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​​​​Education Leading to Employment and Career Training (ELECT)

Pennsylvania’s Education Leading to Employment and Career Training Program (ELECT) is a federally funded program that works collaboratively to assist expectant and parenting youth. The ELECT assists school districts, cyber and charter schools in coordinating the continuity of educational services for pregnant and parenting youth, under 22 years of age, to obtain community resources that will allow them to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Goals

The principal goal of all the ELECT program is to assist eligible pregnant and parenting youth with breaking the cycle of welfare dependence by encouraging participants to:

  • Remain in school
  • Maintain regular school attendance
  • Obtain a high school diploma or high school equivalency (HSE) certificate
  • Secure post-graduation employment, education or training
  • Become successful parents and self-sufficient adults

In addition to promoting self-sufficiency, the ELECT program provides participants, through a combination of group and one on one sessions and home visits, with:

  • Pregnancy Prevention Information
  • Guidance and services to reduce the incidence of a secondary pregnancy
  • Services to promote the importance of healthy parental relationships
  • Strategies and supports to encourage fathers to play a significant role in their children's lives

The ELECT program is a Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) initiative funded by the Department of Human Services (DHS) using Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the ELECT program, youth must be:

  • Under the age of 22
  • Attending an educational entity or High School Equivalency program (HSE) approved by PDE
  • An Expectant mother or custodial young parent who is already receiving TANF benefits
  • An expectant mother, custodial or non-custodial parent who is not receiving TANF and whose personal monthly earned income does not exceed 235 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guideline (FPIG)
  • A male student for whom paternity has been verified via Acknowledgment of Paternity (PA_CS 611) or by the County Assistance Office (CAO) check of the Paternity Tracking System (PTS).

​Contact Information

Pennsylvania Department of Education
Forum Building, 607 South Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17120​
Email: ELECT@csc.csiu.org
Phone Number: 717-783-6466 | Fax Number: 717-231-4071

​Carmen M. Medina, State Director
Lisa M. Lockwood, Program Officer
Kyle Petry​, Fiscal Officer​​