Developing Comprehensive Career Pathways Systems in ABE Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE) Conference Tuesday, April 12, 2016 Presented by: Judith Alamprese, Abt Associates Hope Cotner, CORD Chrys Limardo, Manhattan Strategy Group

Today’s Session Key components of a local career pathways system ABE program examples of career pathways strengthening Defined pathway approach College and career awareness Instruction States’ leveraging of ABE initiatives to incorporate career pathways Career Pathways Exchange—connecting to career pathways resources

Moving Pathways Forward Project Activities and Expected Outcomes Intensive technical assistance to 13 states through customized coaching in strengthening career pathways state systems and expanding local career pathways services Virtual technical assistance to 9 states in planning and developing career pathways systems Career Pathways Exchange resources Expected Outcomes State system for supporting career pathways at local level Local career pathways system of services that enable ABE learners to pursue further education and obtain employment in high-growth, high-wage jobs

Moving Pathways Forward Project States 5/14/2014

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: Summary Definition of Career Pathway Career Pathway: Combination of rigorous and high quality education, training, and other services that: Align with skill needs of state/local economy; Prepare individuals for success through range of secondary/postsecondary education options, including apprenticeships; Include counseling; Can include concurrent instruction and workforce preparation and training for specific occupation or occupational cluster;

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act: Summary Definition of Career Pathway Are organized to accelerate educational and career advancement; Enable an individual to attain a secondary credential and at least one recognized postsecondary credential; and Help an individual enter or advance within a specific occupation or occupational cluster.

State and Local Career Pathways System Components

Key Components of Career Pathways Interagency and Intra-agency Partnerships: Key stakeholders coordinate activities to support and implement a comprehensive local/regional career pathways system, including: ABE providers Postsecondary education institutions Career and technical education institutions Workforce development providers, agencies Employers Vocational rehabilitation Social services Industry Engagement: Business and industry partners identify career pathways target sectors and occupations, and the skills, training, and credentials required for participants’ placement into target occupations.

Key Components of Career Pathways Education and Training Systems; Training & Technical Assistance: Partners provide processes, procedures, and materials for delivery of assessment, instruction, training, advising, transition, and support services aligned with characteristics of WIOA career pathways. Professional development is provided to support staff in delivering education and training services. Policy and Guidance: State agencies and local partners provide career pathways system guidance for conducting assessment; delivering instruction; providing advising, support, and referral services; participating in training and technical assistance; providing financial support to participants; and collecting, analyzing, and reporting data.

Key Components of Career Pathways Funding Needs and Sources: Partners identify costs, funding sources, and procedures to obtain funds to implement career pathways services, including ongoing professional development and data systems management. Data Systems and Evaluation: Partners use data on participant background characteristics, attendance, learning progress, credential attainment, and employment to: Assess participants’ progress and outcomes; and Identify program practices and policies that facilitate participants’ attainment of career pathways outcomes.   Public Relations and Ongoing Communication: Partners provide messaging and ongoing communication with stakeholders and constituents about career pathways purposes, benefits, activities, and outcomes.

Illustrative Model of Career Pathways Local System Postsecondary Education − Occupational Certificate − Associate Degree − BA Degree Occupational Training − Industry Credentials first job--career path progressive jobs in path Conduct Client Intake ABE-One-Stop-TANF Offices − Demographic information − Background information on education & employment − Initial education & employment goals − Barriers to participation − Basic skills assessment − Goals for participation Conduct Client Orientation −Provide College & Career Awareness −Develop Initial College & Career Plan −Develop Schedule for Services Coordination among ABE, CTE, Postsecondary, One-Stop, TANF, Voc Rehab, Support Services, Employers Recruit Diverse Clients − Low-skilled adults − Adults below secondary level − ESOL adults − Out-of-school youth − TANF recipients − Unemployed − Underemployed − Displaced workers − Adults preparing for postsecondary education − Adults in reentry Provide Client Services − ABE, ESOL, HSE aligned with CCRS (accelerated learning, contextualized learning, integrated education & training) − Employability Skills − Job Readiness, Job Search Skills − Co-enrollment with postsecondary or occupational training − Revise Career Plan Attain High School Equivalency 12

Building Local Career Pathways Systems: New Jersey MPF Pilot Test Goal: defined pathway from ABE to postsecondary education to employment Pilot Partners: ABE provider, Local Workforce Investment Board, Job Center, community college CTE, TANF office, employer involved in college CTE training Union County: (GED learners) GED preparation, testing & receipt of GED One- Stop enrollment & receipt of training funding CTE participation, internship & receipt of certificate placement in health care position Atlantic County: (TANF ESL clients) ESL instruction (ABE) & hospitality certificate training (community college) receipt of hospitality certificate placement in hospitality job

Building Local Career Pathways Systems: West Virginia MPF Pilot Test Goal: Develop integrated basic skills and occupational training in high-demand sectors that results in a certificate and placement in sector jobs Pilot Sites: 4 ABE programs, coordination among ABE, and community college CTE, and local business Sector Foci: Oil and Gas, Health Occupations Key Features: Coordination between ABE and CTE instructors Integration of job shadowing Use of career navigator

