The August 2026 brief, “From Enrollment to Credential: Navigating the Short-Term Training Pipeline,” by Amani Talwar, PhD, and Neha Nanda, examined four of our career training programs: Bilingual Teaching Assistant, IT Fundamentals, Culinary Arts, and Nurse Aide. It followed students from their first day of class through certification, drawing on enrollment from Spring 2019 through Spring 2023.
What the Research Found
Nearly two-thirds of enrolled students across all four programs earned an industry-recognized certification or qualification. Among students who completed their training and sat for their certification exam, pass rates reached as high as 98%, reflecting how closely our instruction aligns with what our students need to succeed on exam day.
These outcomes reflect decades of our staff’s knowledge and expertise. They also reflect hands-on, applied training built around real industry standards, along with wraparound supports such as transportation assistance, multilingual counseling, and tiered academic help, all designed to help adult learners stay the course while juggling work and family responsibilities.
Using Data to Get Better
A companion PROPEL Center study, “Building Bridges: Integrating Education, Career Training, and Community for Adult Learners in Washington, D.C.,” by Katherine Allen, Jackson Sauls, Sachiko Oates, Neha Nanda, and Amani Talwar, adds our students’ voices. Drawing on interviews with 28 staff members and focus groups with 68 students and alumni, it describes a community representing more than 80 countries. The researchers also found that our student community is changing, with more students arriving with professional credentials from their home countries as teachers, nurses, lawyers, and chefs that are complicated to validate in the United States. We are seeing a wider range of languages, even as rising housing costs in Washington, DC make it harder for some students to stay in the city and in our classrooms.
A Shared Commitment
We’re grateful to AIR and the PROPEL Center for this research, and to our faculty and student support teams, whose work is reflected in these results every day. Our career training programs can open the door to a better job in the Washington, DC region, and we remain committed to helping every student reach the finish line and move toward a better career.
Read “From Enrollment to Credential”: https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/2026-08/Enrollment-to-Credential-Career-Training-Brief-August-2026-508.pdf
Read the full reports here: https://www.air.org/project/carlos-rosario-school-integrating-education-career-training-and-student-supports-washington