The Alliance for Quality Career Pathways

1. The Alliance for Quality Career Pathways A Complete “Beta” Framework of System Criteria, Quality Indicators, and Participant Metrics Presentation for Wisconsin December 10, 2013

2. Recent Federal Support for [Adult] Career Pathways • Grants • Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HHS, 2010) • Workforce Innovation Fund and TAACCCT (rounds I-III) grants (DOL, 2012-2013) • Advancing Career and Technical Education in State and Local Career Pathway Systems (OVAE, 2012) • Technical Assistance to Build State Career Pathway Systems (OVAE, 2013) • Guidance and TA • Federal Career Pathways Institute (DOL and ED, 2010-2011) • Joint letter of commitment to promote use of career pathways (DOL, ED, and HHS, April 2012) • Evaluation • ISIS evaluation of career pathway programs (HHS, launched in late 2007; 10 year initiative) • HPOG evaluations (HHS) • Looking forward • Round IV of TAACCCT • $8b Community College to Career Fund in the President’s FY14 budget • $12.5b Pathways Back to Work in the President’s FY14 budget • All indications are that the federal government will continue to support and promote career pathways

3. State and Foundation Support for Career Pathways • ~11 have explored or adopted career pathways for educationally underprepared adults and youth • AR, CA, KY, IL, MA, OH, OR, PA, VA, WA and WI • ~13 have explored or adopted career pathway bridges • IL, IN, KY, KS, LA, MD, MN, NC, OH, OR, VA, WA, and WI • Several states have explored or adopted career pathways for high school-to-college • Major national initiatives including: • Ford Bridges to Opportunity • NGA Pathways to Advancement • Breaking Through • Shifting Gears • Accelerating Opportunity

4. The Alliance for Quality Career Pathways • 10 state alliance • Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin • The goal of AQCP is to identify a framework that defines high-quality sector-based career pathway systems including: • Shared set of metrics for measuring and managing participant success • System criteria and quality indicators • CLASP is the lead and facilitator • Funded by the Joyce Foundation and the James Irvine Foundation

5. The Alliance for Quality Career Pathways (cont.) The final products of AQCP will be: • (1) a customizable framework of career pathway participant metrics, system criteria, and quality indicators; and • (2) a self-assessment tool that can be used to: • Enhance quality of existingsector-based career pathway systems; • Build newsector-based career pathway systems more efficiently and effectively; and • Inform evaluation(s) of sector-based career pathway systems. • Feedback through Dec. 2013; final framework spring 2014

6. Overview – Alliance Beta Framework: Three Parts • Definitions and conceptual model • Career pathway approach • Local/regional sector-based career pathway systems (inclusive of sector/occupational career pathways and career pathway programs) • State sector-based career pathway systems • Career pathway participant metrics • Includes interim, credential, and labor market outcomes • For shared performance measurement and/or continuous improvement • System criteria and quality indicators • For State sector-based career pathway systems • For Local/Regional sector-based career pathway systems

7. Career Pathways Approach (working definition) • An approach to connecting progressive levels of basic skills and postsecondary education, training, and supportive services… • in specific sectors or cross-sector occupations • in a way that optimizes the progress and success of individuals – including those with limited education, English, skills, and/or work experience • in helping individual secure marketable credentials, family-supporting employment, and further education and employment opportunities • Career pathways help employers meet their workforce needs and help states and communities strengthen their workforces and economies.

8. Sector-Focused Career Pathway • 2. Multiple entry points/on-ramps including for those with limited education, English, skills, and work experiences, i.e., bridge programs e.g., incumbent worker informed by industry/employers e.g., military transition credentials e.g., career and technical ed competencies, and e.g., 4-year degree skills, e.g., corrections e.g., 2-year degree Increasing e.g., ABE/ pre-college e.g., one-year credential Good Job Good Job bridge(s) e.g., industry certificate Good Job • 1. Well-connected education • and training offerings; often delivered via multiple linked and aligned programs Good Job • 3. Multiple exit points at successively higher levels of family supporting employment and aligned with subsequent entry points

9. Career Pathway Programs Four key elements: • Participant-focused instruction and training • Appropriate and meaningful assessment • Supportive services and career navigation • Direct connections to employment

10. Sector-based Career Pathway Systems

11. The “Heart” of Sector-based Career Pathway Systems: Career Pathways and Programs

12. Career Pathways and Programs

13. * Partnerships Follow Guiding Principles: • Shared vision and strategy • Leadership and commitment to CPs • Demand-driven/employer engagement • Aligned policies, measures, and funding • Use data and promote continuous improvement • Enhance partner capacity Career Pathways and Programs

14. State Career Pathway System* • * Partnerships Follow Guiding Principles: • Shared vision and strategy • Leadership and commitment to CPs • Demand-driven/employer engagement • Aligned policies, measures, and funding • Use data and promote continuous improvement • Enhance partner capacity Career Pathways and Programs

15. FederalAgencies State Career Pathway System* • * Partnerships Follow Guiding Principles: • Shared vision and strategy • Leadership and commitment to CPs • Demand-driven/employer engagement • Aligned policies, measures, and funding • Use data and promote continuous improvement • Enhance partner capacity Career Pathways and Programs

16. AQCP Career Pathway Participant Metrics • A comprehensive set of career pathway participant metrics will support: • Performance measurement of pathway programs and systems; • Focus on reducing disincentives to serve underprepared and lower skilled participants. • Continuous improvement of pathway programs and systems; • Shared performance accountability framework; • Evaluation of career pathway system impacts on participants.

17. AQCP “Beta” Career Pathway Participant Metrics • Interim Education and Training Outcomes • e.g., skill level gain; attainment of high school diploma or GED • Pathway Education and Training Outcomes • e.g., attain certificate or degree • Labor Market Outcomes • e.g., employment, retention, wage gain Note: Not all pathways will use all metrics…it depends on the pathway design.

19. “Beta” Criteria for High-Quality CP Systems • STATE • Commit to a shared vision and strategy (6 indicators) • Provide resources (3 indicators) • Implement supportive state policies (4 indicators) • Use data and shared measures (7 indicators) • LOCAL/REGIONAL • Commit to a shared vision and strategy (3 indicators) • Engage employers (2 indicators) • Provide resources (3 indicators) • Implement supportive local/regional policies (8 indicators) • Adopt evidenced-based practices (4 indicators) • Use data and shared measures (7 indicators)

20. AQCP Next Steps • July-December 2013: Alliance states review and field-test framework; CLASP seek feedback outside Alliance • Winter 2014: CLASP and Alliance partners incorporate feedback • Spring 2014: CLASP and Alliance partners release “Version 1.0” of framework and self-assessment tool • Future: States and Local/Regional partnerships use AQCP framework and tool to continuously assess progress toward high-quality career pathway systems

21. Discussion • Do you have any clarifying questions? • Does this description of sector-based career pathways, programs and systems resonate with your understanding of them? • In general, what should we keep in mind as we work with our Alliance partners to develop a framework that defines high-quality career pathways and systems?

22. Thank you! Vickie Choitz Senior Policy Analyst and Director of the Alliance for Quality Career Pathways CLASP vchoitz@clasp.org Neil Ridley Senior Policy Analyst CLASP nridley@clasp.org