IL Bridge Programs

1. IL Bridge Programs Jennifer K. Foster Associate Vice President of Adult Education and Workforce Development Illinois Community College Board 0

2. Future Trends in Illinois • Middle skill job growth • Shortage of nurses by 2020 • Accelerated retirement of middle skill workers • Decline in resources for middle skill workers • High percentage of workers’ lacking basic skills • Increase in the number of low skill immigrants • Three Critical Skill Shortage Areas: • Health Care • Manufacturing • Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

3. Integrating career pathways into an existing Adult Education system • Participation in Several Initiatives • Support of local development of Bridge Programs • Instituting Bridge Programs-Development and Implementation Models • Development of Core Training • Development of Training for Bridge Programs

4. Understanding the needs • Who are the students you want to target? • What does the labor market look like? • Are there statewide standards or definitions? • How can I use existing funding? • Who are the partners that I need to help build the project? • What are the policies in serving students in bridge programs? • What needs to be in place to get local buy-in and local participation?

5. Illinois Shifting Gears • Examine existing structure and policies to determine how to institute bridge programs that will lead to postsecondary occupational programs and pathway employment. • Policies • Statewide Bridge Definition • Adult Education Funding Clarifications • Bridge Program Approval Process • Support Services • WIA 40% Training Policy • http://occrl.illinois.edu/files/Reports/Training%20Policy%20in%20Illinois.pdf • Data Measurement and Evaluation • http://occrl.illinois.edu/files/Reports/Training%20Policy%20in%20Illinois.pdf

6. Strategic Plan for Adult Education“Creating Pathways for Adult Learners” • Eight Guiding Principles: • Responsiveness • Collaboration • Innovation • Alignment • Contextualization • Accountability • Evidence-based Teaching and Learning • Professional Development • Six Recommendations: • Assessment, Curriculum, and Instruction • High Quality Teaching and Professional Development • Support and Follow-Up Services • Partnerships • Research, Data, and Accountability • Program Design

7. Illinois Adult Education Vision We envision Adult Education as the foundation of a career pathways system that prepares adult learners for economic self sufficiency.

8. Bridge Development and Implementation Grants • Bridge Statewide grants • Followed the statewide bridge definition • Key focus areas: • Planning • Assessment • Curriculum and Instruction • Recruitment and Retention • Support Services • Partnership/Collaboration

9. Bridge Training • Core Training • Assist local programs in the understanding Career Clusters Framework • Understand terminology and the need for a pathway system • Providing face to face and online training • Bridge Development Training • Understanding the Bridge Definition • How to develop effective partnerships and who should be at the table? • How to develop a bridge curriculum? • How to recruit and retain students in a bridge program? • What resources are needed for AE students in a bridge program to successfully transition to postsecondary education and employment

10. Scalability and Sustainability • Development of Policies • Competitive RFP that address Bridge and other models • Adult Education Standards Alignment • Technology Skills • Career Awareness • EBRI • Common Core and College Readiness • Career Cluster Knowledge and Skills Statements • Policy Discussions • P-20 Council, Statewide Advisory Council, Adhoc Committees, Presidents Council, Student Services, Employers • Transitions Academy

11. Lessons Learned and Recommendations • Don’t forget the soft skills • Targeted recruitment of students in bridge • Examples of curriculum • Locally developed curriculum • Statewide curriculum • Health Care • Manufacturing • Transportation, Distribution and Logistics * • Common Definitions

12. Questions • Contact Information: Bevan Gibson, Director Southern Illinois Professional Development Center bgibson@siue.edu 618-650-2254