Increasing Credential Completion: Adult Learners, PLA, and the Public Workforce System. NAWB and CAEL August 6, 2014

Transcription

1 Increasing Credential Completion: Adult Learners, PLA, and the Public Workforce System 1 NAWB and CAEL August 6, 2014

2 Mike Lawrence National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB)

3 Amy Sherman Associate Vice President for Policy and Strategic Alliances Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL)

4 About CAEL The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning A 501(c)3 non-profit organization 37 years of lifelong learning and workforce development experience Nationally recognized as the expert in Prior Learning Assessment The CAEL Standards Meaningful learning, credentials and work for every adult 4

5 National Perspective: Can the US Reach International Competitiveness by 2025? Degrees needed to meet 60% attainment by ,000,000 Degrees produced by 2025 with current rate of production 39,000,000 23,000,000 gap Focusing on traditional-aged students will not be enough. Increasing rates of high school graduation, college participation, and public college completion rates will only reduce the gap by 9 million. Educating all adults must be part of the solution. Data cited in Lumina Foundation Strategic Plan

6 Youth alone won t cut it on.org/content/degreegapmode l 6

7 What is PLA? Prior Learning Assessment is a process for evaluating knowledge and skills in order to award college credit for learning from: On-the-job learning Corporate training Independent study Military service Volunteer service 7

8 8 Learning, not Experience

9 The Case for PLA: Graduation Rates Students are more than twice as likely to persist to graduation. Fueling the Race to Postsecondary Success, CAEL, March

10 Money Saver An adult student who earns 15 credits from PLA applied to a degree saves $1605 to $6,000 on tuition costs. Fueling the Race to Postsecondary Success, CAEL, March

11 Everyone wins with PLA The principle: Only pay once for college level learning Worker: Saves time Employers: Increases pool of credentialed workers Regional Economy: Creates a more competitive workplace Workforce System: Saves time AND money Schools: Attract and better serve adult learners with improved outcomes 11

12 PLA takes many forms Student Portfolio College Credit Standardized tests ACE recommended credit 12

13 Gloria 13

14 Source: CAEL, 2014 Jason

15 LEARNINGCOUNTS.ORG Online PLA Portal 1. Access to the Online College Credit Predictor and a College Credit Specialist 2. Portfolio Development Courses 3. Individualized Expert Assessment 15

16 Shifts in the PLA Policy Wind July Congressional Hearing President s Plan for College Affordability Multiple State Initiatives WIOA PLA provision 16

17 TEGL 33-11: Prior Learning Assessment ETA encourages state and local workforce agencies to adopt practices that deliver high quality services to help customers enter and retain good jobs and increase workforce program effectiveness, such as: Assess prior learning experiences to help adults and dislocated workers obtain academic credit for independently attained knowledge and skills, thereby accelerating the process for credential attainment. 17

18 Where Do You Fit In? Identify Appropriate PLA Candidates Explain the benefits and process of PLA to clients Connect with local college partners Promote college credit for college level workforce learning 18

19 Jessica Gibson Assistant Executive Director of Policy, Planning and Research for Post-secondary Completion Initiatives Tennessee Higher Education Commission

20 Prior Learning Assessment: Tennessee s Experience

21 Prior Learning Assessment: Tennessee s Experience Drive to 55 Statewide PLA effort Goals Components & Accomplishments Task Force Training Outreach and Information Employers/Career Centers

22 Prior Learning Assessment: Tennessee s Experience Lessons Learned Current/ongoing work Technical assistance to institutions Outreach to potential adult learners through employer partners

23 Dennis Wimer Director of Field Operations Indiana Department of Workforce Development

24 Indiana WorkOne Background Twelve Workforce Regions Targeting 60% Statewide Activities Policy Systems

25 Robyn Minton Vice President, Workforce Initiatives Center of Workforce Innovations Derek Dabrowiak Director of Admissions Ivy Tech Community College

26 Northwest Indiana Workforce Development System Northwest Indiana Workforce Board One Stop Operator and Service Provider Multiple Federal Funding Streams (WIA) Seven Counties with Nine WorkOne Centers 45,000 participants

27 PLA in Northwest Indiana

28 Questions?

29 Contact for Information Amy Sherman CAEL Dennis Wimer State of Indiana Mike Lawrence NAWB g Jessica Gibson State of Tennessee v Robyn Minton Northwest Indiana m Derek Dabrowiak Ivy Tech ddabrowiak@ivytech.edu