Meet Passport for Good, a mobile and web solution that solves the problem of chronicling and measuring community engagement for schools, while providing a non-academic transcript for students.
The founder of Passport for Good, Gayle Farman, enjoyed a successful 25-year career as a non-profit leader, focusing on advocacy and resource development for health care, developmental disabilities, long-term care and behavioral health care.
As a parent of two daughters and as an active volunteer on non-profit community boards, Gayle saw that there was no easy solution for students and schools to capture the positive impact they were making in their communities — and that so much data was lost using archaic paper systems or having no way at all to record activities.
Below is an interview with Gayle Farman, the founder of Passport for Good.
What inspired you to develop and create the platfrom?
Passport for Good solves a significant problem for students, schools and community since there is no easy way for students to digitally chronicle their engagement in everything they do outside the classroom for college, career and life. Passport for Good supports the whole student by providing a verified non-academic transcript.
In addition, schools don’t have a way to measure student involvement and easily inspire community connections and our platform allows them to do that. There is significant evidence that students who are involved in two or more activities are more successful academically. In addition, community service, participation in clubs and activities, and work-based learning provide a greater sense of self-efficacy, build skills, improve mental health and happiness and promote a positive, equitable school climate. Passport for Good is aligned with school district goals in these areas.
How does Passport for Good help students?
Passport for Good is a life tool students can utilize from primary and secondary school and then take with them as alumni when they go to college. Their passport is “for life” and they can continue to use it to chronicle their impact in the community during college and beyond.
What age do you have to be to utilize Passport for Good ?
Passport for Good is a safe and secure platform that complies with all data privacy laws. The web and mobile app may be used for free by students in K-12 with a school district account, with parent permission from the app store, or by an adult over age 18.
Can you talk a little bit on how the platform actual works and how a student would use it?
Students typically register through their school and can join clubs, extracurricular activities, work-based learning, sports teams or other groups where they log their community service, internships and career activities, and attendance. They can chronicle what they do inside the school or outside in community-based activities.
All hours are verified by a supervisor through the mobile app or email, and students can rate their experience and provide a reflection. They can then export their digital passport for college applications, scholarships, and job applications.
Moving forward, how would you like to see your Passport for Good develop?
Passport for Good will become the digital engagement solution for schools and students that supports the whole student transcript and provides new data that schools, teachers and families have never had about where students are engaged and how to support those who are not so that they can become connected, included, and college, career and civically ready for their future.
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