a high school diploma and begin post-secondary education while developing career paths

In what city, town, or region and state is your solution team headquartered?

Memphis, TN, USA

Which community(ies) within the Truist footprint are you currently serving?

Tennessee

Film your elevator pitch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcRGIDaEd0k&t=1s

What specific problem are you solving?

ABOUT: THE EXCEL CENTER

The Excel Center Memphis is a tuition-free public high school for adults who want to earn their high school diploma and have more career opportunities. The Excel Center Memphis opened in the fall of 2015 and has served over 4,000 students since it first opened. Unlike traditional high schools, The Excel
Center is an adult high school designed to address both educational and personal barriers while preparing students for the workforce, by offering industry certification and college credit opportunities to its students. This report examines the characteristics and the outcomes for Excel Center students and graduates while highlighting the impact the school has made on the lives of people it serves.

•Shelby County has over 100,000 adults without a high school diploma

•16,049 unfilled jobs with a median salary of $45,949

•“Disconnected Youth” 2016 Study – Memphis ranked as 3rd highest US city for the number of disconnected youth

•Youth 16-19 years of age who are not working or in school are living 200% below the poverty line.

•$292,000 – National Avg. Cost of Dropout to a Community Over Lifetime

Pre Enrollment

* 38% Employed, Low Wage or Part time job

* 84% Unemployed

What is your solution?

The mission is to provide adults the opportunity and support to earn a high school diploma while developing post-secondary education and career paths.

School Model

We “meets students where they are” in their education by providing a flexible structure and supportive relationships to help adults manage work, life, and family concerns as they achieve their educational goals. Core model elements include:

Barrier removal: The Excel Center’s school model is built upon the foundation of helping students identify any of the academic as well as non-academic barriers that may stand in the way of them completing their education. Barriers removals include:

- Transportation assistance. Free access to public transportation.
- Childcare. Free onsite childcare
Rigorous secondary education: Students matriculate through The Excel Center and meet all credit, testing, and graduation requirements in a traditional high school. Key school model elements of The Excel Center include:
- Face-to-Face Instruction.
- Accelerated schedule
- Course flexibility.
- Remediation.
Career pathways and college transition: (1) career pathways in growth industry sectors in the local region and (2) effective transitions into postsecondary education and credentialing opportunities.
Life coaching: Each student is assigned a life coach who assists students addresses the life barriers.

Who does your solution serve, including demographics, and how does the solution impact their lives?

The vision of The Excel Center, is to deliver on the mission of Goodwill: to change lives by empowering people to increase their independence and reach their potential through education, health, and employment. The Excel Center brings about hope and economic opportunity to communities, families, and individuals. Through the power of education, GEI’s goal is to set people on a pathway towards better career prospects that lead to economic self-sufficiency and breaking the cycle of poverty.

• Workforce participation more than doubles with 12 months after graduation • Earnings increase 303% for all students and 76% for working students within 12 months after graduation and increase an additional 22% between 12-24 months after graduation.

• Graduates that were unemployed prior to enrolling, have a 56% workforce participation rate with an average earnings of over $30,000

How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?

Adult learners face challenges when returning to education, such as maintaining motivation and overcoming situational and dispositional barriers. At the Excel Center, every student is assigned a Life Coach, whose role is to help students stay engaged and overcome obstacles to success. Life Coaches manage caseloads of 85-100 students, offering personalized support and connecting students to over 30 community partners that provide services like transportation, healthcare, financial assistance, and housing.

Life Coaches employed several strategies to address student barriers:

Focusing on academic, social, emotional, and post-secondary areas to proactively support students.
Creating a positive environment by maintaining enthusiasm and a positive attitude.
Contacting students before classes start to address potential challenges.
Facilitating support groups, such as Barrier Buster Classes, to help students cope with personal and social barriers.
Connecting students to community resources to build self-esteem and self-sufficiency.
Hosting annual college, career, and community resource fairs.
Ensuring students set goals and track their progress.

In addition to offering a free high school diploma, the Excel Center's Workforce Development/College and Career Readiness (WFD/CCR) program helps students explore career and college pathways during and after enrollment. The program includes service learning, dual-credit coursework, successful post-secondary placements, and career pathways with high wages. The Senior Seminar course, part of the WFD/CCR program, helps students prepare for post-graduation success by developing employability and soft skills.

The Excel Center supports students post-graduation with a Graduate Transition Coach and ongoing career readiness support. By investing in education, credentialing, and upskilling, the Center aims to equip students with the skills needed to contribute positively to the workforce and the economy.

The Excel Center authorizer, the Memphis Shelby County School District, has approved a 3 additional locations in the Shelby County. We plan on expanding areas where the highest percentage of the population lacks a high school diploma.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Upskilling and Reskilling – Providing accessible, high-quality, skill-building and training opportunities for those transitioning between careers or facing unemployment.

