Contextualized Instruction/Contextualization: In its broadest definition, contextualized instruction refers to "the practice of actively relating instructional content to the specific contexts of learners' lives and interests in order to increase retention of information and motivation to learn” (OVAE, 2006). “Learning with a purpose.” Jamil Steele

Decrease the time it takes to close the skills gap. Concurrent instruction leads to stackable credentials.

K-12 is responding to the fact that high school diplomas are no longer a sufficient preparation for most jobs. Adult Education must recognize that the GED is no longer the “ G ood E nough D iploma”.

Prior to the 2007 economic downturn many programs had mutually productive relationships with employers. With today’s economic recovery there is a renewed need for AE to provide instruction that increases academic knowledge/skills while concurrently increasing each student’s level of work readiness.

With your help students can accelerate their path to employment with family sustaining wages and opportunities for advancement.

Hourly Wages 1 Adult 1 Adult, 1 Child 1 Adult, 2 Children 1 Adult, 3 Children 2 Adults 2 Adults, 1 Child 2 Adults, 2 Children 2 Adults, 3 Children Living Wage $7.91$16.79$21.09$26.58$12.82$15.77$17.18$20.15 Poverty Wage $5.21$7.00$8.80$10.60$7.00$8.80$10.60$12.40 Minimum Wage $7.25

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Accelerating Opportunity : 1.6 M Grant from Jobs for the Future Integrating career training with support for math, writing, and reading inside and outside the classroom. Students are matched with a success coach and a career coach. Three year demonstration project based on best practices and recommendations from Breaking Through shaped how the state is implementing and scaling up the Accelerating Opportunity Kentucky initiative.

Promote Contextualized Instruction in all content areas. Begin with the integration of entry level employability skills. Build and sustain local collaborations with business/industry and Career Centers.

WRC?

Graduation Rate NCRC Holders Community Commitment Educational Attainment Availability of Internet as an indicator of digital literacy Soft Skills Measurement Must have a program or programs to address work ethic/soft skills development and credentialing for both the secondary school and post secondary adult populations.

urces/the-world-class-sector- strategies-framework-white-paper

Directors: July 30 th Employers prioritize skills for local needs Employability Skills integrated across curriculum Exploring options for signaling to employers that a candidates demonstrate the skills they are seeking.

CommunicationCritical ThinkingCollaboration Ability to display a positive mental attitude and understand the effects of a negative attitude. Ability to receive critical feedback. Demonstrate how to turn a computer on. Demonstrate how to select an item. Demonstrate how to open/close windows. Demonstrate how and why to use the shift key. Ability to learn and improve. Demonstrate practicality. Ability to understand one’s personal strengths. Ability to see the “big picture”. Ability to manage time effectively. Ability to organize and prioritize. Demonstrate reliability. Ability to persist to completion. Ability to satisfy multiple and competing objectives. Ability to be a team player. Ability to be effective within a team. Ability to quickly become a contributor as a team member.

With low-skilled or inexperienced job candidate employers must rely solely on general work history and work experience, they look at how well somebody comes across in an interview, references, even how well the person fills out an application to see if they can spell and write clearly.

T_toolkit_June7.pdf If engaged early on employers will be committed to the program and in the outcomes Bringing employers into the process at the beginning can help in ascertaining the local, current labor market realities, projected labor shortages, and the skill gaps among individuals newly entering the field.

 There are 28 million small businesses in the U.S. -- which outnumber corporations 1162 to 1  Small businesses employ 57% of the country's private workforce  Small businesses pay 44% of U.S. payroll  Only 2% of small businesses are franchises -- most (54%) are home-based  60 to 80% of all new jobs come from small businesses

10 Adult Education Programs 6 month “ramp up” 12 month implementation Engage employers and career centers to ensure the efforts are responsive to local workforce needs.