The Workforce Innovation & Opportunity ACT A National Perspective and Its impact on local engagement

WHAT WIOA DOES TITLE 1 – Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth, and Job Corps Programs TITLE 2 – Adult Education and Literacy TITLE 3 – Wagner-Peyser TITLE 4 – Rehabilitation Act of 1973 General Provisions

WHY WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT WIOA Aligns federal investments across core programs to support job seekers and employers Strengthens governing bodies – business-led state and local workforce boards Help businesses find employees Aligns goals and increases accountability Focus on regional collaboration Sector partnerships and career pathways Improves services to individuals with disabilities Makes access to service easier

VIRGINIA’S ONE STOP SYSTEM Governance 1 state and 15 local workforce areas designated by the Governor Planning State and local plans designed to support employers by closing the skills gap and provide economic opportunities for residents Programs Core program partners with special responsibility Other state and federally-funded programs Delivery System Retail points of service Technology, tools and other virtual service delivery strategies

VIRGINIA’S LOCAL WORKFORCE AREAS

VIRGINIA’S ONE STOP CAREER CENTER NETWORK

PROMISING NATIONAL INITIATIVES Accelerating Opportunity Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Louisiana Career pathways in 42 community and technical colleges 2,600 students Team teaching between college and adult education instructors Comprehensive support services Developed and strengthened partnerships to support sustainability and scaling of AO Source: The First Year of Accelerating Opportunity, Urban Institute, September 2014

PROMISING NATIONAL INITIATIVES AO Challenges Difficult to align pathways with local labor market needs and student interests Colleges valued the availability of student supports, but struggled to put these supports into place concurrently with the initial pathway structures Shifting the culture within community colleges and perceptions about low-skill students proved difficult Source: The First Year of Accelerating Opportunity, Urban Institute, September 2014

PROMISING NATIONAL INITIATIVES Overcoming AO Challenges Colleges that were able to integrate support services early on did so by leveraging partnerships with their local workforce agencies and community-based organizations and by implementing braided funding strategies that could tie AO to supports being established for other related initiatives. Cultural shifts began when career and technical education (CTE) faculty members became familiar and comfortable with teaching adult education students and collaborating with adult education instructors. States actively supported AO implementation at the colleges by initiating policy changes, providing professional development for colleges, developing state-level partnerships, and creating financing strategies. Source: The First Year of Accelerating Opportunity, Urban Institute, September 2014

PROMISING NATIONAL INITIATIVES USDOL Aging Worker Initiative Maine, Vermont, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Wisconsin, Washington, Michigan, Texas 3900 mature workers; successful employment of 1190 AWI Challenges Public workforce system’s performance measures make serving mature workers difficult. Emphasize full-time work Wages must be equal to or show an increase from previous wages Most mature workers needed to develop basic literacy, numeracy, and technology skills “Networking” process has changed Source: New Approaches for Supporting the Mature Worker, Council for Adult & Experiential Learning, 2016

PROMISING NATIONAL INITIATIVES Overcoming AWI Challenges AWI sites began providing training in computer skills, interview skills, and English language proficiency Sites offered workshops in “selling yourself” to employers Partnerships with adult education and community college instructors were essential AWI sites hired diverse staffs, including older workers, who could relate to the concerns of mature workers States engaged employers early in the process to develop job placement opportunities States developed “Learning Institutes” for sharing of best practices Source: New Approaches for Supporting the Mature Worker, Council for Adult & Experiential Learning, 2016

PROMISING NATIONAL INITIATIVES Dual Enrollment Career Pathways Wisconsin, Washington, Texas, Oregon, Minnesota, and Washington “Career pathway bridges” (term coined by Wisconsin) are designed specifically to meet the needs of lower-skilled adults and youth Link basic skills and career-technical content Put basic skills into workplace context Employ new classroom delivery models (learning communities, team teaching, modified curricula) Support student success (advising, financial aid, public benefits, problem-solving) Connect to local employer and community needs Source: Farther, Faster: 6 Promising Programs, CLASP, 2011

PROMISING NATIONAL INITIATIVES Integrated Education & Training (USDOL Initiative derived from Washington’s I-BEST model) “…a service approach that provides adult education and literacy activities concurrently and contextually with workforce preparation activities and workforce training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster for the purpose of educational and career advancement.” Final WIOA regulations at 34 CFR §463.35

PROMISING NATIONAL INITIATIVES Integrated Education & Training – Adult Education & Literacy adult education literacy workplace adult education and literacy activities family literacy activities English language acquisition activities integrated English literacy and civics education workforce preparation activities integrated education and training 34 CFR §463.30

PROMISING NATIONAL INITIATIVES Integrated Education & Training – Workforce Preparation Activities, programs, or services designed to help an individual acquire a combination of basic academic skills, critical thinking skills, digital literacy skills, and self-management skills, including competencies in: utilizing resources using information working with others understanding systems skills necessary for successful transition into and completion of postsecondary education or training, or employment other employability skills 34 CFR §463.34

PROMISING NATIONAL INITIATIVES Integrated Education & Training – Workforce Training occupational skill training on-the-job training incumbent worker training programs that combine workplace training with related instruction training programs operated by the private sector skill upgrading and retraining entrepreneurial training transitional jobs job readiness training provided in combination with services adult education and literacy activities, including activities of English language acquisition and integrated education and training programs, customized training conducted with a commitment by an employer or group of employers to employ an individual upon successful completion of the training (WIOA Section 134(c) (3) (D), P.L. 113-128)

QUESTIONS - What do you see as the biggest strength in Adult Education and Literacy programs to realize the promise of WIOA in Virginia? Where do you see opportunities to improve system alignment and services to shared customers? As we move towards fully implementing WIOA, what aspirations to you have for your local programs? What will the positive impact be on your adult learners?