President Obama promotes Open Education initiatives

September 25, 2014 By

student using tablet on abstract screenOn the third anniversary of the Open Government Partnership with the U.S. and the leaders of seven other nations, President Obama announced additional commitments for promote Open Education initiatives, including specific references to an online skills academy coming soon through the U.S. Department of Labor. The White House announcement defined the initiative as the open sharing of digital learning materials, tools, and practices that ensures free access to and legal adoption of learning resources.

Also noted recently in the Ready to Work report and the task force outcomes under Vice-President Biden, Wednesday’s White House announcement committed funds for DOL’s Online Skills Academy. The Department of Labor (DOL), with cooperation from the Department of Education, will award $25 million through competitive grants to launch an online skills academy in 2015 that will offer open online courses of study, using technology to create high-quality, free, or low-cost pathways to degrees, certificates, and other employer-recognized credentials.

Other Open Education elements included in Wednesday’s announcement deal with partnerships and awareness in open education with entities such as the State Department, U.S. Department of Education, and the Office of Science and Technology. The State Department will conduct three pilots overseas by December 2015 that use open educational resources to support learning in formal and informal learning contexts. The pilots’ results, including best practices, will be made publicly available for interested educators. Learn more online from the White House press release.

 

 

Filed Under: Featured, Initiatives, News, Public Policy, Training & Education

Ready to Work report debuts with WIOA signing

July 23, 2014 By

As President Obama signed the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act into law Tuesday, Vice-President Biden’s task force also released Ready to Work:  Job Driving Training and American Opportunity. The report reflects an across-the-board review of  America’s job training programs to ensure they share a single mission: providing workers with the skills they need to secure good jobs that are ready to be filled. Ready to Work identified three consistent themes.

  • EMPLOYERS can’t find enough skilled workers to hire for in-demand jobs they must fill to grow their businesses.
  • EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS need better information on what skills those in-demand jobs require.
  • HARD-WORKING AMERICANS,whether studying, looking for work, or wanting better career paths, often aren’t sure what training to pursue and whether jobs will be waiting when they finish.

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Among the various case studies and rationale, the report contains a seven-point Job Training Checklist to guide administrative reforms to ensure that what’s working best becomes what all Americans can expect from federally funded employment and training programs. Each of these checklist elements is based on evidence of what’s working, summarized in What Works in Job Training: A Synthesis of the Evidence.

  • ENGAGING EMPLOYERS: Work up-front with employers to determine local or regional hiring needs and design training programs that are responsive to those needs.
  • EARN AND LEARN:  Offer work-based learning opportunities with employers – including on-the-job training, internships and pre-apprenticeships and Registered Apprenticeships – as training paths to employment.
  • SMART CHOICES:  Make better use of data to drive accountability, inform what programs are offered and what is taught, and offer user-friendly information for job seekers to choose programs and pathways that work for them and are likely to result in jobs. 
  • MEASUREMENT MATTERS:  Measure and evaluate employment and earnings outcomes.
  • STEPPING STONES:  Promote a seamless progression from one educational stepping stone to another, and across work-based training and education, so individuals’ efforts result in progress. 
  • OPENING DOORS:  Break down barriers to accessing job-driven training and hiring for any American who is willing and able to work, including access to job supports and relevant guidance.
  • REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS:  Create regional collaborations among American Job Centers, education institutions, labor, and non-profits.

The U.S. Department of Labor and many workforce development associations are eager to get to work on the opportunities ahead. DOL issued an administrative notice (TEN 5-14), Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Announcement and Initial Informational Resources, to get the ball rolling on conference calls, input channels, important deadlines, and more related to implementation.

Local Workforce Investment Boards in Missouri are proactive as well. Five WIBs joined forces to bring together a training event in Branson next week. Diving Into WIOA is slated for July 30-31 featuring Rochelle Daniels.

 


 

 

Filed Under: Featured, Initiatives, News, Public Policy, Research, Training & Education

National CWRC symposium heads to Missouri

July 7, 2014 By

savethedatecwrcoct2014ACT’s Work Ready Communities initiative selected Missouri for the second annual Best Practices Symposium. Affording Communities a Competitive Advantage is the theme for the conference, slated for October 7th and 8th at Crown Plaza Hotel in Downtown St. Louis.

Register Now

ACT launched the symposium to inform and educate participants on building common frameworks that link, align and match their workforce development efforts. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about how successful ACT WRC states and counties are leveraging the WorkKeys System and NCRC to build an economic development strategy.

Who Should Attend?

