WEBINAR AND CALL FOR QUESTIONS ON ABILITY TO BENEFIT

Transcription

1 WEBINAR AND CALL FOR QUESTIONS ON ABILITY TO BENEFIT November 9, 2015 PATHWAYS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

2 WEBINAR OVERVIEW > Welcome & Introduction > Reinstatement of Ability to Benefit > Career Pathways & Ability to Benefit > Examples of State & Institutional Implementation Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges Kentucky Community & Technical College System Saint Paul College, Minnesota > Question & Answer ( questions to 2

3 INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND > In today s economy, industry-recognized postsecondary credentials have become necessary for good jobs and economic prosperity. > The elimination of ATB in 2012 prevented many students from accessing these needed postsecondary credentials. > Last December, Congress partially restored ATB in the FY 2015 CROmnibus Appropriations bill.

4 THE NEW ABILITY TO BENEFIT PROVISIONS Allow students who do not have a high school diploma or a GED but who are enrolled in eligible career pathways programs to be determined eligible for Pell grants if they either pass an approved test or successfully complete six hours of college credit. 4

5 WELCOME & INTRODUCTION Mark Mitsui Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Colleges, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education

6 Eligible Career Pathway Programs and the Ability-to- Benefit Alternatives

7 What is Ability-to-Benefit (ATB)? ATB is an alternative path to eligibility for Federal student aid for students who do not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent. In order to gain eligibility through ATB, a student must fulfill one of these requirements: Pass an independently administered test approved by the U.S. Department of Education Successfully complete 6 credit hours or 225 clock hours applicable to a degree or certificate offered by the postsecondary institution 7

8 Brief History of the ATB Provisions All students could use the ATB alternatives to gain eligibility for Federal student aid until July 1, 2012, when Congress eliminated that option for new students. An exception was provided for students who first enrolled in an eligible postsecondary program prior to July 1, 2012, who could still gain eligibility for federal student aid through the ATB alternatives ( grandfathered students). In 2014, Congress passed a law to allow for a new version of the ATB alternatives, but ONLY for students enrolled in eligible career pathway programs. 8

9 What are Eligible Career Pathway Programs? The term eligible career pathway program is defined in the Higher Education Act. According to the law, an eligible career pathway program must: Concurrently enroll students in connected adult education and eligible postsecondary programs; Provide students with counseling and support services to identify and attain academic and career goals; Provide structured course sequences that are articulated and contextualized and allow students to advance to higher levels of education and employment; and Provide opportunities for acceleration for students to attain recognized postsecondary credentials, including degrees, industry relevant certifications, and certificates of completion of apprenticeship programs. Continued à 9

10 What are Eligible Career Pathway Programs? An eligible career pathway program must also: Be organized to meet the needs of adults; Be aligned with the education and skill needs of the regional economy; and Have been developed and implemented in collaboration with partners in business, workforce development, and economic development. 10

11 What is Adult Education? For the purposes of the definition of an eligible career pathway program, adult education has the same definition as it does under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act. Adult education includes academic instruction and education services below the postsecondary level that increase an individual s ability to: Read, write, and speak in English and perform mathematics or other activities necessary for the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent Transition to postsecondary education and training Obtain employment 11

12 Student Eligibility and the ATB Alternatives Students who are eligible under the ATB alternatives are eligible for all Federal student aid programs. ATB students enrolled in eligible career pathway programs are eligible for a limited Pell Grant award unless and until they obtain a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent. 12

13 Resources Dear Colleague letter GEN published May 22, Electronic announcement Eligible Career Pathway Programs Questions and Answers published October 22, EligibleCareerPathwayProgQandA.html Electronic announcement Approved Ability-to- Benefit tests published June 24, ATBTests.html 13

14 CAREER PATHWAYS & ABILITY TO BENEFIT Maria Flynn, Senior Vice President Jobs for the Future

15 CAREER PATHWAYS & ABILITY TO BENEFIT > Promising for helping all individuals especially those who are underprepared make their way through postsecondary credentials and into family-supporting careers. > Career pathways do this through a combination of strategies, such as: Articulated, sequenced coursework Supports and counseling Contextualization Acceleration strategies Concurrent enrollment 15

16 IMPORTANCE OF ABILITY TO BENEFIT > Recent studies show students in career pathway programs that provide these types of strategies outperform similar students in earning college credits and credentials and in persisting to program completion and good jobs. > A big win for low-income, low-skilled Americans who can benefit from accelerated pathways to industryrecognized credentials that lead to family-supporting careers. 16

