Building Effective Career Pathways A Collaborative Approach to Training Adults

Career pathways help low-skill adults achieve success in high-demand careers Integrated basic skills education and career training A connected a series of education and training programs Stackable credentials culminating in a postsecondary credential

Career pathways help low-skill adults achieve success in high-demand careers Central point of contact for students Support services: childcare, transportation Intensive career and academic advising

Career pathways meet the needs of employers Targeting industries important to local economies Identifying and responding to local skills gaps Ensuring students find well-paying jobs that offer advancement opportunities

What the research says Students in Washington state’s I-BEST program: earn an average of 14 to 18 more college credits are 29 to 35 percent more likely to earn a postsecondary credential Earning two semesters of credit and a postsecondary credential boosts the average income of ABE students by of $8,500.

Building effective career pathways requires meaningful, ongoing collaboration Funders Employers Participants WIA Provider Two-Year College Adult Basic Education TANF Provider Community- Based Organizations State Agency Navigator

What steps must these partners take to build an effective career pathway? Funders Employers Participants WIA Provider Two-Year College Adult Basic Education TANF Provider Community- Based Organizations State Agency Navigator

A Checklist for Partners Identify Focus Areas Determine Project Partners Build/Design Project Components Identify and Finalize Program Participants Program Registration Conduct Course Placement/ Advancement Post-Placement (Follow-Up)

ParticipantsFunders Identify Focus Areas Determine Project Partners Build/Design Project Components Identify and Finalize Program Participants Program Registration Conduct Course Placement/ Advancement Post-Placement (Follow-Up) Identifying a focus area using employer input, labor market information, and a scan of available resources

Participants Determining project partners Who should be involved? How they can contribute to the project’s success? Identify Focus Areas Determine Project Partners Build/Design Project Components Identify and Finalize Program Participants Program Registration Conduct Course Placement/ Advancement Post-Placement (Follow-Up)

Building and designing project components assessments, curriculum, instructional strategies, support services, funding, and work experiences Identify Focus Areas Determine Project Partners Build/Design Project Components Identify and Finalize Program Participants Program Registration Conduct Course Placement/ Advancement Post-Placement (Follow-Up)

State Agency Identifying program participants using assessments and marketing/outreach strategies Identify Focus Areas Determine Project Partners Build/Design Project Components Identify and Finalize Program Participants Program Registration Conduct Course Placement/ Advancement Post-Placement (Follow-Up)

ABEFundersTANF ProviderState AgencyWIB Partners help participants complete their Program Registration Identify Focus Areas Determine Project Partners Build/Design Project Components Identify and Finalize Program Participants Program Registration Conduct Course Placement/ Advancement Post-Placement (Follow-Up)

FundersState Agency ABE partners conduct Bridge Classes content-specific curriculum to develop work and college readiness, college-level reading and writing skills, and computer skills Identify Focus Areas Determine Project Partners Build/Design Project Components Identify and Finalize Program Participants Program Registration Conduct Course Placement/ Advancement Post-Placement (Follow-Up)

FundersState Agency Conducting the credit course integrated instruction, coordinated support services, and work experiences Identify Focus Areas Determine Project Partners Build/Design Project Components Identify and Finalize Program Participants Program Registration Conduct Course Placement/ Advancement Post-Placement (Follow-Up)

FundersState Agency Providing job placement services helping students find jobs, advance professionally, and expand their networks Identify Focus Areas Determine Project Partners Build/Design Project Components Identify and Finalize Program Participants Program Registration Conduct Course Placement/ Advancement Post-Placement (Follow-Up)

FundersTANF Provider Post-Placement tracking student outcomes and helping students retain employment or seek new opportunities. Identify Focus Areas Determine Project Partners Build/Design Project Components Identify and Finalize Program Participants Program Registration Conduct Course Placement/ Advancement Post-Placement (Follow-Up)

Questions?

Thank you! Mary Jo Gardner Ramsey County Workforce Investment Board