ABE Policy & Accountability ABE Foundations 2017

What is accountability? Accountability requirements exist to ensure ABE providers are responsible and positive stewards of public funds.

How is accountability monitored in MN? Programs enter data in the Student Information Database (SiD) MN Department of Education aggregates it to report to the feds, and provide results back to the field

What data is entered in SID? Student information Student attendance (contact hours) Student assessment results Other data that varies by program (volunteers, goals, etc.)

Contact Hour Policy What’s the Policy? BROAD DEFINITION: ABE Contact Hours are: Times spent in intake and assessment Time spent in ABE classroom Time spent on distance learning (proxy hours) Time spent with ABE trained volunteers Ask a few comprehension check questions: -Can you count hours for intake & orientation? Yes -Can you count hours for assessment? Yes -Can you count hours for homework? No What’s the Policy?

Distance Learning What’s the Policy? Proxy hours: Time allocated for successful lesson completion for student work outside of class with approved distance learning curricula What’s the Policy?

Contact Hours VS. Proxy Hours Do NOT double count hours! Distance Learning Contact Hours VS. Proxy Hours Do NOT double count hours! Do not count contact hours for time when the student is working in the classroom on a distance learning curriculum if you are also counting proxy hours for that completed work! What’s the Policy?

Recording Student Attendance All ABE consortia must be able to verify the accuracy of daily student contact hours reported to the MN Department of Education Program staff are responsible for recording accurate student attendance All MN ABE programs are required to use statewide database (MARCS or MABE) to track student data

Contact Hours Can you count ABE contact hours for: Registering a new student? Testing a new student? A student’s homework? Counseling a student? Clarify: counseling & testing hours, only at beginning.

How do we demonstrate accountability? National Reporting System (NRS) This defines the accountability requirements defined by the U.S. Department of Education.

NRS Defines Student Levels: ESL 1: Beginning ESL Literacy ESL 2: Low Beginning ESL ESL 3: High Beginning ESL ESL 4: Low Intermediate ESL ESL 5: High Intermediate ESL ESL 6: Advanced ESL ABE 1: Beginning ABE Literacy ABE 2: Beginning Basic Education ABE 3: Low Intermediate ABE ABE 4: High Intermediate ABE ABE 5: Low Adult Secondary ABE 6: High Adult Secondary These are also called EFLs, or Educational Functioning Levels

HOW do we measure success with ABE students? ABE Policy Question HOW do we measure success with ABE students?

= Level Gains Educational Gain in ABE Achieving a score at a higher How do you determine “educational gain” in ABE? = Achieving a score at a higher NRS Level on an approved assessment Educational Gain in ABE Note: we use them interchangeably

CASAS TABE BEST Plus Testing Approved Tests There are 3 NRS-approved assessments for Minnesota ABE programs: CASAS TABE BEST Plus

Testing As soon as possible! Pre-Test When to pre-test ABE students? (Required to be pre-tested in their first 12 contact hours with the ABE program.)

Testing Post-Test ABE programs cannot post-test a student until they earn 40 contact hours since their previous test.

Enrollee vs. Participant Enrollees are any adult student with contact hours in the program year. Participants are enrollees with at least 12 contact hours in the program year. Different NRS tables. Hours for enrollees, but level gains are only counted for participants. Example: Someone who attends 8 hours counts toward contact hours but not against you in your post-test/level gain rates.

WIOA Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: Federal law that governs and funds the workforce development system including adult education.

WIOA’s Purpose Works well with others Improve coordination between the primary federal programs that support employment services, workforce development, adult education and vocational rehabilitation activities Collaboration and partnerships Transitions and work Standards-aligned instruction Works well with others

Break It Down The Structure of WIOA Law Title (Section) Name Program/Activities Who oversees in Minnesota Title I (Subtitle A) Workforce Development Activities (System Alignment) All WIOA Programs DEED and MDE Title I (Subtitle B) Workforce Development Activities (Workforce Activities and Providers) Adult, Youth, and Dislocated Worker Programs DEED Title II Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) Adult Basic Education MDE Title III Wagner-Peysar Act Workforce Centers (One-Stops) Title IV Rehabilitation Act Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Title V General Provisions Don’t worry about memorizing this, just know this is the basic structure that you may hear in various programs. Break It Down

WIOA Accountability Measures Program participants in unsubsidized employment during second quarter after exit Program participants in unsubsidized employment during fourth quarter after exit Median earnings of program participants employed during second quarter after exit Program participants who obtain a postsecondary credential or high school diploma (and enter employment or postsecondary education or training within 1 year of exit) Program participants who are achieving measurable skill gains toward a credential or employment Effectiveness in serving employers Individual programs are not responsible for reporting on these, but for several grants, you may be asked for it.

For More Information… Minnesota Department of Education –ABE Web Site: www.mnabe.org National Reporting System (NRS): www.nrsweb.org/

Questions? Contact: Your program supervisor For questions regarding state ABE policy and operations, contact Brad Hasskamp at 651-582-8594 or brad.hasskamp@state.mn.us For questions regarding assessments and data, contact Todd Wagner at 651-582-8466 or todd.wagner@state.mn.us

Discuss in Small Groups What are the key lessons learned? How does this impact your work? What questions do you have?