1. ARKANSAS WORKS : OVERVIEW Task Force on Poverty Arkansas Department of Career Education Little Rock, AR March 24, 2010

2. W HY A RKANSAS W ORKS ? Arkansas Needs an Education Cultural Change Increase Value Placed on Education Produce More Residents with Baccalaureate Degrees Increase Knowledge of All Postsecondary Options Better Understanding of College and Career Planning Become more competitive in the area of Economic Development nationally and internationally

3. W HAT IS A RKANSAS W ORKS ? Expansion of the Arkansas College and Career Planning System Collaboration among state agencies Funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Designed to assist Arkansas’ Youth and Adults Two Component System: On-Line Based Internet Planning Tool and College and Career Coaches

4. O N -L INE B ASED I NTERNET P LANNING T OOL – P OWERED BY K UDER Free and Open to all Arkansans through Public Sites Designed to Drive Youth and Adults to Services Enhancements: 6-Year Career Plan, Link 2 College and Connect to Business

5. C OLLEGE AND C AREER C OACHES C OMPONENT Three Year Pilot with Opportunity for Expansion 43 College and Career Coaches Co-located at 12 two-year Colleges and Provide Services to Middle/High School students in the 21 most economically challenged counties in the state Includes Career Development Facilitator (CDF) Training, which will be completed by April 16, 2010.

6. W HERE ARE C OLLEGE AND C AREER C OACHES L OCATED ?

7. C OUNTY S ELECTION The 10 following factors were used: Median Household income 2007 Unemployment rate as of March 2009 Unemployment rate for region as of March 2009 All ages in poverty in 2007 Under 18 in poverty in 2007 Ages 5-17 in families in poverty Free and reduced price school lunch Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25+ High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+ Spring 2008 high school graduates entering college

8. W HAT IS THE R OLE OF THE C OLLEGE AND C AREER C OACH ? Work as a team and complement existing College and Career planning efforts of Arkansas high school guidance counselors Support the Student Expand and Identify College Planning and Career Exploration Opportunities

9. Career Coaches will be expected to provide services and disseminate information that will address the following areas: Academic Preparation for Postsecondary Education Plans for Postsecondary Education Information on Financial Aid Connections Between Education and Careers Transitioning to Postsecondary Education

10. H OW WILL A RKANSAS W ORKS AND C AREER C OACHES BE E VALUATED ? Performance Measures High School Graduation Rate Enrollment in Smart Core College-Going Rate Reduced Remediation Increased ACT Scores Increased Applications for State Aid Increased Applications for Federal Aid

11. K EY I NDICATORS – T OTAL N UMBER OF … Individuals served through expanded career counseling services and activities in the 21 indentified counties Individuals statewide, by county, accessing the online Arkansas Works Career Planning System annually Completed career plans developed as a result of the College and Career Coach’s intervention Students in the targeted counties receiving assistance with college admissions, college enrollment, or college placement testing activities

12. K EY I NDICATORS ( CONTINUED ) Increased postsecondary enrollment statewide and in the targeted counties Number of TANF-eligible individuals served through the Arkansas Works Planning System Number of career planning support activities provided specifically for TANF-eligible individuals Graduation and placement rates of TANF-eligible individuals

13. V IRGINIA M ODEL – C AREER P LANNING R ESULTS 67% change in students without plans to attend college to having plans to attend; 7% increase in statewide community college enrollments from high schools with a career coach; 4% increase in statewide community college enrollments in career and technical education; 5% increase in student participation in AP, concurrent and other forms of college credit attained while in high school.

14. Q UESTIONS ??? For additional information about Arkansas Works visit: http://www.arworkscareer.com orhttp://www.arworkscareer.com please feel free to contact: Sonja Wright-McMurray, Associate Director Arkansas Department of Career Education sonja.mcmurray@arkansas.gov 501-683-4434