1. PENNSYLVANIAS ADULT CAREER PATHWAYS National Career Pathways Network October 18, 2012

2. WHAT IS ADULT EDUCATION? WIA TITLE II

3. ADULT EDUCATION IN PENNSYLVANIA Outcomes Measured and Recorded for the National Reporting System Increased Educational Functioning LevelsEntered Employment Attainment of Secondary School Diploma or GED ® Certificate Retained Employment Entered Postsecondary Education or Training Adapted from information retrieved from http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/grant_administration/9083/national_reporting_system/522823 http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/grant_administration/9083/national_reporting_system/522823

4. ELIGIBLE PROVIDERS OF ADULT BASIC AND LITERACY EDUCATION SERVICES IN PENNSYLVANIA Local educational agency; Community-based organization of demonstrated effectiveness; Volunteer literacy organization of demonstrated effectiveness; Institution of higher education; Public or private nonprofit agency; Library; Retrieved from http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/grant_administration/9083

5. ELIGIBLE PROVIDERS OF ADULT BASIC AND LITERACY EDUCATION SERVICES IN PENNSYLVANIA Public housing authority; Nonprofit institution that is not described in any of the subparagraphs above and has the ability to provide literacy services to adults and families; Consortium of the agencies organizations, institutions, libraries, or authorities described in any of the subparagraphs listed above; Correctional institution. Retrieved from http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/grant_administration/9083

6. A career pathway is a coherent sequence of education and training that is aligned with the skill needs of employers, utilizes curriculum and instructional strategies appropriate for adult learners and leads to the attainment of an Associates or Bachelors degree (and beyond) or to an industry recognized certificate or license. The role of Division-funded agencies is to help students acquire the knowledge and skills (e.g. critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills) necessary to earn a secondary school credential and transition to and succeed in employment and/or postsecondary education or training. Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Bureau of Postsecondary and Adult Education Division of Adult Education Adult Education and Family Literacy Guidelines Program Year 2012-13.

7. WHERE DID WE BEGIN? Examined What We Had Already Done Workforce Development Partnerships Adult Education Coalitions Local Workforce Investment Boards PA CareerLink ® Career Gateway Transitions Programs Partnerships with PA CareerLink ®

8. WHERE DID WE BEGIN? Selected eight Workforce Investment Areas to pilot career pathways programming with 22 adult education providers Lehigh ValleyLuzerne Schuylkill Northern TierNorthwest Southern AllegheniesSouthwest Corner Three RiversWestmoreland Fayette

9. HOW DID WE DO IN 2010-2011? Some agencies reported no postsecondary transitions. Students earned GED ®, but no reported transitions. Need for more robust, full service programs.

10. NOW WHAT ? Pennsylvania competed funds and reduced the number of providers from 160 agencies to 60 agencies. Funding split among all 22 Workforce Investment Areas so that all areas have services. Challenges? Programs do not have access to the same resources and availability of resources and relationships.

11. WHERE HAVE WE FOCUSED OUR SUPPORT? Relationship Building: State, Regional, and Local Workforce Development Partners Health and Human Services Community Action Agency Career Pathways Support Postsecondary Education and Training Partners Career Awareness Integrated Career Awareness Curriculum Local Labor Market Information Case Management/Career Coaching

12. HOW HAVE PROVIDERS INVOLVED EMPLOYERS? Agencies recognize and value the participation of employers; however, providers identified that their postsecondary education and training partnerships were more helpful to career pathways programming. Variety of types of employers and their unique contributions and support to the providers is impressive. Examples of contributions have included curricular development support, book donations, job shadowing opportunities, meeting space, authentic materials, and information pertaining to skill requirements for specific jobs. Providers work through One-Stop Business Services Teams and LWIB Industry Partnerships to connect with employers. Those providers that have had strong workforce development system relationships have more direct access to employers.

13. HOW HAVE PROVIDERS INVOLVED EMPLOYERS? Employer participation may assist adult students in realistically determining their career pathway. Partnerships expand the supports that students and providers can access. The supports offered by employer partnerships differ greatly from community, workforce development, and education partners can offer. Lack of communication or time to plan impedes the development of a partnership; the array of services provided by industry and business partners; the perceived usefulness of partnerships with industry and business in educating and helping students gain employment

14. HOW HAVE PROVIDERS ENGAGED POSTSECONDARY PROVIDERS? Career and Technical Education Presentations at statewide CTE Administrators' Conference and Adult Education Coordinators Conference. State-level communication and coordination with Director of Pathways for Career Success at PA State System of Higher Education. Regional technical assistance for development of partnerships. In our eight (8) WIAs, 10 adult education providers are partnering with 15 CTE institutions.

15. HOW HAVE THEY WORKED TOGETHER? Referrals from students who are in need of increasing their basic skills and interested in taking the Practical Nursing Program Curriculum development to help students transition into CTC programs Courses being offered include Math for Welding Reading for LPN Study skills for Going Back to School Basic Math for Healthcare Class site for adult education programs

16. HOW HAVE PROVIDERS ENGAGED POSTSECONDARY PROVIDERS? Community Colleges TAACCCT Career Coaches Map development Career awareness for adult students On-site transitions classes Math focus Dual enrollment In our eight (8) WIAs, 4 adult education providers are partnering with 4 community college, including 3 TAACCCT programs.

17. STUDENT SUPPORTS Career Coaches, Transition Counselors, Case Managers Statewide Conference Professional Development System online class: Integrating Career Awareness into the ABE/ESOL Classroom. Career Awareness support through classroom coaches Community Action Agencies Discretionary funding to support career pathways model

18. Career Pathways resources available at http://www.paadultedresources.org/resources.html

19. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION… Christine Houck chouck@pa.gov KayLynn Hamilton klh267@psu.edu

20. References National reporting system [webpage]. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/grant_administratio n/9083/national_reporting_system/522823 http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/grant_administratio n/9083/national_reporting_system/522823 Pennsylvania Department of Education (2012). Grants and accountability overview [webpage]. Retrieved from http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/grant_administratio n/9083 http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/grant_administratio n/9083 Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Bureau of Postsecondary and Adult Education Division of Adult Education (2012, March). Adult education and family literacy guidelines program year 2012-13. Retrieved from http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/grant_administratio n/9083/able_administrative_documents_library/522912 http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/grant_administratio n/9083/able_administrative_documents_library/522912