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Minnesota Adult Basic Education: ABE to Postsecondary Transitions Efforts

Minnesota Adult Basic Education: ABE to Postsecondary Transitions Efforts. Dr. Barry Shaffer MN State Director of Adult Education - retired Minnesota Department of Education 651-582-8442 Barry.shaffer@state.mn.us. Minnesota ABE System Overview. Minnesota’s state-level approach.

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Minnesota Adult Basic Education: ABE to Postsecondary Transitions Efforts

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  1. Minnesota Adult Basic Education: ABE to Postsecondary Transitions Efforts Dr. Barry Shaffer MN State Director of Adult Education - retired Minnesota Department of Education 651-582-8442 Barry.shaffer@state.mn.us

  2. Minnesota ABE System Overview

  3. Minnesota’s state-level approach Three Key Efforts • Vision and Leadership • Program and Policy Reform • Sustained Collaborations • and Funding

  4. Leadership Leadership started with developing a vision using research and data.

  5. Minnesota’s Skills Gap

  6. Carnevale, Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce, 2010

  7. Minnesota’s Workforce of Tomorrow is IN the Workforce Today

  8. Leadership • Vision Components: • ABE programming at every state community and technical college • Create programming that directly involves ABE, college, and workforce programs in career pathway efforts • Every ABE program incorporates work-readiness and adult career pathways at all levels.

  9. Leadership • New mission for Minnesota ABE: • EVERY ABE STUDENT IS A • TRANSITION STUDENT • GED is not the goal • Learning English is not the goal • Acquiring life skills is not the goal • Becoming a lifelong learner is not the goal

  10. Program and Policy Reform

  11. The GWDC 2011 Policy Advisory Sixteen Ideas to Strengthen Minnesota’s Workforce

  12. Recommendation 1: Set a statewide goal for increasing adult credential attainment Develop a plan to reach that goal Measure (and fund) progress, including “momentum points”

  13. Recommendation 2: Expand the FastTRAC Initiative Statewide www.mnfasttrac.org

  14. three-quarters of all students are “non-traditional” half of all students seeking associates degrees need remediation 9 percent of these students graduate in 3 years Source: Complete College America. Figures are for U.S.

  15. 34 FastTRAC programs on 20 campuses Healthcare, manufacturing, education, trades, business 88 percent success rate in credit-bearing courses.

  16. Minnesota FastTRAC(Training, Resources and Credentialing) Building Adult Career Pathways for the Non-Traditional Learner**Nontraditional learners are students who have one or more of the following characteristics: has delayed postsecondary enrollment, attends college part-time, works full time while in school, is financially independent, is a single parent, and/or has no high school diploma or GED. Center for American Progress/CAEL, 2010

  17. Adult Career Pathways “A series of connected educational and training programs that allow students to advance over time to successively higher levels of education and employment in a given sector.” Davis Jenkins, Community College Research Center

  18. Adult Career Pathways • Each “chunk” connected to the next • Programs target jobs in industries that are important to local and regional economies • Involve collaborations among local educators, workforce development professionals, employers, and community based organizations to design and implement • Provide support services that address the needs of working learners

  19. Minnesota FastTRACAdult Career Pathway POST-SECONDARY CREDENTIAL INTEGRATED INSTRUCTION BRIDGE PREP BRIDGE I BRIDGE II INTEGRATED SUPPORT SYSTEMS Core Literacy + Employability Skills Career Exploration College Readiness

  20. Leadership • Re-purpose and Braid Existing Resources: • Federal ABE (WIA Title II and WIA title IB) • WIA Incentive Funds • TANF • Perkins • United Way • EL Civics • State ABE funds • Joyce Foundation

  21. Co-location (silo-busting) Program and Policy Reform ABE is a co-location partner with 17 of the 25 Minnesota Public Community and Technical Colleges. Minnesota’s ABE programs are on 26 of their 44 campuses.

