Blueprint for Creating Successful Statewide Partnerships Beth Brinly, Jay Box & Reecie Stagnolia October 17, 2013 NCWE Conference

Why Accelerating Opportunity? National Statistics:  By 2018, over 60% of available jobs will require postsecondary education  Over 26 million adults lack a high school degree  93 million lack the basic literacy skills necessary to succeed and advance in college and the workplace Kentucky Statistics:  54% of all jobs in Kentucky (1.1 million jobs) will require some postsecondary training beyond high school in 2018  There are more than 400,000 working age adults without a high school diploma/GED  71% of students entering KCTCS need developmental education in one or more areas

 Managing Partner: Jobs For the Future  Funders: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Joyce Foundation, Kresge Foundation & Open Society Foundations  Supported by: National College Transitions Network, National Council for Workforce Education & Washington State Board for Community & Technical Education  Four year initiative: Oct 2010-Oct 2014  7 states are currently testing the integrated basic skills (I-BEST) model:  Round 1: Illinois, Kansas & Kentucky  Round 2: Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana & Mississippi National Initiative

National Vision  The initiative is all about jobs, the economy and improving opportunity for low skilled students  It will help drive economic recovery by helping adults get the credentials and skills they need to get and succeed in family-sustaining jobs  Reform how education is delivered to low skilled adults

Goals  Replicate Washington’s I-BEST team teaching model  Identify & remove barriers that prevent adults from entering & completing their education  Help drive economic recovery by helping adults get the credentials and skills they need to get and succeed in family-sustaining jobs  Allow adults to earn cumulative credentials that bear academic credit  Work with business community to ensure students are getting the skills they need  Reform how education is delivered to low skilled adults  Evidence to showcase if integration works

Kentucky Partners

Kentucky’s Vision  To implement a collaborative career pathways model that prepares students to be college and career ready. Core Values  Changed economy by putting more educated people to work  In-demand workforce credentials  Cohesive policy framework shared by all partners  Meaningful state and local partnerships  Collaborative academic model that includes: o A student-first approach o A model grounded in differing learning styles with recognition of learning disabilities o 21 st century skills o Blended learning approach that uses state-of-the-art technology o Good formative assessment o Relevant instruction with purpose  Comprehensive support services to prevent “drop-off” points  Holistic advising services

Kentucky’s Commitment Accelerating Opportunity Kentucky is engaging a number of state and local partnerships to ensure more workers have the skills they need for today's good jobs through innovative educational opportunities for adults that provides a valuable credential.  Kentucky Cabinet for Education & Workforce Development*  Kentucky Chamber of Commerce  Kentucky Community & Technical College System*  Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education/Kentucky Adult Education*  Kentucky Department of Workforce Investment  Kentucky Workforce Investment Boards  Business and Industry Partners * core state partners

“As the economy improves, manufacturers are finding that it is increasingly difficult to find qualified workers. The Accelerating Opportunity initiative will help ensure more prospective employees have the skills manufacturers need for today’s good jobs through innovative adult education opportunities.” -Greg Higdon, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers President & CEO Implications for Kentucky

 Focus on adult education student population - build on Kentucky’s career pathways investments and capacity-building efforts to increase credential attainment for lower-skilled adults.  Use institutional transformation and state policy analysis to better align programs and “braid” funding sources.  Strengthen instructional delivery - integration, acceleration and co-enrollment, to improve the overall adult education instruction and sequencing.  Link adult education curriculum to labor market - include employer input. The Plan

Stakeholder Engagement State Level State Executive Team State Lead State Project Team - State Work Teams State Coordinator Local Level Local Executive Team Local Team Lead Local Project Team - Local Work Teams Local Coordinator

Aligning AO to Each Partner  The state team developed an initiative alignment matrix to show each partner agency how the various components of AO align with other initiatives, strategies and programs.  The goal is to demonstrate how many of these initiatives are connected with other work to identify how resources can be leveraged to support AO. StrategyKY Adult EducationKY Career CenterKY Community & Technical College System Utilize Career Pathways with Stackable Credentials SKILL UP Transition to Postsecondary Education National Career Readiness Certificate Reemployment Grant Work Ready Communities Sector Strategies Business Services Team Redesign NCRC Testing Career Pathways Integrated Service Delivery/Case Management/Triage Provision of LMI Career Counseling WIA & WIB Case Management Curriculum Review Job Placement & Career Dev. Dual Credit High Wage/High Demand Workforce Matriculation Burning Glass Industry Sectors Tech Programs Example:

The Value Add Proposition

WorkSmart Kentucky Plan  Align with education objectives  Align with economic development objectives  Simplify the workforce development system  Achieve customer-centered service delivery

Workforce Role State  Leadership Structure  Outreach Strategy  Policy Alignment Regional  Leadership  Recruitment  Career Coaches  Support Services

Key Strategies  Sector Strategies  Work Ready Communities  Kentucky Career Certification Process  Unified Business Services  Branding and Identity

Collaboration in Action

Why Is A Unified Vision Important?

Which Comes First, Educated Workers or Jobs for Educated Workers? 10/31/12

The Challenge Producing a U.S. workforce that is more productive, creative, and better problem-solvers than any other on the planet.

In 2009, Lumina Foundation officially adopted its Big Goal that 60 percent of Americans obtain a high-quality postsecondary degree or credential by A Stronger Nation Through Higher Education

A Global War for Good Jobs is Coming At the current rate, employers in 2025 will need about 23 million more degree holders than our nation’s colleges and universities will have produced. Approximately 2/3 of the nation’s college completion goal will come from non-traditional students entering and staying in the pipeline.

