What began in British Columbia in 2015 as Education Reboot grew into Reboot Plus, a national model with support from the Future Skills Centre. Reboot Plus has since expanded across multiple provinces and post-secondary institutions, helping hundreds of young people at-risk of not graduating from high school to explore careers, reconnect with education, build confidence and imagine new possibilities.
The latest research shows that Reboot Plus is making a difference, and its lessons can help communities across Canada support young people who are struggling to find their path.
What Has Reboot Plus Achieved?
The latest evaluation from Blueprint looked at six semesters of the Reboot Plus Expansion, delivered between October 2022 and September 2025.
During this period, 336 young people participated across five post-secondary sites in four provinces, and more than 92% completed the program.
Many participants faced significant barriers. Some had negative experiences with high school, had attended more than one high school, or were attending alternative education programs. Reboot Plus also reached many youth from equity-deserving groups.
Among participants who responded to the exit survey, 87% said they were satisfied with the program and 89% said they had recommended it or were likely to recommend it.
Participants also reported that the program helped them: 
- better understand their future and career options
- build confidence
- develop self-awareness
- strengthen communication skills
- feel more motivated to complete high school
- make decisions about post-secondary education and career pathways.
Among participants who had reached the expected age of high school graduation, 69% had completed high school by follow-up. Of those graduates, 69% said Reboot Plus helped them complete high school. Among participants aged 18 and older, 50% applied to post-secondary programs, and 76% said Reboot Plus helped shape those decisions.
The numbers matter, but the best evidence is when young people begin to see themselves differently.
One participant described the change this way:
“I was building up confidence slowly. At the beginning of the classes, my voice was really quiet, and I just sat in the back. And closer to the end, I was actually joining in on conversations.”
A Program Designed Around Relationships
One of the clearest lessons from the evaluation is that young people need more than information. They need relationships.
Reboot Plus brings together career exploration, experiential learning, post-secondary exposure, supportive facilitation, employer connections and practical supports such as transportation, meals and counselling.
Reboot Plus is intentionally flexible. Young people can step away and return without penalty. They do not have to complete every assignment. They are supported to move at their own pace while developing an individual education and career action plan.
This is important because young people do not all follow the same path. For someone who has struggled with school, experienced barriers at home or in their community, or lost confidence in their ability to succeed, a rigid program can create another barrier.
Real Connections Can Open New Possibilities
Career exploration becomes much more meaningful when young people can talk to someone who works in the field they are considering. Through informational interviews, Reboot Plus participants connect with employers and professionals, ask questions and learn from real career journeys.
Cory Redekop, CEO of the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce, described the value of these connections clearly in Building Real Connections: How Reboot Plus Helps Youth Find Their Path
“Today, you cannot place enough emphasis on real world, authentic professional connections.”
The informational interview component is invaluable because it gives young people a structured opportunity to explore careers and decide which paths they may or may not want to pursue.
These connections benefit employers too. Participating professionals often found the experience energizing and that speaking with young people gave them an opportunity to reflect on their own careers.
From One Community to Many
One of the most important questions for Reboot Plus has always been whether the model can work beyond its original setting. The answer so far is encouraging.
Reboot Plus began in British Columbia. The expansion brought the program to Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario, with delivery through Douglas College, Bow Valley College, the College of the North Atlantic, Fanshawe College and Humber College.
The model was adapted to different local settings while maintaining its core principles.
Portability does not mean every community has to deliver Reboot Plus in the same way. Communities can take the core ideas that make the program effective and adapt them to local needs. The evaluation found that sites adapted curriculum, wraparound supports and recruitment approaches while maintaining the program’s core principles. It also found that strong school district partnerships, clear referral pathways and supportive local conditions were important to successful implementation.
Resources For Communities Interested in Reboot Plus
The Reboot Plus journey has produced a body of research, evidence and practical learning that can be shared. Please
The Reboot Plus Research and Reports page brings together findings on participant outcomes, implementation, scaling and the broader impact of the program. These resources offer educators, policymakers, funders and community organizations a practical way to understand what Reboot Plus has tested and learned, and to consider how Reboot Plus could be adopted and implemented in their own communities. Together, the reports provide a growing evidence base on youth engagement, career development, partnerships and program delivery, while also pointing to questions and considerations for future work.
Why Reboot Plus Matters for Communities Across Canada
Supporting young people to find meaningful education and career pathways is community development. When young people have opportunities to build skills, explore careers and connect with employers, communities build stronger links between education and the labour market. Youth career development strengthens the local talent pool and builds healthier communities.
The latest Reboot Plus evaluation points in this direction. It found that flexible, relationship-based programs that combine career exploration, mentoring, experiential learning, post-secondary exposure and wraparound supports can help young people facing multiple barriers remain engaged and build pathways toward education and employment.
The report notes that even modest improvements in high school completion, post-secondary participation and labour market attachment could generate benefits that exceed program costs.
That means investing in young people is an investment in stronger communities.
The Next Chapter for Reboot Plus
Every program has a beginning, a period of growth and a point where its work takes a new shape.
As the current expansion phase of Reboot Plus winds down, its impact can continue beyond the final cohort.
The knowledge gained through years of delivery, research and evaluation continues to grow. The next evaluation phase of Reboot Plus will explore this year’s replication and the resulting learning at Fanshawe College and the College of the North Atlantic. Blueprint will continue to examine fidelity, scalability and sustainability, with a summative Final Report expected in December 2026.
This gives Reboot Plus an opportunity to leave something lasting behind: a set of lessons about what young people, especially those facing multiple barriers, need to find their way forward.
A Hopeful Future for Youth Career Development Starts with Connection
The story of Reboot Plus is ultimately a story about possibility.
It is about what can happen when:
- a young person who has struggled with school is given another opportunity
- career development is connected to real people, real workplaces and real experiences
- colleges, schools, employers and community organizations work together
- we give young people the space, support and encouragement to imagine a future that feels possible
We can broaden our horizons about what youth career development can look like. We can build stronger connections between education, employment and community. And we can make sure that young people who have struggled to find their path are not left to find it alone.
Reboot Plus has shown what is possible.
Now, the opportunity is to share what we have learned, build on it and help more communities across Canada adopt Reboot Plus and create pathways where young people can find confidence, connection and hope.
The Reboot Plus project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Centre.
Le projet Reboot Plus est financé par le Centre des Compétences futures du gouvernement du Canada.