A Dream-shop facilitated by Mike Vail Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy Penn State University

Welcome Icebreaker: NCTN Epiphanies Opportunity/Threat Group Brainstorm Adult Ed Landscape Best Practices Small Group Activity Report Out Next Steps Wrap

Please discuss your responses to these 2 questions with your table-mates. What was the best idea you happened upon at this conference? What, in your mind, made it the best?

 Approximately 90,000,000 adults in the U.S. (45%) are not able to fully participate in family, work, or community opportunities due to insufficient reading level.  Low adult literacy costs about 225 billion dollars a year in lost productivity.  Financial investment in adult education results in higher salaries, enhanced job security, more tax revenues, and increased consumer spending.  Inmates who actively study for GED or viably take part in educational programs have significantly lower recidivism rates.  Waiting lists for adult education services are through the roof, with 725 programs reporting long waiting lists amounting to almost 200,000 learners wanting services that they must wait for indefinitely. * Data points from

 Alignment of activities with regional needs identified in local plans under Title 1  Serving individuals with disabilities  Instructional activities based on rigorous research  Effective use of technology  Activities that promote IET  Coordination with education, training, employers, and social service providers to promote career pathways  Convergence of PIAC, RFW, WIOA

 Workforce: Skill Works (Boston)  Postsecondary: ASAP (NYC)  ABE: Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (Washington State)

 $6M to support sector partnerships in the 2004 Economic Stimulus Bill.  Creation and funding Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund in the 2006 Economic Stimulus Bill. WCTF has since distributed $18M in funding for sector partnerships statewide.  Creation of the $1.5M Educational Rewards Grants program for part-time college students.  Attainment of $8M in supplemental funding for ABE, School-to-Career, and One-Stop Career Centers.  Changes to the state’s Food Stamp Employment Training Program to allow community-based organizations to draw down more federal reimbursements for providing job training to food stamp recipients.

Postsecondary Accelerated Study in Associate’s Program (ASAP)  Cost Free  Connected Community of Learners  Full time study mandatory  Majors selected by CUNY based on projected job growth In NYC  Comprehensive Advisement  Academic Support Services  Career Counseling  50%+ graduation rate after 3 years compared to 16% nationally* *January/February 2014 Atlantic Monthly

 Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST, Washington State).  This model pairs ABE instructors with content- area instructors to co-teach college-level vocational courses and workforce training.  Students who complete courses receive college- level professional credits, as part of a specific career pathway.  Programs participating in I-BEST must appear on the demand list for the local area and meet a set minimum wage.

Break up into five groups and brainstorm at least 3 opportunities and strategies around one of the following: 1. Advocacy 2. Funding 3. Staffing 4. Information Technology 5. Service Delivery/Classroom Design 6. Leadership Please record opportunities and strategies on flipchart paper and designate someone to report out to the larger group.

 Each group will share 3 ideas they came up with.  See any obstacles?  Benefits?

 small group findings to all attendees  Await policy implications and decisions expected in early 2015 from DOE and DOL  Have a great Thanksgiving!!!

Mike Vail Career Pathways Program Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy Penn State University