Transition Focus Areas
The Policy to Performance Initiative will test the effectiveness of using adult basic education (ABE) state policy to facilitate ABE learners’ transition to postsecondary education and employment. Project participants will develop and test policies for one of three focus areas of ABE transition activities:
- Low-skilled Adults’ Transition to Employment;
- ABE Learners’ Transition to Postsecondary Education; or
- Aligning State Systems for ABE Learners’ Transition to Postsecondary Education and Employment.
Focus Area A
Low–skilled Adults’ Transition to Employment
Participants who select this focus area will develop and test state policies that can facilitate low-skilled adults’ participation in ABE instruction which prepares them for employment or prepares them to enroll in training which leads to employment.
Policies that support the following illustrative ABE program activities may be tested in this focus area:
- Identification and targeting of low-skilled adults who have employment as a goal for ABE instruction.
- Delivery of ABE instruction targeted for low-skilled adults that integrates occupational information related to the local labor market.
- Development of explicit linkages with One-Stop Career Centers that can assist ABE learners to obtain employment.
- Provision of advising services to ABE learners that can guide them to the One-Stop Career Center or other organizations that provide job training and job placement.
Focus Area B
ABE Learners’ Transition to Postsecondary Education
Participants who select this focus area will develop and test state policies that strengthen their existing ABE transition to postsecondary services at the local level and which will result in an integrated ABE transition system which includes accelerated ABE courses, career and college exploration and planning, and assistance in postsecondary course selection and enrollment.
Policies that support the following illustrative ABE local program activities may be tested in this focus area:
- Recruitment and referral of ABE learners into ABE transition courses.
- Delivery of professional development to prepare instructors to deliver accelerated ABE Bridge courses.
- Delivery of college and career exploration and planning activities to facilitate ABE learners’ selection and enrollment in postsecondary training or academic courses.
- Development of linkages with postsecondary advising services so that ABE learners can access services related to postsecondary enrollment.
- ABE part-time learners’ access to financial aid.
Focus Area C
Aligning State Systems for ABE Learners’ Transition to Postsecondary Education and Employment
Participants who select this focus area will develop and test state policies that can facilitate the alignment of state adult education, postsecondary education, and workforce development systems, which can support ABE learners in obtaining postsecondary certificates, credentials, or degrees and employment.
Policies that support the following systems’ alignment activities may be tested in this focus area:
- ABE part-time learners’ access to financial aid.
- ABE learners’ co-enrollment in ABE and postsecondary courses.
- ABE learners’ access to employment advising and placement services.
- Clients’ co-enrollment in WIA Title I and Title II services.