Transforming Michigan’s Adult Learning Infrastructure

Then and Now

Presentation to the Maryland Workforce Creation and Adult Education Transition Council

October 7, 2008

Corporation for a Skilled Workforce.

Michigan’s move of ABE to Jobs Commission – Missed Opportunity

Happened over 10 years ago Part of creation of new “super agency”

– many programs moved. Programs under new roof but same

mandates and no change in processes or integration.

Funding decreased over years – no political support for “siloed” program or for how funds were used.

Michigan’s current adult learning initiative

Adult learning crucial part of Michigan’s economic transformation strategy to create a high skilled, high wage economy.

No Worker Left Behind, Governor Granholm’s signature initiative – free post-secondary training for large portion of population.

Empty promise for many with low basic skills – thus the adult learning initiative.

Basic skills development now becoming part of all workforce activities – Rapid Response, Trade Act, TANF, WIA Title I.

Michigan’s Strategy

Charge: Develop a strategy and initiative that bridges basic skills development into ongoing post-secondary education

Created Adult Learning Work Group Looked at data from a range of sources Held 7 regional forums to get input Defined strategic intent and guiding

principles Vision adopted by Council for Labor and

Economic Growth

No HSD692,101

English Less than Very Well

239,128

Low wages (<$15.45)

and no PSE1,153,040

372,414

239,800

41,568

38,322

839,528 123,85135,390

1,690,870 Michigan Working-Age Adults (18-64) Need Improved Basic Skills, 2006

Percent of the total working-age adults (5,041,710): 34%Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey (Public Use Microdata Samples)

Startling scale of need

44% of Michigan adults are at low literacy, even many with credentials

Low basic skills equate to low wages 60% who want to attend a

community college need basic remediation first

Low enrollment in adult basic education programs

Strategic Intent One out of three Michigan workers lacks

the basic skills or credentials to attain family-sustaining jobs and contribute to the state’s economy.

If Michigan does not address this crisis, our state’s ability to prosper in the future will be severely hampered.

It is imperative to transform Michigan’s adult learning infrastructure to connect these adults to continuing education, hard and soft skills, and careers in our ever-changing economy.

Guiding Principles

Collaboration Accountability Responsiveness Agility Contextualization Entrepreneurism Alignment

The impact of transformation

Higher personal incomes Higher rates of citizenship and civic

engagement Higher levels of educational

achievement for future generations Higher levels of fiscal contribution Higher levels of readiness for careers

in the new economy

Moving to implementation

Adult Learning Work Group identifying promising practices and mechanisms for implementing transformation

Presenting policy recommendations/ implementation plan to Council for Labor and Economic Growth (CLEG) in December

Moving forward with implementation upon adoption by CLEG

Challenges

Thinking and aligning workforce and education as an adult learning system

Tremendous scale of need Regional factors require

sensitivity and flexible policies

Questions