But results in Rhode Island failed to meet expectations. LaunchCode had proposed placing 130 candidates in apprenticeships over a two-year period, and ultimately placed 20.

“While the partnership fell short of mutual goals and didn’t perform the way we hoped, we’re not going to lose sight of the fact that LaunchCode generated awareness and enthusiasm, helped a number of previously unemployed and underemployed workers get high-paying tech jobs, and resulted in dozens of people receiving high-quality job training in Rhode Island,” Hastings said in an email.

Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training spokesman Michael Healey said LaunchCode’s 16-week boot camps attracted nearly 500 applicants “but many lacked the necessary IT skills to handle the rigor of the training.” Ultimately 51 Rhode Islanders completed the training.

LaunchCode recruited and screened nearly 800 candidates for “software development internships,” which LaunchCode counts as apprenticeships. Fourteen were placed in internships and 13 were hired to full-time jobs, Healey said.

LaunchCode counts 19 Rhode Islanders placed in apprenticeships, but not all of those individuals returned forms to the state to be counted in its official numbers, said Jeff Mazur, LaunchCode vice president of public partnerships.