Guide to Adult Education for Work: Transforming Adult Education to Grow a Skilled Workforce
Summary
Based on research from the One Step Forward Initiative and recommendations from the National Commission on Adult Literacy, this Guide outlines specific steps for transforming adult education programs by stepping up service delivery to individuals who lack the fundamental literacy, English language, and work readiness skills needed for family sustaining employment and career advancement. The approach, called “Adult Education for Work,” focuses on the specific basic skills and workforce-oriented training low-skilled adults need to prepare for postsecondary education, training, and employment.
The Guide addresses questions about America’s basic skills problems and their connection to economic competitiveness and provides a framework for effective adult education programs using 23 quality elements organized into seven focus areas: Program Design; Curriculum and Instruction; Assessment and Credentialing; High-Quality Teaching; Support and Follow-Up Services that Encourage Access and Retention, Connections to the Business Community; and Monitoring and Accountability Systems. The elements can be used to develop and implement Adult Education to Work programs, or they can be used to identify high-quality programs that will prepare low-skilled students for education and training, employment and career advancement. In addition to a self-assessment tool that program administrators can use to evaluate their programs based on the quality elements, the Guide also includes case studies from Philadelphia and Oregon that describe the elements in practical applications.
The Guide is recommended for individuals involved in program design, delivery, administration, or policy development. It has been classified in the P2P Resource Center as both a publication and a tool since it provides step-by-step guidance and case studies for states to utilize.Link
http://www.jff.org/sites/default/files/adult_ed_work_guide.pdf