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• Across all students in the 18 evaluation schools, students who took the GFSF freshman course performed better than students who did not take the freshman course.
• Five of nine comparisons produced positive program effects in A-G completion rates.
• GFSF schools exhibit higher outcome graduation rates than their matched schools.
• All comparisons produced positive program effects in suspension rates. 
• Students from the research study high schools updating their 10-year plans annually outperformed students from other high schools on several indicators of college success: 
  • They earned more total credits and UC/CSU eligible transfer credits.
  • They were more likely to complete their English and math transfer credits in the first year of enrollment. 
  • They were more likely to persist into the second year of study. 

We therefore have conclusive data that shows the positive impact of the curriculum not just on students during high school but also on their college success compared to students who have not carried out annual career development throughout high school.

This is especially important in the shadow of the pandemic. A recent report from OECD (The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) reports that in a poll of 2,000 youth aged 16–24, 41% felt that their job ambitions were now impossible to achieve, and 43% indicated they expected they would never have a job they really loved. 

The Get Focused, Stay Focused curriculum explicitly embeds strength development throughout its content: building a positive attitude, motivation, perseverance, growth mindset, resiliency, and self-efficacy. Our students need hope—and helping them move from a dream, to a direction, to a destination allows them to achieve their desired career goals.

What Do Students Say About the GFSF Curriculum? 

As educators, parents, or student advocates, we understand the intrinsic value of students having time to carry out career development. But, what do the students themselves have to say?

Here are some quotes from 9th grade students at Ernest Righetti High School about the Get Focused, Stay Focused curriculum:

• “I learned that if I have a good attitude about things, I will do better in life. I learned that I have more skills than I thought I had. I learned that with the right mindset, lots of hard work, and determination, I will succeed and reach my goal by having my dream job.”
• “I learned about how to manage my money and how much I will need to make for the lifestyle I want. I learned that I have to work hard for the job I want, and I learned a lot about myself that I didn’t know before.”
• “I really enjoyed doing all the skills because it helped me realize how many skills I actually have when I thought I didn’t have certain skills.”
• “I learned how to plan my future, how to find work, and what it takes to take care of a family.”
• “I learned who I wanted to be, what I wanted to do, and most importantly how differently I see life after this class.”