United States Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration TAACCCT Technical Assistance Roundtable July 2014 Creating Career Pathways:

PluggedInVA is a career pathways bridge program that prepares adult learners with the knowledge, skills, and credentials they need to succeed in postsecondary education, training, and high-demand, high-wage careers in the 21st century.

A Very Brief History of PluggedInVA 2008: PluggedInVA development at VCU’s Literacy Institute 2009: First PluggedInVA pilot began in Feb. in Southwest Virginia in Information Technology : Expansion to 2 additional sites 2014: Line item in the VA Governor’s budget – 12 locations across VA 2013: Development of models to expand to lower skill levels: – PluggedInVA Workforce (5 th – 8 th grade) – PluggedInVA Pathways (literacy – 4 th grade)

Key Elements 1.Industry-specific contextualized curriculum 2.Co-enrollment at a postsecondary institution 3.Industry-recognized credentials or certificates 4.Career Coaching 5.Active Business Participation 6.Capstone project

College & Career Readiness Outcomes GEDBasic Skills Transferrable Postsecondary Credits Digital Literacy Certification Career Readiness Certificate Industry Certifications

Partnerships Make it Work! Adult Education Postsecondary Institutions Employers Workforce Development

Adult Education Local and state level support Contextualized basic skills Curriculum frameworks Teacher training Technical assistance Resources

Postsecondary Co-enrollment Instructor collaboration Career coaches Financial aid Customized courses and certificate programs

Workforce partners – Workforce Investment Boards, One-Stops, VEC Referrals Eligibility Wrap around services Funding Employers Curriculum design Job experience opportunities Employment

Overall Framework

PluggedInVA Curriculum Aligns with – Secondary completion – College readiness – Workplace readiness – Assessments

PluggedInVA Curriculum, cont’d Assessments – VPT (Virginia Placement Test) – CRC (Career Readiness Certificate) – GED2014 – Microsoft Digital Literacy Certificate – Industry-recognized credentials

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IC3NCCERHIPAA CEHRSOSHA SafetyCPR & First Aid CNAMedication AdministrationPharmacy Technology Refrigeration RecoveryOSHA 10Welding PhlebotomyHVACMachining Electronic Medical RecordsElectricity Dental Assisting/X-ray Information Technology Manufacturing Technician Construction/WeatherizationEntrepreneurship Electrician HelperCustomer Care Software Quality AssuranceElectronic Medical Records PhlebotomyHVAC CNC (machining)Welding Customer CarePhlebotomy Industrial Maintenance

Outcomes Number YTD Cohorts Completed Students Completing Cohorts Percentage YTD GED Attainment90% 82% Industry-recognized credentials/career studies certificates 100% Career Readiness Certificates88%96%90% Digital Literacy Certificates100% 98%

Outcomes Through FY , 70% of completers continued with at least one additional semester at the community college level—4 times the rate of general adult education students. 47% of students enrolled in gained or retained employment by September 1, State funding in more than doubled enrollment from the previous year. PluggedInVA cohorts are operating in all eight superintendents regions.

Expanding the Pipeline from Literacy to Careers Pathways Workforce Careers

PluggedInVA Pathways Goals and outcomes – Increased Educational Functioning Levels (EFL) – Digital Literacy Certificate (North Star) – Badges for Professional Soft Skills & Workplace Skills – Employment or entrance into job training Targeted to literacy through 4 th grade Focus on basic skills in workplace contexts Computer literacy instruction Job search techniques Professional soft skills Critical skills instruction (i.e., ethics, teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving, and communication) One-on-one tutoring

PluggedInVa Workforce Goals and outcomes – Pre-GED© Preparation – CRC Preparation – Microsoft Digital Literacy Certificate – Completion of Professional Soft Skills training – Industry-recognized credential (s) – Job experience Targeted to the 5 th to 8 th grade basic skill level Focus on basic skills in workplace contexts, job readiness, and career exploration – May be adapted to be industry-specific with employer partners Intensive instruction (12+ hours/week + occupational)

PluggedInVA Careers Targeted to 9 th through 12 th grade basic skill levels Industry-specific contextualized instruction Co-enrollment at the adult education center and the postsecondary institution Explicit professional soft skills training ~20 hours / week instruction Goals and outcomes – GED© credential – Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) – Microsoft Digital Literacy certificate – Industry-recognized credential (s) – Job experience – Transferable college credits

TAA/NRCC Project Managing multiple levels and cohorts o Assessments and Placement o Building cohorts o Participant training schedules o Staff preparation and management o Curriculum o Outcomes o Lessons Learned

TAA/NRCC Project Outcomes after one semester… PIVA PathwaysPIVA WorkforcePIVA Careers Enrolled93415 Post-tested4198 Educational Gains 4147 Enrolled in Postsecondary Retained43115 Left: Gained Employment 430

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