13. Record Keeping

Required actions

1. YouthBuild USA affiliates participate in the Web-based Student Tracking Application (WebSTA) of the Affiliated Network, keeping and reporting data in a uniform way covering the following areas:
   • Recruitment
   • Basic demographic information, including income levels and educational levels of students
   • Contact information, including several relatives to facilitate future contact
   • Attendance
   • Retention (average length of stay and percent completing)
   • Reasons for termination
   • GED and HSD acquisition and educational gains data, including literacy and numeracy data according to Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) or comparable tests
   • Job placement, including wage levels and employer
   • Apprenticeships, certifications received
   • Postsecondary education placement: numbers of students taking placement tests; numbers of students accepted into college, numbers of students enrolled in college, numbers of students completing college
   • Voter registration
2. A data collection, monitoring, and assessment infrastructure is built and data review is an executive function. Real-time information on performance, attendance etc. is available for staff to review and the information continuously shapes program decisions.
3. Graduates' college and career placements are tracked for at least 12 months, optimally for 24 months and support provided as needed.
4. Individual student academic progress folders and graduation portfolios are kept.
5. Records are kept of all individual students' progress in mastering leadership skills and fulfilling leadership roles.
6. Student evaluations of program components are done annually and are used as guides for program improvement.
7. Simple records of counseling progress are kept. These reflect commitments made by the counselor and follow-up done, and reflect the life-planning process of the student.