Education Pays

By 2018, 60% of all jobs in the United States will require some level of postsecondary education. Center on Education and the Workforce, Georgetown University, 2010

“A preemptive focus on adult education actually saves governments money by reducing societal healthcare, public assistance and incarceration costs…” “The Return on Investment from Adult Education and Training,” a policy paper by the McGraw-Hill Research Foundation, May 2011 The Importance of Adult Education

As many as 60% of community college students must take development education courses – only 25% who do, earn a degree in 8 years The Chronicle of Higher Education April 20, 2010 Estimated that 50-80% students in AE programs have learning disabilities/differences Only 3% of students who start college in AE programs earn degree The Chronicle of Higher Education April 11, % of students in AE programs are unemployed Making the Case

Reach Higher, America Overcoming Crisis in the U.S. Workforce “The National Commission on Adult Literacy calls on Congress and state governments to make postsecondary and workforce readiness the new mission of the adult education and workforce skills system.” Source: Report of the National Commission on Adult Literacy, June 2008 Adult Education of the Future

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO RE-ENGINEER OR TRANSFORM THE NATION’S ADULT EDUCATION SYSTEM? Re-Engineering Adult Education

The Leaky Pipeline

1. Teacher Quality and Effectiveness 2. Standards-Based Education 3. Integrated Education and Training Models – Career Pathways The Nation’s Adult Education Game Changers

Kentucky Adult Education was recognized in the U.S. Department of Education’s “Adult College Completion Toolkit” as a top state strategy as a result of implementing college and career readiness standards in adult education. Kentucky Adult Education

“Kentucky has far more experience than most states in strengthening adult access to postsecondary education.” “Kentucky is ahead of almost all other states in building the common core standards into Its adult education system.”

Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) The mission of KCTCS is to improve the employability and quality of life of Kentucky citizens as the primary provider of:  College and Workforce Readiness  Transfer Education  Workforce Education and Training KCTCS offers:  More than 600 credit program options  Associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates

KCTCS Transformation ACCESS  Attract more working age adults to college*  Attract more ethnically diverse students*  Increase the number of workforce students who return to pursue a KCTCS credential RETENTION  Effectively engage students in positive learning outcomes*  Focus on helping students stay in school to achieve their goals*  Assist ethnically diverse students to stay in school to achieve their goals*

KCTCS Transformation SUCCESS  Help underprepared students be more successful in college*  Increase the number of people who are professionally licensed or certified  Increase the number of credentials awarded*  Increase the number of students transferring successfully to 4-year schools  Prepare more workers for high wage, high demand jobs*  Provide students with an education that leads to economic prosperity*

KCTCS Transformation Strategies CURRICULUM REVIEW: Career Focused & Technology Driven  Create a technical program development & review process supported by research, development & analysis  Create standardized, rapid-response curriculum & program approved development process DESIRED OUTCOMES  Leads to high wage, high demand careers  Increases the number of students in high growth, high wage programs  Increases partnerships with business and industry  Better aligns our program offerings with economic needs  Focuses on new and emerging careers based on market demand and Kentucky’s Workforce & Economic Development plans.

KCTCS Transformation Strategies DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION: Flexible & Effective Delivery  Develop and implement an alternate model for the delivery of developmental/transitions education in reading, writing, and math, which is modularized, self-paced, competency- driven, and computer-assisted/lab based. DESIRED OUTCOMES  Increase the completion and success rates of developmental students in reading, writing & math  Support Senate Bill 1 mandates and KCTCS goal to transition more college ready high school graduates into KCTCS colleges with fewer developmental education needs and to improve student success and completion rates  Enroll developmental education students in only the course competencies where mastery has not been demonstrated thought diagnostic assessment.

KCTCS Transformation Strategies JOB PLACEMENT & CAREER DEVELOPMENT: Comprehensive & Lifelong  Provide comprehensive career development and job placement services to engage students in their education pursuit from pre-enrollment to post-graduation. DESIRED OUTCOMES  Enhanced services via we-based career exploration tools for college students and adults  Increased opportunities for students to access cooperative education, internships, practicum experiences, experiential education, and credit for prior learning  Enhanced sponsorship and coordination of external partners to promote job fairs and college career events  Alignment of career transitions and workplace competencies

KCTCS Transformation Strategies STUDENT SERVICES: Tailored & On-Demand  Develop a comprehensive outsourced student services delivery model that provides a seamless, scalable, virtual 24/7/365 student services call center help desk for all KCTCS students DESIRED OUTCOMES  Target support services more accurately  Provide students with self-service functions to include: admissions, academic advising, financial aid, registration, recruitment, student financials, tutorial services, retention and technology support/identity management  East the workload on the colleges and increase student satisfaction and access by providing students with on-demand, quality wrap around services 24/7/365  Measure student services data accurately and consistently  Attain higher enrollment, student retention, and completion rates

Strengthened Partnerships Two Years Into the Initiative:  Deepened partnerships at state and local levels  Increased trust and credibility  Culture shift in working with low skilled students  Partnership with state foster care program  Breaking down of institutional silos

Lessons Learned  Focus on common vision  Communicate, Communicate, Communicate  Celebrate Successes

Early Successes 30 AO programs at 11 colleges Bringing students to the college who would not otherwise have enrolled More than 1,000 students enrolled More than 750 credentials earned Students making basic skills gains Students making Dean’s lists Students enrolling in additional classes after AOKY Students becoming employed Testimonials: aoky.kctcs.edu/Testimonials

Questions

Contact Information Dr. Jay Box Chancellor, Kentucky Community & Technical College System Beth Brinly Commissioner, Cabinet for Education & Workforce Development Department of Workforce Investment Reecie Stagnolia Vice President, Kentucky Adult Education Council on Postsecondary Education Harmony Little, AO State Coordinator, Kentucky Community & Technical College System