17 THE STAKES ARE HIGH > Get the word out take advantage of this policy win so underprepared Americans can access and succeed along Career Pathways that lead to postsecondary credentials and high demand careers. > Without positive uptake, we stand to lose ATB again. 17

18 EXAMPLES OF STATE & INSTITUTIONAL IMPLEMENTATION Jon Kerr, Director of Adult Basic Education Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges

19 Pathways to College & Careers for Washington s Emerging Workforce Accelerated Pathways, Increased Opportunities WIOA Transition Webinar and Call for Questions on Ability to Benefit Jon M. Kerr, Director Basic Education for Adults State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

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21 THE GUIDED PATHWAY FUNDED On- Ramps to I- BEST ($25/quarter) - HS I- BEST at Work - I- DEA - College Readiness - Career Specific I- BEST Quarter 1 (Opportunity Grant & State Need Grant) - TuiMon - Books - Fees/Supplies I- BEST to 2 Year Degree (Ability to Benefit & State Need Grant) - High School Diploma Baccalaureate Degree (Ability to Benefit & State Need Grant) 21

22 EXAMPLES OF STATE & INSTITUTIONAL IMPLEMENTATION Derek Ball, Financial Aid Program Coordinator Kentucky Community & Technical College System

23 KENTUCKY COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM KCTCS is comprised of 16 community and technical colleges System wide enrollment of approximately 90,000 students Offering a wide variety of degrees, diplomas, and cermficates 23

24 HOW DID KCTCS IMPLEMENT ATB? AcceleraMng Opportunity Programs Based on strategies from JFF s Breaking Through IniMaMve Focus on redesigning college programs and services to assist low- skilled adults Allow students to earn GED while obtaining cermficates to improve employability Primary strategies are: Accelerated Learning Comprehensive Student Support Services Labor Market Payoffs Aligning Programs for Low- Skilled Adults 24

25 HOW DOES ACCELERATING OPPORTUNITY ASSIST WITH ATB? General requirements to parmcipate with AcceleraMng Opportunity: Career Pathways must be aligned with state/local sector strategies Must meet local labor market needs Students must be able to earn an entry level cermficate embedded in a clear career pathway Students in AOKY have to be concurrently enrolled in Adult EducaMon and the college program All AOKY students will be enrolled in a College and Career Ready course while they are enrolled in adult educamon courses Use of acceleramon strategies, including contextualized learning and the use of hybrid course design, is required Students in an AOKY program complete a learning contract 25

26 CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAM EXAMPLE 26

27 CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAM EXAMPLE CONT. 27

28 CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAM EXAMPLE CONT. 28

29 CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAM EXAMPLE CONT. 29

30 CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAM EXAMPLE CONT. 30

31 CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAM EXAMPLE CONT. 31

32 NEXT STEPS FOR KCTCS ConMnue to refine exismng model Expand career pathway opportunimes to non- AcceleraMng Opportunity programs Engage appropriate stakeholders Develop appropriate frameworks, support systems, and infrastructure 32

33 EXAMPLES OF STATE & INSTITUTIONAL IMPLEMENTATION Sarah Carrico, Dean of Enrollment Management St. Paul College

34 Implementing Ability to Benefit: A Campus Perspective Saint Paul College is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system, which is comprised of 31 colleges and universities MnSCU Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs issued a memo to all campuses outlining: a summary of the new Ability to Benefit provision and what this means for campuses definition of an eligible career pathways program examples of current programs that would qualify as an eligible career pathways program

35 Implementing Ability to Benefit: A Campus Perspective Where do we start? Examine current partnerships with Adult Basic Education providers. Do any of these programs meet the criteria? If so, could participation be expanded to those without a GED/high school diploma? Meet with Adult Basic Education partners to discuss current and future programs. Work with ABE partners to ensure they understand how students qualify for ATB and what is required for identified participants to remain eligible for financial aid.

36 Implementing Ability to Benefit: A Campus Perspective We have identified or developed a program eligible for ATB participants, now what? Designate a person on your campus who works with these partnerships. Discuss identified programs with financial aid, academic affairs and student affairs. Ensure that all partners understand the ramifications to the institutions if financial aid is erroneously disbursed.

37 Implementing Ability to Benefit: A Campus Perspective We have identified or developed a program eligible for ATB participants, now what? (cont.) Establish a protocol to notify financial aid and admissions of ATB eligible students. Develop process with ABE to ensure their continued participation in the Adult Basic Education component of their program. Develop process to communicate with ATB students and ensure their continued success in the career pathways program.

38 QUESTION & ANSWER PLEASE SEND QUESTIONS TO