The work reported herein was The work reported herein was supported under the National supported under the National

Research Center for Career and Research Center for Career and Technical Education Program, Technical Education Program, PR/Award No. VO51A990006 PR/Award No. VO51A990006 administered by the Office of administered by the Office of

Vocational and Adult Education, Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education. U.S. Department of Education.

However, the contents do not However, the contents do not necessarily represent the positions necessarily represent the positions or policies of OVAE or ED, and you or policies of OVAE or ED, and you should not assume endorsement should not assume endorsement

by the federal government. by the federal government.

Adult Career Pathway

Programs:

Preparing Low-Skilled

Adults for Self-Sustaining

Careers

Marisa Castellano

Debra D. Bragg

Christine D. Bremer

Catherine Kirby

Ann Mavis

Today’s Presentation Today’s Presentation FocusFocus

• 1. Program Organization1. Program Organization• 2. Partnerships2. Partnerships• 3. Curriculum and Instruction3. Curriculum and Instruction• The report also discusses:The report also discusses:

– Program evaluation and outcomesProgram evaluation and outcomes– Implementation barriersImplementation barriers– Success factorsSuccess factors– Scalability, sustainability and Scalability, sustainability and

transferabilitytransferability

Purpose of StudyPurpose of Study• Descriptive design including case studies to Descriptive design including case studies to

answer the research question:answer the research question:• What programs, policies, and practices are What programs, policies, and practices are

currently being implemented to support the currently being implemented to support the transition of low-skilled adults into and transition of low-skilled adults into and through career pathways that align with through career pathways that align with postsecondary CTE?postsecondary CTE?– CurricularCurricular– InstitutionalInstitutional– Support strategiesSupport strategies

• Initiate a baseline of information on career Initiate a baseline of information on career pathways for adults for future practice and pathways for adults for future practice and researchresearch

Multi-Phased MethodsMulti-Phased Methods

• Review of literatureReview of literature• Convened national panel to advise on Convened national panel to advise on

framework and potential sitesframework and potential sites• Over 100 sites contacted; 27 Over 100 sites contacted; 27

interviewed in depth by phoneinterviewed in depth by phone• 3 sites selected for case study3 sites selected for case study

– Scaleable, sustainable, transferableScaleable, sustainable, transferable– Various program areas and community Various program areas and community

typestypes

Data Collection and Data Collection and AnalysisAnalysis

• Three day site visitsThree day site visits– Stakeholder interviewsStakeholder interviews– Classroom observationsClassroom observations– Collected outcomes data as availableCollected outcomes data as available

• Data content analyzed for patterns and Data content analyzed for patterns and themesthemes

• Case studies verified by stakeholdersCase studies verified by stakeholders• Cross-case analysis of commonalities Cross-case analysis of commonalities

and differences across sitesand differences across sites

Case Study SitesCase Study Sites•Carreras en Salud–Instituto del Carreras en Salud–Instituto del

Progreso Latino (IPL), Chicago ILProgreso Latino (IPL), Chicago IL•General Service Technician General Service Technician

(GST)–Shoreline Community (GST)–Shoreline Community College, Shoreline WACollege, Shoreline WA

•Career Pathways Initiative (CPI)–Career Pathways Initiative (CPI)–Ouachita Technical College, Ouachita Technical College, Ouachita AROuachita AR

Program OrganizationProgram Organization

• Partners: CC, CBO, government agencies, Partners: CC, CBO, government agencies, and industry and industry

• Model #1: program housed at CBO, Model #1: program housed at CBO, bridging to existing CC programsbridging to existing CC programs

• Model #2: program housed at CC, Model #2: program housed at CC, expanding opportunity to enter CC expanding opportunity to enter CC programsprograms

• Model #3: program housed at CC, Model #3: program housed at CC, providing preparatory skills to enter providing preparatory skills to enter various CC programs various CC programs

PartnershipsPartnerships• Community colleges offering occupational Community colleges offering occupational

programsprograms– Usually AA programs, in health, automotive, and othersUsually AA programs, in health, automotive, and others

• CBOs to provide support servicesCBOs to provide support services– case management, transportation and child care case management, transportation and child care

assistance, mental health services, addiction assistance, mental health services, addiction counseling, and in at least one site, support for counseling, and in at least one site, support for students with disabilitiesstudents with disabilities

• Other support service providers (e.g., WIA)Other support service providers (e.g., WIA)– financial aid, academic and career guidance, financial aid, academic and career guidance,

counseling services, and job placement counseling services, and job placement

• Industry and employersIndustry and employers– Advisory councils, internships, jobsAdvisory councils, internships, jobs

Curriculum and Curriculum and InstructionInstruction

• Classes accommodate Classes accommodate schedules/learning needs of adultsschedules/learning needs of adults

• ESL ranged from peripheral to ESL ranged from peripheral to centrally located in a career pathwaycentrally located in a career pathway

• In some places, ABE is a central part of In some places, ABE is a central part of the pathway; in others GED instruction the pathway; in others GED instruction is the focusis the focus

