Developing an Adult Reengagement Framework in Washington State Workforce Education Council – October 5, 2018 Rachelle Sharpe, PhD Gray Sterling Ami Magisos Deputy Executive Director Assistant Director Assistant Director

Washington Student Achievement Council 100% High school diploma or equivalent 70% Postsecondary credential 90% 52% Washington population ages 25-44 Source: 2017 WSAC Roadmap Progress Report

Bold Strategies Needed Employers need a highly skilled workforce to remain competitive. 3 Source: Roadmap Dashboard & WSAC analysis of 2011-2015 American Community Survey, U.S. Census

Bold Strategies Needed Employers need a highly skilled workforce to remain competitive. Our residents are not earning the needed credentials—and there are gaps at every educational level. 4 Source: 2017 WSAC, SBCTC, WFB Skilled and Educated Workforce Report.

Bold Strategies Needed Employers need a highly skilled workforce to remain competitive. Our residents are not earning the needed credentials – and there are gaps at every educational level. Employers find talent elsewhere and our residents are not competitive for living-wage jobs. Source: WSAC Roadmap Dashboard. IPEDS Fall Enrollment data from the U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Completions, survey A data from the U.S. Department of Education 5

2018 Hourly Earnings and Jobs in Pierce County Fast Food & Counter Workers $11.81 17,949 Retail Salespersons $12.48 19,833 Healthcare Support Occupations $16.81 10,828 Health Technologists & Technicians $24.69 7,967 Computer Support Specialists $25.73 1,488 Registered Nurses $41.00 8,336 Software Developers & Programmers $44.45 1,412 High school diploma or less Bachelor’s degree or above Some college, no degree Associate degree Source: EMSI Talking points: Here are some examples of jobs that are in the top 10 for each educational level in the region. We can see a clear progression in average wages as educational attainment increases. Healthcare Support Occupations include jobs as Nursing Assistants, Dental Assistants, Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapy Assistants, and Psychiatric Aides. Source: WSAC Analysis of EMSI Labor Market Data 2018. Source: Economic Modeling (Emsi) Q1 2018 Data Set

Earnings increase with each level of education Source: 5-year American Community Survey, 2012-2016, Census Bureau Source: 5-year American Community Survey, 2012-2016, Census Bureau

Key Challenge Areas Impeding Progress Remove system barriers for underserved students Provide support for underrepresented students Close Opportunity Gaps Address regional workforce shortages Engage and support communities Support Regional Leaders Recruit and support adult learners Target former students with credits Reconnect Adult Learners Provide multiple high-quality pathways Address financing and affordability gaps Provide Affordable High-Quality Pathways

Washington Student Achievement Council Many adults began a program without completing it Adults 25 to 44 1.9 million Credential 766,000 HS no college 405,000 Some credits 389,000 Enrolled 183,000 No HS 179,000 Measure comparisons over time: Portion of population engaged in system. Portion of high school cohort who attended but did not complete within 8 years of graduation. Reengagement of similarly situated populations over time. 300,000 with 1 year of credit 7 Source: WSAC analysis of American Community Survey, 2009-2013 5-Year Estimates.

Many partners involved in the initiative

Adult Reengagement Vision Support adults to return and complete their education so they can compete to meet the needs of Washington employers.

Adult Reengagement Goals Provide information and support to recruit, retain, and graduate adults who have not completed a credential. Target Washington residents who have earned college credit without completing a credential.

Adult Reengagement Principles Engage all sectors of institutions, employers, policymakers. Integrate campus-based initiatives, data systems, online resources, and strong partnerships. Use an equity lens to develop student identification, outreach, services, etc. Make it scalable, sustainable, and cost effective. Highlight local and regional efforts for returning adults. Consider institutions’ business and enrollment management practices. Evaluate and address barriers for adult learners.

Key Framework Components Communication Student identification Outreach Program & career match (portal) Cost Microgrant Financial aid Child care Coordination of benefits Completion Enrollment navigator Employer & regional partners Student support Adult Reengagement Adult Reengagement

Adult learners face unique barriers Individual Family & work obligations Remediation Veterans transitions Negative experiences System Stale credits Credit acceptance Aid timeframe limits Access to records

Initial target population Former financial aid recipient 20 or older Attended 25% No credential No financial aid issues

Interactive Web-Based Tool Address individual and unique needs of returning adults. Coordinate with other resources. Robust relevant content Academic programs based on individual career, personal goals. Career exploration and advancement. Program matching Short questionnaire related to past experiences and goals. Inquiries shared with selected institutions. Referrals to institutions