  22. Program and Policy Reform • Additional policy and systems change efforts: • EL/Civics Grant Programs • Regional Transition Coordinators • Data – sharing, tracking • Professional Development • WIB involvement • State level FastTRAC staffing

  23. Sustained Collaboration and Funding

  24. Collaboration and Funding • Importance of data around transition measures • FastTRAC committees of stakeholders • Continuing braiding of common client fund sources • ABE funding formula changes • Legislative re-purposing of key state funds • Centralized oversight

  25. What Does Employer Engagement Look Like? • Participate in program development • Collaborate with competitors • Hire part-time students • Provide mentors • Provide recognition and/or reward programs • Provide release time

  26. Relevance and Connections • Adult learners don’t want to learn in a vacuum. • Not motivated just by “how can I pass • this class” but by “how is this content relevant to future my career?”

  27. Benefits of Contextual Teaching • Answers the question “Why do I have to learn this?” • Provides real-world applications for abstract concepts • Teaches students how to access and analyze information and work in groups to solve problems

  28. FastTRAC Benefits • For Employers • Increased input into certification courses offered in their industry in their region. • Source of workers who are qualified for high-level semi-skilled and entry-level skilled jobs and are prepared to advance. • Improved productivity resulting from a qualified workforce. Adapted from Women employed with Chicago Jobs Council and UIC Great Cities Institute,. “Women Employed.” Bridges to Careers for Low-Skilled Adults: A Program Development Guide. Women Employed Institute, 2005. Web 2 Apr. 2010.

  29. FastTRAC Benefits For Community & Technical Colleges and Other Postsecondary Institutions • “Feeders” of qualified and motivated students to occupational certificate and degree programs; • Preparation of students who come to college with inadequate basic skills to succeed in college-level courses. • Improved retention, graduation rates, and job-placement outcomes, particularly among underrepresented students. • Faculty in credit programs can focus on college-level material rather than developing students’ basic skills. • Clear way to show the connection between a college’s multiple missions. Adapted from Women employed with Chicago Jobs Council and UIC Great Cities Institute,. “Women Employed.” Bridges to Careers for Low-Skilled Adults: A Program Development Guide. Women Employed Institute, 2005. Web 2 Apr. 2010.

  30. FastTRAC Benefits For Community Based Organizations • Help community members advance to college-level occupational education, which has become the gateway to career pathway employment. • Effective response to community need for economic development. • Role as equal partner in development and delivery of adult career pathway program. Adapted from Women employed with Chicago Jobs Council and UIC Great Cities Institute,. “Women Employed.” Bridges to Careers for Low-Skilled Adults: A Program Development Guide. Women Employed Institute, 2005. Web 2 Apr. 2010.

  31. FastTRAC Benefits For Workforce Development • Job connected training and advancement opportunities for one-stop career center clients. • Response to the mismatch between employers demands for motivated workers with strong basic skills and basic skills deficiencies among large segments of the workforce. • Use of existing infrastructure to meet employers’ hiring needs in sectors of importance to regional economies. • Meet High Performance Measure of increasing postsecondary credential attainment with Workforce Investment Act participants. Adapted from Women employed with Chicago Jobs Council and UIC Great Cities Institute,. “Women Employed.” Bridges to Careers for Low-Skilled Adults: A Program Development Guide. Women Employed Institute, 2005. Web 2 Apr. 2010.

  32. FastTRAC Benefits For Adult Basic Education • Motivation and retention of students – increase in number of students completing programs. • Ease in meeting ABE accountability measures while providing contextualized, authentic skill training. • Recognition of key role ABE plays in economic prosperity for a region. Adapted from Women employed with Chicago Jobs Council and UIC Great Cities Institute,. “Women Employed.” Bridges to Careers for Low-Skilled Adults: A Program Development Guide. Women Employed Institute, 2005. Web 2 Apr. 2010.

