1. 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

2. 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

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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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) Q Data Set

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

8. 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

9. Washington Student Achievement Council
Many adults began a program without completing it
Adults 25 to 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, Year Estimates.

10. Many partners involved in the initiative

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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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

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

20. 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

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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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.

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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.

31. 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