Message development Economic and Intrinsic Motivators Common Barriers Advance career Support family Common Barriers Financial Flexible program (time/place) Credit for prior experience Market Segmentation Prioritization (messaging and/or imagery) Sub-Populations: Veterans, Parents Demographics: Age, Race/Ethnicity Barriers: Defaults/Repayments Filtering * Low-income; WA residents Unemployed or underemployed or employed Employment – broad marketing in the Worksource Centers Parents of first generation or CBS – broad marketing

Affordability for Returning Adults Policy review Microgrant Fund Financial aid counseling Strong messages Child Care Coordination of benefits

Policy Review – Barriers & Possible Solutions Are financial aid policies imposing unnecessary barriers for returning adults? Deadlines Rolling deadlines Set-aside for returning adults Satisfactory academic progress Improve information Coordinate fed & state SAP Amnesty term Appeals process & tips College readiness & time to degree Low-cost options to provide “ability to benefit” Credit for prior experience

Tailoring Financial Aid Counseling Defaults Rehabilitation Repayments Good standing Prior fees & holds Transcript holds Training benefits Bankruptcy Change in income Child care

Microgrant – Small Dollar Pre-Enrollment Barriers Student Selection Broad vs. targeted outreach Portal & campus Eligibility Former fees vs. aid repayments Pre-enrollment Fund Distribution State pays former campus Receiving campus communicates Campus Role Match (waive fees; release transcripts; emergency funds) Reporting

Affordability Messaging for Returning Adults Washington has not authorized an Adult Promise program Strong State Need Grant permits state-level messaging Think you can’t afford college? Think again. Leverage all state aid programs – Opportunity Grant for high-demand certificates Institutions can offer a financial commitment for eligible students Husky Promise, Cougar Commitment, South Seattle 13th Year

Child Care for Student Parents Convenient Accessible Capacity Available Cost Affordable Policy Barrier: Washington is one of the more restrictive states for the work requirement for child care subsidies

Promising Practices for Benefit Coordination Start Next Quarter United Way of King County Seattle Colleges Clark College Electronic information exchange Coordination of benefits through online tools, partnerships across agencies, and one-stop supports on campuses

Completion: Student support Share effective practices that support adult learners. Expand partnerships with employers. Establish regional networks of support. Improve state-level policies to remove barriers for adult learners.

Campus & State Role Activity State Campus Student Identification Centralized – flexibility to coordinate TBD Outreach Microgrant Student identification Make payments Simplified reporting Student Financial Aid State financial aid (SNG, SBCTC OG) Messaging to certain groups. Portal Content management Data management Site maintenance Transfer inquiries to campus Provide program & services content Describe student incentives Respond to inquiries Completion Supports Share and coordinate practices Training and technical assistance Pre-enrollment support Employer and partner engagement Resource allocation Child care services and support Enrollment support Financial commitment Program delivery Completion support State refers to WSAC, WFB, SBCTC and future possible legislative direction or resources Financial: commitment; prior fees/fines; application waivers Student supports: Child care, transportation, Veterans Academics: online/weekend/consistent scheduling/PLA (transcript, experience) Responsiveness to leads: designated person Washington Student Achievement Council

Tiers of Campus Participation Roles will be outlined an MOU for various levels of participation Bronze – Minimal Program Content Available Silver – Matched School Details Includes “incentives” offered if applicable Platinum – Receive Student Inquiries, Microgrant, Campus Supports Provides self-reported contacat information to campus

Budget Requests Establish regional navigators providing community-based coaches and pre-enrollment support Expand child care matching grant program to include CTCs and serve additional student parents Support participating institutions with incentive funding to assess and develop adult-focused supports TN Reconnect, Greater Minds in Spokane, and other Graduate Network! Initiatives are successful examples of personalized supports to adult learners in a community. Former students sometimes have small dollar debts impeding their re-enrollment by holding transcripts or preventing enrollment (parking fees, library fine, etc.). The barriers that prevented completion previously may still exist and campuses can evaluate their “adult friendly” polices and practices. 27 Washington Student Achievement Council

Adult Reengagement Summit & Pave the Way 2018 This year’s Pave the Way Conference, focused on advancing equity, expanding opportunity, and increasing educational attainment will take place on November 29.

2018 Milestones Winter Spring Summer Fall Narrow target population Determine features and functionality of portal Spring Draft portal RFP Develop communications plan Design microgrant Summer Develop policy, funding recommendations Determine campus participation requirements Campus engagement Fall Statewide effective practice exchange Employer engagement RFP and select portal vendor