Why the 21 Gaps Program?
The Problem is Evident in the Statistics
In the 2016-17 school year, the 4-year high school graduation rate for students in the New Jersey public school systems statewide was 90.5%.* All but 6 of the 23 Union County school districts either met or surpassed this rate; the exceptions were Elizabeth, Hillside, Linden, Plainfield, Rahway, and Roselle. Their average 4-year graduation rate was less than 83%. This harsh statistic is evidence that many students are struggling with their schooling.
*From the New Jersey Department of Education Performance Report.
The 21 Gaps Program is beneficial for all students. Research has proven that our program can have a more dramatic impact on students who are in the lower-performing districts because graduation is influenced by key student performance elements, including GPA, standardized testing, attendance, and indirectly, discipline activity. These are the same components 21 Gaps was designed to improve.
The Solution: The 21 Gaps Program
Through many years of classroom observation, as well as interactions with administrators, teachers, and students, we discovered what is missing from the traditional public school curriculum: the basic “soft skills,” such as the development of good study habits, perseverance, and time management, just to name a few.
By developing the aforementioned soft skills, as well as the others in our 21 Gaps chart, students can improve their attendance, boost GPA, and reduce disciplinary infractions—leading to a higher chance of high school graduation, college acceptance and graduation, and career successes.
Our researchers and educators have come to refer to The 21 Gaps Program as a supplemental education that provides students with the “grit or the determination needed to complete the task at hand, no matter how difficult it may be.”
