YES PROGRAM

Cumulative YES Program Enrollment

Since its founding in 2006, the YES (Your Employability Skills) Program has grown from a single school district into a regional workforce development initiative serving students across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. During the 2025-26 school year, 21 schools offered the program, providing students with practical instruction and experiences designed to prepare them for success in the workplace.

Program enrollment remained strong, with 954 students participating and 229 earning the YES Certificate. These results bring the program’s cumulative enrollment to 14,398 students and its total number of graduates to 4,106 since the first certificates were awarded in 2007.

The program reached a new high in mock interview participation, with 764 students from 11 schools completing customized interviews based on their career interests. More than 70 professionals volunteered to conduct the interviews. Before meeting with their interviewers, students prepared professional résumés and cover letters, giving them experience with every stage of the job application process while strengthening their communication skills and confidence.

YES also continued to connect classroom learning with local career opportunities through 20 business tours involving 50 business partners. Since the program began, students have participated in 701 tours of regional workplaces, allowing them to explore career paths, interact with professionals, and gain a better understanding of employer expectations.

Higher education partners continue to provide valuable opportunities for YES graduates. Penn State Hazleton and Penn State Schuylkill have awarded 256 scholarships totaling $256,000 since 2011. Pennsylvania College of Technology offers YES graduates a renewable $2,000 scholarship, with 36 students receiving the award during the scholarship’s first six years. Johnson College provides YES Certificate holders with a $1,000 scholarship and four academic credits through prior learning assessment.

The program is also positioned for continued growth. Tulpehocken Area School District will become the first public school district in Berks County to offer YES during the 2026-27 school year. Following a comprehensive upgrade that made the curriculum fully accessible online, Pennwood Cyber Charter School will also begin offering the program.

Support continues beyond graduation through the YES alumni network. Employment opportunities from local businesses are regularly shared through email and social media, allowing the Council to remain connected with more than 2,700 former YES students. Today, approximately 500 employers across Schuylkill, Luzerne, Erie, and York counties offer preferred interviews to YES graduates.

The year concluded with the annual YES Recognition Breakfast on May 14 at St. Nicholas Hall. The event brought together graduates, educators, business representatives, community partners, and government officials, with 245 people attending to celebrate the achievements of the program’s 229 newest graduates.

Through the continued partnership of schools, employers, colleges, government leaders, and community organizations, YES remains a proven model for preparing young people to enter the workforce with the skills, experience, and confidence needed to succeed.