  33. 34 FastTRAC Programs • http://mnfasttrac.org/programs.html • Anoka Healthcare/Nursing Pathways • This project focuses on Universal Health Care Worker in Older Adult Services Certificate training with a special focus on low-income households.  Bridge training has an Introduction to Medical Terminology, foundational skills in reading, writing and math with a healthcare focus and building computer literacy skills.  Integrated courses include credit based Certified Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide, and Introduction to Holistic Healing.  Vocational guidance, job placement and retention supports will be provided. • Partners   Adult Basic Education:  Metro North Employers:  Crest View Senior Communities, Volunteers of America, Benedictine Health Center, Luther Social ServicesMnSCU:  Anoka Technical College, Anoka Ramsey Community CollegeWorkforce Development:  Anoka Job Training Center       • Course InformationCredits Offered: 7Bridge Course: 100 hours of training to prepare students for college health care classesIntegrated Courses: Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide (HLTH 1103) and Introduction to Holistic Healing (IHH 1100)Credentials: Certified Nursing Assistant & National Career Readiness Certificate 

  34. Healthcare – Direct Care Certifications Home Health Aid, Nursing Assistant, Trained Medication Assistant Adult Basic Education Duluth Public Schools Community Based Organization SOAR Career Solutions, Employers RSI, Ecumen MnSCU Lake Superior College Workforce Development DEED/Job Service Other Ordean Foundation, Pathways to Employment Business/Financial Certification Career Smart Adult Basic Education Osseo, Robbinsdale Community Based Organization Employment Action Center MnSCU North Hennepin Community College Workforce Development Hennepin-Carver Workforce Service Area Healthcare – Direct Care Certifications Personal Care Assistant/Home Care Aides Adult Basic Education Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency MnSCU Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Workforce Development NE MN Office of Job Training Healthcare – Direct Care Certifications Nursing Assistant, Health Unit Coordinator Adult Basic Education Adult Options in Education, Carver-Scott Educational Cooperative, Robbinsdale, South Hennepin Adult Programs in Education Community Based Organization HIRED MnSCU Hennepin Technical College Workforce Development Hennepin-Carver Workforce Service Area Healthcare – Direct Care Certifications Home Health Aid, Nursing Assistant, Trained Medication Assistant, First Responder Adult Basic Education Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency MnSCU Itasca Community College Workforce Development NE MN Office of Job Training Community Action Agency KOOTASCA Action Energy Certifications Solar Installer, OSHA Adult Basic Education St. Paul Public Schools MnSCU MnWEST, Century College, MnSCU systems office Workforce Development DEED/Job Service Manufacturing – Computer Numerical Control (CNC) CertificationsPath to Machine Technologist 360°, CNC Machinist Adult Basic Education Monticello – WEST, Metro North MnSCU Anoka Technical College, St. Cloud Community and Technical College Workforce Development Central MN Jobs and Training Services Education – Child Development Certifications Child Development Associate, linked to Early Childhood Education Certificate Adult Basic Education St. Paul Public Schools, Metro East Community Based Organization Goodwill/Easter Seals MnSCU St. Paul College Workforce Development Workforce Solutions, DEED/Job Service Maintenance Mechanic Certification Industrial Maintenance Adult Basic Education Southwest MnSCU Minnesota West Community and Technical College Workforce Development SW MN Private Industry Council Healthcare – Medical Coding Certification Path to Medical Record Certificate Adult Basic Education St. Paul Public Schools, St. Paul Community Literacy Community Based Organization CLUES, Goodwill/Easter Seals, Lifetrack Resources Employer HealthPartners MnSCU St. Paul College Workforce Development Ramsey County WIB, Workforce Solutions Other St. Paul Public Housing Production Technician Certifications Production Technician, OSHA Adult Basic Education Tri-Point Futures – Owatonna, Austin, Albert Lea MnSCU Riverland Community College, Workforce Development Workforce Development, Inc. Healthcare – Direct Care Certification Nursing Assistant Adult Basic Education South Suburban MnSCU Inver Hills Community College Workforce Development Dakota Scott Workforce Service Area Other MN Family Investment Program (MFIP) Healthcare – Direct Care Certification Nursing Assistant Adult Basic Education Faribault County, LeSueur, Mankato, Southwest Community Based Organizations MRCI Worksource MnSCU South Central College Workforce Development SC Workforce Council, DEED/Job Service Community Action Agency Minnesota Valley Action Council Programs funded by MN Department of Employment and Economic Development, MN Department of Education – Adult Basic Education, and Greater Twin Cities United Way. Total = $1,199,866 02/07/2011 – DEED