  • Economic developers
  • Business and industry leaders
  • Chamber of Commerce leaders
  • State, county and local policy makers
  • Educators
  • Workforce development professionals

Registration is now open. For more information, contact ashley.wilson@act.org.

Filed Under: Events, Featured, Initiatives, News, Research, Training & Education

KC Fed Reserve to host workforce forum

July 7, 2014 By

The Federal Reserve Bank out of Kansas City is hosting four regional forum events targeted to workforce leaders. In addition to events planned for Omaha, Oklahoma City, and Denver, the Kansas City event is set for July 29th from 11:30 to 1:30.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank, this forum will present community leaders with information on employment and workforce development issues affecting low- and moderate-income workers. The Federal Reserve’s new research publication on the low- and moderate-income workforce will be presented along with an economic forecast for the region. Other Federal Reserve resources and initiatives that support workforce development goals will be discussed.

11:30 to Noon – Registration and Lunch Buffet

Noon to 12:10 – Welcome and Overview

12:10 to 12:45 – LMI Labor Markets and Regional Economic Forecast

12:45 to 1:00 – Workforce Development Resources and Tools

1:00 to 1:30 – Discussion of Local Workforce Issues

1:30 – Adjourn

This information will provide workforce professionals, community and economic development leaders and employers tools to support their organization’s mission. The forum is targeted to Leaders and staff of workforce investment boards, community and economic development organizations, community colleges, workforce readiness and employment programs, chambers of commerce, and employers. The forum is free though reservations are required. The forum is slated for the bank’s KC headquarters at 1 Memorial Drive Kansas City, MO.  RSVP to Annette Phillips by email.

Filed Under: Events, Featured, Initiatives, News, Public Policy, Research, Training & Education

Reauthorization takes next step forward

June 26, 2014 By

Running eleven years past its sunset, reauthorization take a major step forward Wednesday with Senate passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).  Hailed as bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reauthorize the WIA, the new WIOA gained strong bipartisan support with 95-3 passage. Both Missouri Senators, Blunt and McCaskill, voted in favor. The next step in the journey is back to the House of Representatives where WIOA may hit the House floor after the Fourth of July recess.

Current resources on WIOA to learn more

 

Filed Under: Featured, Initiatives, News, Public Policy

NCRC/Workkeys approved by state education officials

May 13, 2014 By

Following several months of advocacy efforts by supporters of the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) in Missouri, the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced Tuesday the official approval for the NCRC as an official measure of college and career readiness. The ACT Workkeys assessment now joins the list of other testing instruments that schools can use to gauge proficiency as required in the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP). With the inclusion of Workkeys in MSIP, school districts can better leverage local resources together in preparing students for the workforce, engaging in Certified Work Ready Communities (CWRC), and aid the accreditation pursuits required in state regulation.

“One of our primary goals is to make sure students graduate ready to succeed in college and career,” said Dennis Cooper, assistant commissioner in the Office of Quality Schools in DESE’s announcement. “Including the use of the WorkKeys® assessment as an option for districts and charter schools helps us do that, and it gives students, parents and teachers another way to see how well students are learning.”

Current instruments used in MSIP (ACT, Compass, ASVAB, etc.) offer some value, but none are as widely-praised by employers and other advocates as the NCRC. As of March 31st, more than 1,300 employers in Missouri publicly endorsed the NCRC. Of Missouri’s 114 counties, 39 are active in the Certified Work Ready Communities framework with strong participation by local school districts in each county’s CWRC leadership.

Senate Bill 701 included a provision supporting career readiness credentials as an amendment that was agreed and passed May 1st.

The department of elementary and secondary education shall permit student scores, that are from a nationally recognized examination that demonstrates achievement of workplace employability skills, to count towards credit for college and career readiness standards on the Missouri school improvement program or any subsequent school accreditation or improvement program.

DESE published an administrative memo to local school districts with guidance on the weighting of NCRC scores and how the scores are valued with other assessments currently permitted in the MSIP framework.

Filed Under: Featured, Initiatives, News, Public Policy, Training & Education

Pilot seeks to expand competency based learning in Missouri colleges

May 13, 2014 By

Businessman-create-idea-system-for-business-conceptCouncil for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) Competency Based Education (CBE) Jumpstart program tapped the Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) and the Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE) as one of 14 partners nationwide. According to a press release by MDHE, the program aims to increase completion rates at the state’s two- and four-year colleges and universities. CBE Jumpstart focuses on competency-based education and credit for prior learning, which can reduce the amount of time required to earn a degree. The two Missouri agencies will be working collaboratively with higher education institutions in the state to implement the program.

