1. Minnesota FastTRAC Adult Career Pathways
Presenters:
Barry Shaffer
MN Department of Education – Adult Basic Education
Anne Marie Leland
Faribault Community Education Director
Nola Speiser
MN Department of Employment & Economic Development

2. Our Goals: Provide an overview of Minnesota FastTRAC, focusing on:
Demographics of FastTRAC participants
FastTRAC state and local partners
FastTRAC participant eligibility and assessment
Importance of data collection and reporting
FastTRAC outcome measures

3. (we will be asking for your input throughout the presentation)
Question!
Who in the room has a FastTRAC program at their ABE consortium?
What is your involvement?
(we will be asking for your input throughout the presentation)

4. FastTRAC Participants
Who is a FastTRAC participant?
ABE and ESL students who are ready to be successful in postsecondary
Other possible characteristics
MFIP enrolled
WIA Adult, Dislocated worker
Incumbent worker
Unemployed or Underemployed individuals
Multiple minimum-wage, part-time jobs

5. Why FastTRAC? Minnesota’s Growing Skills Gap

6. The Need Is Great: Working Learners in Minnesota

7. FastTRAC Vision
Meeting state and employer demands for a skilled workforce and providing opportunities for low-wage, low-skilled adults to access high quality education and training leading to career pathway employment

8. FastTRAC Partners
FastTRAC participants are often common clients of education, public assistance and workforce development. FastTRAC requires a highly collaborative approach to serving participants.
Local FastTRAC partnership example –
ABE provider
Mn State College and University (MnSCU) campus
Workforce Center
Community Based Organization (CBO)
Human services

9. How Does MN FastTRAC Help?
Through building career pathways.
Career pathways are a proven, innovative educational design for streamlined ABE that leads to good jobs. They are:
Worker-friendly, cost-effective, short-term training that allows students to earn a certificate or credential.
Credit-bearing credential attainment in occupations in demand allowing immediate job placement while opening the door to continue postsecondary education toward additional certificates, diplomas and degrees.
Allow students get the skills necessary for family-sustaining jobs.

10. A Sample Career Pathway
City of Duluth Workforce Investment Board Manufacturing Initiative
Designed in “6 Key Elements” framework – DOL Career Pathways Institute
Enhanced employer engagement
Collaborative project design and delivery: workforce investment board, workforce development, community college, adult basic education, community based organizations
Integrating basic education and skills training: Adult Basic Education integration in entry level coursework in all certifications; Development Education integration in higher level coursework; General Education integration in AAS degree
Work/life skills infusion into career & technical education curriculum
Blended wraparound support services
FastTRAC Navigator
FastTRAC Grants
Core “Gate Keeper” Courses for Integrated Instruction Model:
Into to College 1 Credit
Solid Works Credits
Intro to Manufacturing Tech 4 Credits
Mechanical Blueprint Reading 3 Credits
Design Application Concepts 1 3 Credits
Gas Metal Arc Welding Credits
Consider cutting this slide for all audiences except potential program sites and/or funders deeply engaged in this work.

11. FastTRAC Participant Eligibility
FastTRAC programs are designed for adults, sixteen (16) years old or older, who are not enrolled in secondary school and who qualify under one or more of the following conditions:
Lack a recognized high school credential;
Have a limited ability to speak, read, or write the English language;
Lack sufficient mastery of core basic educational skills (math, reading, writing, listening, speaking below a 12th grade level) to function effectively in the workplace as measured by the National Reporting System (NRS) list of adult appropriate standardized assessments.

12. Assessment
All FastTRAC program providers use assessments consistent with program requirements to place participants into the appropriate courses and to measure progress
ABE – TABE, CASAS
MnSCU – Accuplacer
Workforce – NCRC, TABE, CASAS
CBOs – TABE, CASAS, other
Human services – assessing for grade level
Other assessments?

13. FastTRAC Data Plan
Why is it so important to collect accurate data on FastTRAC participants?
Individual agencies need to show success to meet their performance measures
All partners/funders have committed to a common set of performance measures to promote and sustain FastTRAC
To visualize the participant success, we need to look at activities through the duration of FastTRAC programming. This requires querying multiple data sources, e.g., MnSCU, ABE, Workforce and Human Services

14. Data Collection & Reporting
FastTRAC participants are ABE students and need to be screened, measured and reported according to ABE/FastTRAC eligibility criteria.
FastTRAC Outcome Measures
Basic skills acquisition (NRS EFL gain)
Completion of Bridge and/or Integrated Courses
Retention in program
Credential attainment
Job placement in career field
Job retention
Wage progression
Continuation of career pathway training

15. Where We Are Today:
Since January 2010, preliminary results have shown –
34 FastTRAC programs became operational on 20 of the 47 college campuses. 
26 of 47 (approx. 90% of service delivery) ABE consortia have created bridge and integrated programming with FastTRAC funding.
540 participants of 807 (67%) have completed FastTRAC ABE bridge courses and moved into an integrated MnSCU/ABE course.
364 participants of 415 (88%) have completed an integrated instruction course.

16. "This program changed my life
"This program changed my life. I actually got the experience I need in the workforce. Now I have everything I need to be successful.“ Antoinette mccarthy
  "This program changed my life. I actually got the experience I need in the workforce. Now I have everything I need to be successful."  "This program changed my life. I actually got the experience I need in the workforce. Now I have everything I need to be successful."

17. Resources For more information: www.MNFastTRAC.org
Anne Marie Leland,
Nola Speiser,
Please feel free to insert other resources targetted to your audience in this slide after your website.

18. Questions?