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Scale

Please share details about why you selected the stage above.

DEMONSTRATED IMPACT

Since 2015 the Excel Center has graduated over 1,500 adults with a high school diploma.

Based on the most recent survey, 86% of Excel graduates are in post-secondary education or in higher-than-minimum wage employment.
58% of Excel Center graduates enroll in college following their high school graduation.
The average annualized earnings of an incoming Excel Center student are only $5,200. Upon graduation our students have a $13,000 average wage gain within 6 months and $20,000 after two years.
53% of graduates earn one or more industry certifications while they are enrolled at the school. Among the national certifications offered:

A Year in Review:

August 2023 – June 2024 SY Totals

o 1288 Students enrolled in CCTE Master Schedule courses. Student Report: 1289
o C courses: (106) ran from T1-T5 2023-24 SY
o Nov 2023 (102 multiple); (65 individual); June 2024 (103 individual); (172+ multiple)
o (168) students earned credentials during 2023-24 SY.
o Estimated (274) certifications and certificates earned during 2023-2024 SY .
o College Acceptances: (134) individual acceptance.
o Employed: (71) reported/employment documents
o Dual Enrollment: (9)
o TN Promise, Reconnect or other scholarships: (138

How many beneficiaries or customers does your solution currently serve?

1,001 - 10,000

Does your solution have a website, app, or social media handle?

Yes

Provide the link(s) here.

https://www.goodwillmemphis.or...Website

Facebook

Who is the Team Lead for your solution and what is their position within the organization?

Chuck Molinski - Vice President of Community Engagement

More About Your Solution

What makes your solution innovative?

Class Structure & Teaching Personnel

We serve Shelby County Tennessee with a population of 925,000 with over 100,000 adults without a high school diploma. We have a current staff of 34 full-time employees to teach and support an adult high school in Shelby County. We have 13 certified high school teachers on staff. During the calendar year, the school has (5) 8-week terms and operates Monday through Thursday with conventional high school classes which are required to earn a state recognized high school diploma. Classes are from 8:45 until 6:15 Monday through Thursday. On Fridays the school offers life skill training classes.

Seniors are required to take Senior Seminar class. This class helps students navigate through their academic journey and approach graduation, students are enrolled in the required Excel Center College and Career Readiness.

Within this integrated education and training course, students begin charting their post-secondary education or career pathway with the support of the CCR Specialist. Excel Center College and Career Specialists work closely with students to explore college, career, certification, and credentialing pathways.

We will have 1 ESL class taught by a full-time teacher. and 1 SPED Coordinator.

Excel Center has implemented industry recognized certifications programs including the following:

1. Business Office Technology

2. Event Planning

3. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

4. CPR and First Aid

5. Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)

6. Dual Enrollment – Computer Information Technology

7. Dual Enrollment – Hospitality & Culinary Arts

8. Dual Enrollment – Anatomy & Physiology/LPN Pathway (Pending)

9. Esthetician

10. Food Handler

11. Pharmacy Technician

12. Introduction to Psychology (CLEP/EPSO)

13. Personal Financial Literacy

14. Health, Hygiene, Sanitation

15. Homebuilders HBI – PACT

16. National Customer Service Association/DCSP

17. NIMS Manufacturing I

18. SERV Safe Manager

19. Southwest Airlines Customer Service

20. Elanco Veterinary Assistant

21. *Unarmed Security Officer (Pending)

What are your impact goals for your solution and how are you measuring your progress towards them?

1.) Graduation Rate - During any consecutive five-year period, an average of eighteen percent (18%) of the number of students who are enrolled in the Excel Center program during any academic year will qualify for and receive high school diplomas (“Excel Center Graduates”)

2.) Post-Graduation Student Achievement -

The Excel Center’s post-graduation student achievement performance metric is a measure of the number of Excel Center graduates who either (i) receive an industry-recognized certification that will assist the graduate in finding employment; (ii) obtain employment at greater than minimum wage; or (iii) are accepted into post-secondary education.

The Excel Center’s performance target for post-graduation student achievement is set forth below:

Within six (6) months after their date of graduation, twenty percent (20%) of Excel Center Graduates will either:

receive an industry-recognized certification (e.g., in an occupation or field such as welding, certified nursing assistant, information technology, HVAC, mechanic/machine repair, forklift operation, etc.); or
be employed for at least 20 hours per week and earn more than Tennessee’s then-current minimum wage, if such students are already employed at the time of their graduation, and remain with the same employer after graduating; or
receive an offer for a job paying more than Tennessee’s then-current minimum wage; or
be accepted for admission in a post-secondary school and at least ninety percent (90%) of the graduates who enter post-secondary school will have applied for a Tennessee Promise Scholarship.