Competency-based education allows students to learn at their own pace based on their mastery of the knowledge and skills needed for a degree. Credit for prior learning programs award college credit based on students’ knowledge and skills, including experience acquired during military service.

The Jumpstart Program will provide training for staff working to establish the knowledge and skill levels students must demonstrate to earn a degree. The work includes the development of new ways to assess student learning at the college level.

Colleges and universities in Missouri are in the early stages of developing competency-based education programs. The programs focus on adult and nontraditional students, including veterans, who have gained knowledge and skills through prior employment and military service. Students demonstrate their learning through a variety of assessments and often can move on to advanced courses more rapidly as they work toward a degree.

Competency-based education is one way Missouri can help students complete a postsecondary degree and create the educated workforce we need,” said David Russell, commissioner of higher education. “By 2018, nearly 60 percent of the jobs in our state will require a two- or four-year degree or professional certificate.”

Currently, students participating in two programs at Missouri community colleges – MoHealthWINs and MoManufacturing WINs – can earn college credit through competency-based education and credit for prior learning. The Jumpstart Program will provide further support for the MoWINs programs, which offer low-cost training for high-demand health care and manufacturing industries.

“The Jumpstart training will provide an excellent opportunity to ensure that the work our community colleges are doing in MoHealthWINs and MoManufacturingWINs has a lasting impact,” said Zora Mulligan, director of the Missouri Community College Association.

Missouri will begin the Jumpstart Program training this fall.

More Info

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Missouri NCRC Employer Summit set for May 22nd

March 24, 2014 By

MO-CWRCA special summit May 22nd seeks to bring together supporting employers across the Show-Me State that endorse the National Career Readiness Certificate and Missouri Certified Work Ready Communities. The Employer Summit helps equip Missouri firms to hire the right people for the job, save dollars in training, and increase productivity.

The 10:00 to 2:00 summit event showcases employers and their experiences with WorkKeys, NCRC, and Job Profiling. The Governors Office Building at 200 Madison in Jefferson City is the location for the summit. Supporting employers will also receive an invitation for a special reception at the Governors Mansion on the 22nd.

Firms not already registered as a supporting employer may do so easily online. More information on Missouri’s CWRC initiative may visit ded.mo.gov/getcertified.

Filed Under: Events, Featured, Initiatives, Research, Training & Education

Employer support grows rapidly for NCRC

February 25, 2014 By

Team Of Businesspeople In Meeting Discussing Project 600x400More than 1,200 Missouri employers are part of a growing list that tops 3,600 nationally for support of the National Career Readiness Certificate. The NCRC helps match employees to jobs based on verified skill levels. The support also helps local economies prosper through Certified Work Ready Communities (CWRC).

CWRC participating states, regions and counties offer a suite of ACT Work Keys assessments and the NCRC that measure an individual’s foundational workplace skills such as math, reading, information and locating skills required for a majority of today’s jobs. The NCRC complements such traditional credentials as high school diplomas, community college degrees, and certificates of technical proficiency. Academic credentials mark the fulfillment of an individual’s classroom learning experiences. The NCRC relies on standardized assessments and confirms an individual’s competence in a specific set of workplace skills.

Participation in Certified Work Ready Communities benefits not just one company, but an entire community. CWRC is helping job seekers locally understand what skills employers are looking for, and it helps local educators prepare students for success. And – they need employers to value their earning an NCRC!

Supporting a stronger workforce is easy. Recognize the NCRC when applicants present one. Recommend the NCRC for applicants and/or existing employees

Employers can also indicate the company’s support of the community’s certification effort on the national CWRC website. Information on external review of validity of ACT’s WorkKeys may be found here. This handbook to help get started using the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate.

Employers can see the power of the NCRC at work through numerous case studies published by ACT.  One of the most popular case studies features Missouri’s own Able Manufacturing and Assembly.  The Able case study and others are indexed online for easy review.

Filed Under: Featured, Initiatives, News, Training & Education

PBS NewsHour examines NCRC

January 23, 2014 By

logo-pbs-newshourWednesday’s PBS NewHour aired an extended featured on the National Career Readiness and the NCRC’s role in preparing students for the workforce. For American industry, finding employees who have all the requisite skills is a big challenge, and hiring people who don’t stack up can cost businesses a great deal of money. Special correspondent John Tulenko from Learning Matters reports on a certification test that aims to boost U.S. students’ workforce readiness through WorkKeys and the NCRC.

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Filed Under: Featured, Initiatives, News, Research
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