  35. For More Information

  36. The GED • Established in 1942 for military • American Council on Education • 18 million GED’s issued • 1 in every 7 high school diplomas • 1 in every 20 college entrants • Average age is 24 • LA-Reading, LA-Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies (total of 5 tests – 7 hours) • 3,200 testing sites

  37. The GED - continued • 60% White, 19% African American, 18% Hispanic • 70% of those taking all 5 tests pass • 800,000 tests taken per year • 470,000 graduates per year • High pass rates for states requiring OPT • Price varies from FREE (NY, AK) to $130 or more • Available in French and Spanish • Accommodations available for persons with disabilities • Recognized generally as high school equivalency – but criticized

  38. Organizational Change • March 2011 – ACE and Pearson forms a partnership: GEDTS, LLC • Pearson is the worlds largest educational testing company – based in Bloomington, MN • Randy Trask – President and CEO • Announced plans for a new GED for 2014 • Need: 39 million adults lack high school equivalency in the US, more important than ever before

  39. The 2014 GED • January 1, 2014 • Entirely computer based • Not delivered via the Internet • Two types of certification: general high school equivalency and post-secondary ready (i.e.- success in credit courses and job training programs) • Four tests: Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies

  40. The 2014 GED • Content based on: • Common Core State Standards (CCSS) • College ready standards from Texas and Virginia • Online practice test ready in 2013 • Diagnostic capability available • Normed on high school seniors – 30%-40% fail • Pricing: $120 for all 4 tests through 2014, $38 is retained by testing center.

  41. Transition to the 2014 GED • GED has developed a computer based test (CBT) version of the current (2002-2014 GED test • Gradually making the CBT version available nationwide • Must finish and “pass” 2002 Battery by 12/31/13 or start all over again on 1/1/14 • If a tester starts with paper, must stay with paper and if starts with CBT must stay with CBT … however, potential for mix/match after Sept. 2012

  42. Transition to the 2014 GED • Paper testing will continue to be cheaper to the test taker • Alerting partial completers of 2002 battery re: must finish by the end of 2013 • Promotion/marketing of ending of 2002 series • Coordinate current test centers with Pearson testing centers

  43. Top 5 Issues • Shift from non-profit to for-profit organization: i.e.- Agency supportable/subsidies? Client focus? • Cost increase to examinee • Content difficulty • Shift to CBT (i.e.- skills needed, access issues, accommodations) • Test center access

  44. Other Issues • Data management issues (i.e.- who owns the data, how reported to state and client • Marketing expense for transition • Changes in state policies and rules • Role of state office/administrator

  45. State Responses • Continuum of Concern: complete (and emotional) separation from the GED to complete acceptance • Three major responses form states seeking alternative pathways to high school equivalency: 1. States exploring use of common core K-12 tests for adult high school equivalency: - PARCC - Smarter Balanced - McGraw Hill – TABE-A - UMass - Accuplacer and Compass

  46. State Responses 2. States readying their alternative high school pathways already in place (e.g.- WI example) 3. States building alternative pathways for the first time (e.g.- MN and WA example) DISCUSSION

  47. The MN Response • Establish a Minnesota high school equivalency diploma • 3 competency areas” 1. Core literacy 2. Career awareness and planning 3. College readiness • Seek legislative authority • Build, test, implement by 2014

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