3.) Retention - The Excel Center’s retention rate is the measure of the percentage of enrolled students who remain enrolled at the end of the five terms of the school’s academic year. The Excel Center’s retention rate performance target is set forth on Exhibit A of the contract, as follows:

During each academic year, an average of no less than fifty-nine percent (59%) (the “Retention Rate”)

Which of the following categories best describes your solution?

A new application of an existing innovation or technology

Please select the technologies currently used in your solution, if any:

Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
Audiovisual Media
Behavioral Technology
Big Data
Manufacturing Technology
Robotics and Drones
Software and Mobile Applications
Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality

Your Team

Your Business Model & Funding

What is your solution's business model?

The Excel Center is a contract adult high school authorized (LEA) by Memphis Shelby County School District (MSCS). The Excel Center Midsouth model is based on accepting all adults ages 18 + living within Shelby County. All gender, race, national origin, color disability living within the approved County of Shelby are accepted.

Program Development, Facilities, Office, and Admin Support

Since 2015 we have graduated over 1,500 students. We currently operate at one location and look forward to adding another 3 locations within the next few years. Due to community needs - 100k adult drop out in Shelby County.

We are continuously working to expand certification and apprenticeship offerings to include market relevant certifications, trade, and dual enrollment programs through TCAT and Southwest TN Community College. Our programs attract current and future students, while providing them with in-demand occupational and employability skills. The Excel Center currently offers (21) certificate, certification, dual credit, and upskilling programs:

Express Employment Professional Business Office Technology

Event Planning & Design

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

CPR and First Aid/AHA

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)

Dual Enrollment – Computer Information Technology

Dual Enrollment – Hospitality & Culinary Arts

Dual Enrollment – Anatomy & Physiology/LPN Pathway (Pending)

Esthetician

Food Handler

Pharmacy Technician

Introduction to Psychology (CLEP/EPSO)

Center for Personal Financial Literacy

Health, Hygiene, Sanitation/Hairbraider Registration

Homebuilders HBI – PACT

National Customer Service Association/DCSP

NIMS Manufacturing I

SERV Safe Manager

Southwest Airlines Customer Service

Elanco Veterinary Assistant

*Unarmed Security Officer (Pending)

Currently the school operates as an adult high school using TISA funding from the state which is processed with our authorizer Memphis Shelby County Schools (MSCS). We are looking for funding (Outside of typical school expenditures) that does not encompass the conventional high school expenditures for students.

Wrap Around Services

Childcare

Life Coaches

Workforce Vocational Certification Programs
Student Support Services

Does your solution primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?

Individual consumers or stakeholders (B2C)

What is your plan for becoming financially sustainable, and what evidence can you provide that this plan has been successful?

The Goodwill Excel Center Adult High School is a contract school under Memphis Shelby County School District. The sustainability of the school is based on TISA funding which involved TN Department of Education per full time student funding which is capped at 500 students at our current school. This funding takes care of regular high school expenditures such as certified teachers, and other expenditures in a regular high school. This grant request is for non-high school expenditures such as the following:

Certification Programs
$       300,000
Drop In Center (Childcare) $       175,610
Life Coaches
$       380,812
Marketing, IT, HR
$       200,000
Learning Platforms (Curriculum/Certifications) $       101,400
Total
$    1,157,822

Since the Excel Center is funding on a Full Time Equivalent model for high school expenditures, the additional non-high school funding creates value to the school helping some of the 100,000 adults without a high school diploma out of poverty obtain career opportunities while eliminating barriers.

Below are some of the organizations that have partnered with the Excel Center in the past.

Grantmaker
Amount Approved
Date Received Grant
TN Dept of Labor - Adult Education Grant
$                    2,000,000
09/01/23
FedEx
$                    1,000,000
11/20/21
Cummins
$                        510,000
08/02/21
Pyramid Peak Match
$                        400,000
12/20/2016
Community Foundation (Mr R Andrew Taylor)
$                        300,000
7/10/2017
Tennessee Dept of Finance and Admin
$                        300,000
8/29/2019
MGI Contribution
$                        250,000
6/30/2017
Pyramid Peak Match
$                        237,710
1/1/2016
Slingshot Grant
$                        180,221
12/30/2019
TN Cares Grant
$                        139,033
11/9/2020
Community Foundation of Greater Memphis
$                        100,000
1/1/2016
TN Department of Education
$                        100,000
03/12/19
Tenneessee Department of Education
$                        100,000
4/26/2019
Yass Prize - Creative Education
$                        100,000
07/01/23

Partnership & Award Funding Opportunities