Minnesota’s ABE Students

WHO does ABE serve? Who among you has ESL students in your program? Who among you has GED students in your program? Who among you has diploma students in your program? Who among you has college prep students in your program? Who among you has career prep students in your program? Who among you has basic skills students in your program? Who among you has other types of ABE students in your program? Who are they? (share) Who doesn’t know what types of students you have in your program?

ABE Student Eligibility ABE students must be: At least 17 years old AND Not enrolled or required to be enrolled in high school AND Meet one or more of the following: Unable to speak, read or write fluent English Do not have a high school diploma Need basic skills (literacy or math) development Participants can read the full eligibility policy section of the binder Give participants a few scenarios & they decide if students are eligible for ABE: -15 year old wants to get GED instead of high school (no) -17 year old high school student wants to come to ESL classes in evening (no) -25 year old with high school diploma & 5th grade reading level (yes)

Is this student eligible? A potential student comes in asking for GED classes. He is 16 years old. Student: JH

Is this student eligible? A potential student is 18 years old. Student: Ariana

Is this student eligible? A potential learner is a high school graduate. Student: Raj

Is this student eligible? Look at the profiles on your table. Discuss: Are these students ABE eligible? What do you need to know about them to decide?

Minnesota ABE Student Demographics In program year 2015-2016: Minnesota ABE programs served 66,000 students, for 5.5 million contact hours 39% identified as ESL 17% incarcerated 8% reported no prior education 686* completed a secondary credential (GED or adult diploma) * under-reported Participants can read the full eligibility policy section of the binder Give participants a few scenarios & they decide if students are eligible for ABE: -15 year old wants to get GED instead of high school (no) -17 year old high school student wants to come to ESL classes in evening (no) -25 year old with high school diploma & 5th grade reading level (yes)

WHY do adults want to participate in ABE?

Student goals ESL students from Mankato ABE The Many Faces of the American Dream Video time range = 7:49 - 9:41

Student goals https://vimeo.com/93285887 GED students Video time range = 7:49 - 9:41

Student goals Consider the student profiles. Discuss: What are these students’ goals? What are the goals of the students you work with? Video time range = 7:49 - 9:41

WHAT do we need to know about ABE students?

Information collected at intake Name Address, phone number, email address Sex Ethnicity and race Social security number (student may decline) Primary language Date and country of birth Location of and highest grade level completed Employment status (labor force status)

Labor Force Status Three options: Employed Unemployed Not in the labor force Brad Enforce Labor Force status; quiz Say that this category will be increasingly important in the NRS

Labor Force Status Who is counted as employed? Persons are classified as employed if they: Are currently working This includes: Temporary work Contract work Part-time work Owning a small business Working in a family business (such as a restaurant or small farm), whether or not an hourly wage is received From the Bureau of Labor Statistics Actively looking for work: Contacting: An employer directly or having a job interview A public or private employment agency Friends or relatives A school or university employment center Sending out resumes or filling out applications Placing or answering advertisements Checking union or professional registers Some other means of active job search

Labor Force Status Who is counted as unemployed? Persons are classified as unemployed if they: Do not have a job, Have actively looked for work in the prior 4 weeks, AND Are currently available for work. Actively looking for work: Contacting: An employer directly or having a job interview A public or private employment agency Friends or relatives A school or university employment center Sending out resumes or filling out applications Placing or answering advertisements Checking union or professional registers Some other means of active job search

Labor Force Status Who is counted as not in the labor force? Persons are classified as not in the labor force if they: Have not actively looked for work in the prior 4 weeks OR Are unable or choose not to work Examples include: Stay-at-home parent An individual who does not work due to a disability or health issue An individual who is studying or preparing to work in the future but does not currently work A recently arrived refugee who is waiting for a work permit Brad Enforce Labor Force status; quiz Say that this category will be increasingly important in the NRS

Employed, Unemployed or Not in the Labor Force? Faduma plans to be a Certified Nursing Assistant. However, she is currently studying in a CNA prep course that will end in two months. She doesn’t plan to start work before then. Probable Answer : Not in the Labor Force Brad Part of answer response: (Although he has taken specific steps to find a job, Ahmed is classified as not in the labor force because he is not currently available for work. Students are treated the same as other persons; that is, they are classified as employed or unemployed if they meet the criteria, whether they are in school on a full- or part-time basis.) For more information, check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm#employed. Student: Faduma

Employed, Unemployed or Not in the Labor Force? David has not had roofing jobs yet for this summer. He typically works only during the summer and not in the winter. He has been asking his buddy who has a construction crew about jobs. Probable Answer : Unemployed Brad Part of answer response: (Although he has taken specific steps to find a job, Ahmed is classified as not in the labor force because he is not currently available for work. Students are treated the same as other persons; that is, they are classified as employed or unemployed if they meet the criteria, whether they are in school on a full- or part-time basis.) For more information, check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm#employed. Student: David

Employed, Unemployed or Not in the Labor Force? Omar is 22 years old, and is about to be released from the county jail. He has been completing applications and resumes, hoping to find work. Probable Answer : Not in the Labor Force Brad Part of answer response: (Although he has taken specific steps to find a job, Ahmed is classified as not in the labor force because he is not currently available for work. Students are treated the same as other persons; that is, they are classified as employed or unemployed if they meet the criteria, whether they are in school on a full- or part-time basis.) For more information, check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm#employed. Student: Omar

Employed, Unemployed or Not in the Labor Force? Mai is registering for classes. She has difficulty with conversation in English. When you ask her if she has a job, she says she helps her brother at his restaurant on Friday, Saturday & Sunday. That is all the information you get; you don’t know if she gets paid. Probable Answer: Employed Brad Part of answer response: (Although he has taken specific steps to find a job, Ahmed is classified as not in the labor force because he is not currently available for work. Students are treated the same as other persons; that is, they are classified as employed or unemployed if they meet the criteria, whether they are in school on a full- or part-time basis.) For more information, check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm#employed. Student: Mai

Labor Force Status of Students in Profile? What do you think the labor force status is of the students in our profiles? Why?

WHAT do we teach ABE students?

ABE Eligible Content Reading Writing Mathematics Speaking Listening Core Content Areas: Reading Writing Mathematics Speaking Listening ESL/ELL GED/H.S. Diploma

Conditional Content Citizenship/civics Basic technology skills Conditional content is supplemental to core content instruction Conditional content areas: Citizenship/civics Basic technology skills Employability skills Study skills Health or financial literacy ABE students need to be receiving instruction in core content area; conditional content is supplemental Give a few examples of what is acceptable integration of conditional content

Conditional content? Student: Sheldon You have a potential student who only wants to learn computer skills so he can get a job. Should you enroll him in ABE? He can enroll in ABE if A) he also enrolls in core content (ESL, GED, career or college prep) or B) if he has a referral from the workforce center. If you want more information about conditional work referral, look at the policy and accountability section B, page 8. Also, intake staff are strongly encouraged to attend the Support Services Conferences Nov 30 – Dec 1. Student: Sheldon

Enroll Sheldon in ABE? Student: Sheldon YES, if: He is eligible for and enrolls in core content (e.g. reading, math, GED prep). OR He has a conditional work referral from the workforce center. If neither A or B, consider referring Sheldon to local library or workforce center. If you want more information about conditional work referral, look at the policy and accountability section B, page 8. Also, intake staff are strongly encouraged to attend the Support Services Conferences Nov 30 – Dec 1. Student: Sheldon

More information on all of these areas throughout this pre-conference and remember… There’s no test!