Strengthening Career Pathways: College and Career Awareness Oregon: Use of Career and College Awareness (CCA) Course as linchpin to postsecondary participation MPF Pilot Test: Revise CCA Course and align with Job Center (One-Stop) instruments Structured course, 10 Lesson Plans and PowerPoint presentations; Learner Materials, 20 hrs. of instruction Learners’ analysis of skills, interests, experience local labor market and in-demand occupations & job education needed for jobs Involves guest speakers (college departments, counseling and financial aid, graduates) College and Career Plan that is updated throughout learners’ ABE participation

Strengthening Career Pathways: Instruction Indiana MPF Pilot Test Occupationally focused instruction aligned with high-demand occupations 180 Skills—online manufacturing training Planned outcomes: occupational certificate, job interview, job placement Montana MPF Pilot Test EdReady online math instruction Build base for math instruction; move to integration of occupational applications

Lessons from Career Pathways Pilot Tests Use Partnerships as a Foundation: Build partnerships as base of career pathways ABE and American Job Center ABE and postsecondary education Develop and link multifaceted services to address diverse needs of learners Focus on Learner Subpopulations: Determine types of instructional interventions and support systems that are aligned with learners’ skills, life stage, and goals Plan for Transition Services: Leverage partnerships, services, and resources to provide explicit transition support from ABE to postsecondary education or employment

Spotlight on Massachusetts 10/27/15 Spotlight on Massachusetts Statewide Adult Career Pathways Network includes: State Adult and Community Learning Services 16 Local Workforce Investment Boards 29 One-Stop Career Centers (OSCC) 40 ACP sites at Community Adult Learning Centers MA Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, Dept. of Career Services, and Dept. of Higher Education Working group in each of the 16 WIB regions; shared responsibility for ACP programs State Task Force comprised of WIB directors, OSCC directors, community colleges, and ACP directors meets bimonthly; designed state guidelines for ACP Highlights the state’s priority to strengthen connections and collaborations among the ABE, higher education and workforce systems to maintain and enhance a comprehensive education and training system for the state. ACP program activities can include integrated education and training, workforce preparation, and integrated English literacy and civics activities aligned with regional workforce priorities. 17

Spotlight on Pennsylvania Focused on partnerships and communications as areas to strengthen within career pathways system development Key activities: Development of elevator speech Development of “partnership maps” (state and local) Customizable tri-fold brochure for state and local use Survey of local providers to gain insights for targeted professional development going forward

Spotlight on Colorado Student-centered approach to building career pathways system Program Reflection/Asset Inventory System Infrastructure Analysis Gap Analysis Work Plan for Program/System Improvement Targeted professional development to address gaps; replicate/scale across state agencies

Career Pathways Exchange The Career Pathways Exchange is a free information service that consolidates and distributes career pathways-related resources, events, and information from federal and state agencies and national organizations. Subscribers receive: The latest career pathways information, resources, and events Topics in alignment with the six key elements of career pathways as well as member feedback Access to updates on the go through social media Opportunity to join online discussions in the LINCS Community. Updates from the project

Career Pathways Exchange at a Glance Launched October 2014 Bi-weekly distribution Current number subscribers: 1,847 Current number of approved partners: 25 Resources distributed: 114 Events announced: 67 Twitter followers: 852 @Career_Pathways Facebook Page Likes: 189 https://www.facebook.com/careerpathwayexchange Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cpexchange/

Exchange Interest Areas 4/22/15 Building Cross-Agency Partnerships Identifying Industry Sectors and Engaging Employers Designing Education and Training Programs Identifying Funding Needs and Sources Aligning Policies and Programs Measuring System Change and Performance [I-FANG]

Some of our Partners 4/22/15 [I-FANG] Since the launch of the Exchange at the beginning of October, the Exchange has amassed over 1,000 subscribers sharing resources from federal sources (ED, DOL, HHS), partner sources (21 partner organizations), as well as external sources that we monitor.

Project Resources Systems Thinking to Advance Career Pathways – The Moving Pathways Forward Podcast Series This series of podcasts features interviews with career pathways experts sharing: lessons learned from states’ career pathways systems development, the evolution of career pathways in secondary and postsecondary education, and the influence of legislative initiatives on career pathways services and systems. The Moving Pathways Forward Podcast Series - YouTube

Contact Information 5/14/2014 Judith Alamprese, Abt Associates, Director of Technical Assistance, judy_alamprese@abtassoc.com Hope Cotner, CORD, hcotner@cord.org Chrys Limardo, MSG, Project Director, climardo@manhattanstrategy.com Project email: cpexchange@manhattanstrategy.com Project website: http://lincs.ed.gov/programs/movingpathways Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/careerpathwayexchange Twitter: @Career_Pathways Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/cpexchange Moving Pathways Forward: Supporting Career Pathways Integration is funded by OCTAE under contract #ED-VAE-13-C-0060. The project is managed by Manhattan Strategy Group and its partners, Abt Associates and Center for Occupational Research and Development (CORD) Communications Inc.