Oregon’s Approach: Policies and Practices that Link Economic and Workforce Development NGA Policy Advisors Institute September 19, 2005

Today’s Presentation Provide one example of how Oregon is connecting economic and workforce development Discuss how this model helps low-wage workers advance in a global economy Talk about next steps to bring this practice to scale and track outcomes

Background Governor: Redesign ed systems for 21 st century global economy; provide more access and opportunities for all Oregonians NGA Academy convenes states: how to assist low-income adults to access post- secondary education and high-demand skills? Strong community college leadership: looking to address stop-outs in system and be more responsive to business and worker needs

Oregon’s Challenge As of 2000, 1 in 5 adult Oregonians lacked a high school diploma or equivalent (515,077 of 2,676,129 Oregon adults). Oregon is ranked 37th of the 54 states/territories. As of 2000, an additional 68,977 adults (2.58% of adult population) have a diploma but limited English proficiency. Oregon ranked 33rd in attainment of associate’s degree within 3 years. (23.5%) Ranked 47th in percent of family income needed to pay for public 2- year college. (28.8%) Only 10-15% of GED recipients finish one year of college; 4% earn an AA degree. Only half of all CC students complete their first year. 68% of occupational students in community colleges complete less than a year of courses over five years.

One of Oregon’s Responses: Pathways to Advancement Connected educational programs With integrated work experience, on-the-job training, support services Enable students to combine work and learning and advance over time to better jobs and higher levels of education Target jobs of importance to regional economies Create educational “stepping stones” for workers and job seekers Provide supply of qualified workers for employers

Pathways Mission “Transform the education and workforce delivery system to be customer-focused and responsive to changing student, worker, and business demands – customized, just in time, just enough, just for me.”

Why Governor Supports Strategy Education Matters! Need knowledge workforce to compete in the global economy Competition now is for jobs AND skilled workers Oregon’s economic and business vitality is inextricably linked to the level of education and skills of our labor force Without increased access and opportunity, 500,000 Oregonians will not qualify for the majority of all jobs created in the next decade that require post-secondary education

What Will Pathways Achieve? Within 5 years: Outcome Goal 1: Increase in post-secondary degrees, certificates of completion, and industry certifications earned through articulated pathways. Outcome Goal 2: Increase resources for essential support services to ensure that students successfully reach their post-secondary goals. Outcome Goal 3: Increase awareness of benefits of post-secondary certificates and credentials among Oregonians. Outcome Goal 4: Increase affordability for part-time, low-income, working, and non-credentialed adults.

Enabling Policies Proficiency-based high school diploma Joint Boards of Education require articulation agreements between education systems Increase in need-based financial aid – including part- time students Adopt high school and post-secondary dual enrollment programs – allow eligible HS students to enroll at and earn college credit Package credit-bearing college courses into smaller modules and credentials as building blocks to degrees

Systemic Change Aligns with current work underway by the State of Oregon’s Boards of Education and the Oregon Workforce Investment Board Scales nationally-recognized promising practices at several community colleges, and expands them into system-wide redesign of community college offerings, closely tied to labor market demands.

How Oregon Will Benefit Stronger Economy: Increase in jobs and payroll Stronger Companies: Increase in productivity and profits through high performance Stronger Workers: Increase in basic skills, work readiness, technical and knowledge skills of students, job seekers and workers Opportunities for Oregonians

Future Focus Only just beginning– need to build more steps in current pathways and take to scale Leverage multiple funding sources and seeking foundation assistance Establish systems to track outcomes Continuous improvement

Other Strategic Investments to raise skills of low-wage workers Employer Workforce Training Fund (Incumbent Worker Training) Nurse 2000 Model – private-public partnership using hospital employees/instructors to raise skills of low wage workers into higher level health professions Lean With ESL – enabling ELL workers to participate in high performance practices Medical Interpreters Program – low wage worker skill development into medical interpreters Manufacturing Strategy – expanding basic skills, tied into pathways, communications about careers

Thank you. Lita Colligan Workforce Policy Advisor