Workforce & TrainingWorkforce Investment ActAdult Learning ServicesContinuing Education

ConnectingEducation

WithWorkforce

When Turf Doesn’t Matter: Breaking Down the Silos

James WilliamsJulia Houston

Who are you?

• Adult Education?• Other?• Transition?• Program Administration?• Securement of funds?• Forward/progressive thinker?

About Us:

Adult Education/Express DVD

Progressive Movement/Program Evolution: ABE curriculum movement toward Common Core State Standards, while assimilating workforce contextual learning

applications.

Mission• To provide adult learners with

the basic educational opportunities in fundamental mathematics, communication, and interpersonal and reasoning skills which are necessary for employment and self-sufficiency.

• To assist adult learners with a native language other than English in the mastery of the English language or citizenship preparation.

• To provide adult learners who are parents with the basic educational skills which allow them to become full partners in the educational development of their children.

• To assist adult learners in the completion of a GED credential.

Market Characteristics of Service Area

Social Environment

Statistics from CREATE’s 2012 Northeast Mississippi Regional Profile indicate the following socioeconomic barriers:

•Per capita income - $29,736•Percentage of households with income equal or less than $24,999 – 38.4%•Average TANF and Food Stamp Payment per Household - $280.84•Number of Births to Single Teens – 777

Market Characteristics of Service Area

Educational Environment

Percentage of Adults 25 Years of Age or Older By County with Less Than A High School Diploma

Programmatic Transitions (70/30)• Stringent Literacy Component Which Meets

Common Core State Standards

• Workplace Contextual Learning

• 21st Workplace Skills of critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, communication, and self-direction.

Programmatic Transition (70/30)

• Tuition Guarantee and First College Class Free

• Academic Arrow Terms

• Earning Student Test Fee Waiver

• Transition Specialist

Current Service Delivery Model

Tier I: Literacy Classes

Adult Basic Intermediate (Pre-GED)

English as a Second Language

Current Service Delivery Model

Tier 2: Adult Secondary Education (GED Express)

Fast-Track (test-ready individuals)

GED Online Course

GED Testing Service (paper-based/CBT)

Current Service Delivery Model

Tier 3: ACT WorkKeys Testing/Career Readiness Credential

ACT WorkKeys Preparation/Remediation

21st Century Skills SmartLab

McGraw-Hill Workforce Connects Technology

21st Century Workplace Skills

• Jobs 4 U

• SmartLab

21st Century Skills21st Century Skills

• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

• Application of Technology to

Workflow

• Connections to Core Subject

Knowledge

• Project Management

• Collaboration and Teamwork

• Communication Skills

• Creativity and Innovation

• Adaptability

• Information and Media Literacy

What Does Workforce Connects do?

Coordinates job/career exploration with the resources and

steps necessary to gain the skills and training job seekers need

for specific jobs. It uses contextual learning for subjects such as

math and English to make those subject areas meaningful to the

learner’s job choice.

http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/user-media/New-approaches-to-building-careers-white-paper.pdf

Workplace Contextual Learning

• Contemporary’s Workforce Connects– Assessment

– Instruction

– Remediate

– Resources

Partnership Strategy: Roles/Delivery of Services

C2C/Jobs 4 U – Counseling to Career

OJT –On the Job Training

Workforce Basic Skills Manufacturing Certification

CRC – Career Readiness Credential

Partnerships• Department of Human Services – Lee, Itawamba, Pontotoc,

Chickasaw, and Monroe • Lee County Head Start• Lee County Juvenile Detention Center• Lee County Correction• LIFT, Inc.• Good Samaritan Health Services• E.T.I.• S. A. F. E., Inc.• Harbor House• Lee County Health Department• Mississippi Kidney Foundation• McDonald’s Corporation

How does our ABE program plan to remain valuable to both our institution and the community we serve?

How We Did Last Year

• Number Served: 1,587 (+2%)

• Number of GED Completions: 475 (-20%)

• Number Entering Post-Secondary Education: 196 (+6%)

ABE SWOT Analysis:Strengths: •Teachers/Scorecard System of Accountability•Trainer/System of train-the-trainer•Dropout Recovery/Transition Specialist•Partnerships with WIA to serve C2C eligible •Partnerships with WIA to serve non-eligible•Consortium partners – EMCC, NEMCC, NWMCC•Number of GED graduates produced

Weaknesses:•Student economic/other barriers•Teachers/Staff dedicated but lacking understanding of where ABE fits/role•Trainer/other demands•Location of centers•Lack of local program visibility/branding

Opportunities:•New marketing strategy•GED Awareness Campaign•Development of new community partners •Moving from paper/pencil GED testing to CBT•Aligning ABE instruction with Common Core

Threats:•Decreased funding streams•GED 2014 test fee increase•Moving from paper/pencil GED to CBT•Aligning ABE instruction with Common Core

What we’ve learned thus far: Many of our strengths, opportunities, and threats were actually one in the same. Thus, they all can be utilized as opportunities if we view them as such.

http://play.simpletruths.com/movie/change-is-good/

If you want to walk on water…you have got to get out of the boat.

• Partnership• Innovation• Team Work• Leadership

• Integration• Communication• Accountability• Nationally

Competitive

Corner Stones

No Single Entity Can Supply All the Needs on Its Own

Each partner must bring its best resources to the project:– Time– Talent– Connections– Influence– Ingenuity (think outside the box)– Persistence– Management

Educational AttainmentPartnerships

• Tuition Assistance• GED• Drop Out Recovery• Career Readiness

Certificate• Marketing Campaign• Career Ladders

Public • Private • Local • Regional

LEADERSHIP

FEAR