Policy & Systems Alignment

  • ABE to Credentials: A Breaking Through Initiative

    Found In: Transition Initiatives

    ABE to Credentials is a four-year community college initiative launched in 2011 that seeks to increase credential attainment through scaling up the successes of the Breaking Through Initiative and Washington State’s Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST). <more>

  • Performance Incentives to Improve Community College Completion: Learning from Washington State’s Student Achievement Initiative

    Found In: Publications

    This state policy brief gives an in-depth overview of the Student Achievement Initiative (SAI), a Washington State initiative to create performance incentive policies for community colleges. SAI employs data and performance funding to motivate colleges to implement systemic changes in practice that lead to improved student outcomes. <more>

  • It’s Not About the Cut Score: Redesigning Placement Assessment Policy to Improve Student Success

    Found In: Publications

    This publication highlights the effect that assessment policies have on student placement rates in community colleges and details state placement assessment policy patterns for developmental education at enrollment; the usage of an approved placement exam (namely, COMPASS, ACCUPLACER, and ASSET); and the usage a standardized cut score or range for placement purposes. <more>

  • Getting What We Pay For: State Community College Funding Strategies that Benefit Low-Income, Lower-Skilled Students

    Found In: Publications

    This publication reviews the current state funding allocations for community colleges and makes recommendations for how states might change their funding priorities to improve student outcomes of low-income and/or lower-skilled students. In most states, funding for community colleges has remained steady; however, swelling enrollment has resulted in a net decrease in funding per student. <more>

  • Charting a Path: An Exploration of the Statewide Career Pathway Efforts in Arkansas, Kentucky, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin

    Found In: Publications

    The principal question set forth by the Seattle Jobs Initiative (SJI) and The Working Poor Families Project was what role could a state play in instituting career pathways? Also examined were what strategies a state could employ to bring colleges, workforce and economic development agencies, community organizations, and employers to the table to accomplish this. To answer these questions, the author explored the statewide career pathway efforts underway in Arkansas, Kentucky, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. <more>

  • Framing New Terrain: Older Adults and Higher Education

    Found In: Publications

    Produced by the American Council on Education (ACE), Framing New Terrain: Older Adults and Higher Education focuses on the needs and challenges facing the ever-increasing number of older adult learners who seek out postsecondary educational opportunities. The report cites statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau indicating that more than 70 million people will be aged 65 and older by 2030. Based on these and other projected demographic changes in the population, Framing New Terrain calls for a reframing of educational policies across various sectors including postsecondary education, workforce development, and community service. <more>

  • Policies to Promote Adult Education and Postsecondary Alignment

    Found In: Publications

    This policy brief outlines approaches to help adults with lower skills and/or limited English proficiency earn postsecondary credentials that open doors to family-supporting jobs. Prepared for the National Commission on Adult Literacy, the report argues that the widespread problem of low-wage work and looming skill shortages are critical reasons for aligning federal and state adult education, job training, and postsecondary education policies. <more>

  • The Career Pathways How-To Guide

    Found In: Publications

    Released by the Workforce Strategy Center (WSC), this report is the second in the “Pathways to Competitiveness” series. It sets out a step-by-step protocol for building career pathways at the local level and discusses how state-level officials can support these efforts. <more>

  • Funding Career Pathways and Career Pathway Bridges ~ A Federal Policy Toolkit for States

    Found In: Tools

    Produced by the CLASP Center on Postsecondary and Economic Success, this toolkit outlines an approach to create a more educated workforce that involves career pathways and career pathway bridge models. As described in the toolkit, career pathways weave together adult education, training, and college programs to help students advance to successively higher levels of education [...] <more>

  • Adult Career Pathways: Providing a Second Chance in Public Education

    Found In: Publications

    Released by the Center for Occupational Research and Development (CORD), this report is an excerpt of the book Adult Career Pathways: Providing a Second Chance in Public Education. The book aims to challenge educators, community leaders, and business people to work together in finding a solution and addressing the difficulties that prevents many U.S. citizens from obtaining the education that today’s workplace demands. The authors provide readers with practical strategies to develop career pathways for low-skill adults. <more>