Ohio's Learning, Earning, and Parenting (LEAP) Analysis, 1989-1993

Ohio's statewide Learning, Earning, and Parenting (LEAP) Program began in 1989 to address the problems of teen parents on welfare. Under this program, all teen parents who receive welfare are provided with a substantial financial incentive to attend school. The LEAP evaluation began with the start of the program itself and encompassed 12 Ohio counties, in which the large majority of LEAP teens resided. As part of the study, these teens were randomly assigned, by chance, to one of two groups: a program group, which was subject to the LEAP program, or a control group, which was not. Data were collected on both groups during a four-year follow-up period.