• All three cases provided “stop-out” All three cases provided “stop-out” points along the way for working adultspoints along the way for working adults– Many included certificates at those pointsMany included certificates at those points

Instituto del Progreso Instituto del Progreso Latino- IPLLatino- IPL

• IPL is a CBO in Chicago since 1977, IPL is a CBO in Chicago since 1977, working for the economic working for the economic advancement of Latinosadvancement of Latinos

• IPL created “bridge” courses to help IPL created “bridge” courses to help ESL and incumbent Latino ESL and incumbent Latino healthcare workers enter existing healthcare workers enter existing allied health programs at community allied health programs at community collegescolleges

Curriculum – Carreras En Curriculum – Carreras En SaludSalud

• Called a bridge program because Called a bridge program because students require certain courses to students require certain courses to “bridge” their current skill levels to the “bridge” their current skill levels to the level required to enter the existing level required to enter the existing healthcare programs at community healthcare programs at community collegescolleges

• 16-week health topics-based ESL course 16-week health topics-based ESL course to prepare for CNA credentialto prepare for CNA credential

• 16-week pre-LPN course for higher-level 16-week pre-LPN course for higher-level students who already have the CNAstudents who already have the CNA

Curriculum – Allied HealthCurriculum – Allied Health

• Healthcare sector was identified as a Healthcare sector was identified as a growth industrygrowth industry

• Allied health programs trying to Allied health programs trying to respond to worker shortagerespond to worker shortage

• CBO creates a pipeline of students CBO creates a pipeline of students into their allied health programsinto their allied health programs

• Students can “stop out,” earning a Students can “stop out,” earning a certificates and getting a higher-certificates and getting a higher-paying job as they continue along the paying job as they continue along the pathway to a nursing positionpathway to a nursing position

IPL ladderIPL ladder

General Service Technician General Service Technician - GST (automotive)- GST (automotive)

• GST is a new NATEF-sanctioned GST is a new NATEF-sanctioned programprogram

• ABE and ESL curriculum content are ABE and ESL curriculum content are integrated into the GST program at integrated into the GST program at Shoreline CCShoreline CC

• Program completion puts students into Program completion puts students into existing career ladder/lattice structureexisting career ladder/lattice structure– Designed to be gateway certificate with Designed to be gateway certificate with

many options available in the auto sales & many options available in the auto sales & service industryservice industry

GST Misc. FeaturesGST Misc. Features

• Shoreline CC aggressively seeks Shoreline CC aggressively seeks fundingfunding– They monitor and apply for state and They monitor and apply for state and

federal grant opportunitiesfederal grant opportunities– Positive state environment for Positive state environment for

workforce developmentworkforce development

• Shoreline CC houses the regional Shoreline CC houses the regional auto dealers associationauto dealers association– Readymade, longtime industry partnerReadymade, longtime industry partner

Curriculum – ABE and ESLCurriculum – ABE and ESL

• Syllabus as contract, portfolios, Syllabus as contract, portfolios, journals, homework, online journals, homework, online assignments, internet research and assignments, internet research and presentationspresentations

• Problem-solving scenarios and hands-Problem-solving scenarios and hands-on activities always included writing on activities always included writing work orders or problem solutionswork orders or problem solutions

• Used new vocabulary often, esp. with Used new vocabulary often, esp. with ESL students ESL students

Curriculum – Career Curriculum – Career PathwaysPathways

• Basic automotive diagnosis and Basic automotive diagnosis and repair written by and for industryrepair written by and for industry

• ESL and ABE teachers each adapted ESL and ABE teachers each adapted the GST curriculum for their the GST curriculum for their students students

• They also embedded employability They also embedded employability (SCANS) skills (SCANS) skills – Speaking and listening skills Speaking and listening skills

emphasizedemphasized

Other Instructional Other Instructional StrategiesStrategies

• All classes team taught by ABE or All classes team taught by ABE or ESL teacher and automotive teacherESL teacher and automotive teacher

• Accelerated LearningAccelerated Learning– Mastering basic skills while being Mastering basic skills while being

prepared for workprepared for work

• Last quarter of program = paid Last quarter of program = paid internship internship

GST GST ladderladder

Career Pathways Career Pathways Initiative- CPIInitiative- CPI

• Ouachita is a growing 2-year college in Ouachita is a growing 2-year college in rural Arkansasrural Arkansas– Local unemployment rate = 6.2%Local unemployment rate = 6.2%

• Skilled worker shortages in Skilled worker shortages in manufacturing, health care, and manufacturing, health care, and correctionscorrections

• Goal of CPI is to improve access, Goal of CPI is to improve access, credential completion, and employment credential completion, and employment success for TANF-eligible individualssuccess for TANF-eligible individuals

CPI Misc. FeaturesCPI Misc. Features• State-level initiative implemented at State-level initiative implemented at

11 colleges11 colleges• Funded with federal TANF moneyFunded with federal TANF money• Not tied to particular areas of study, Not tied to particular areas of study,

certificates, or degrees certificates, or degrees • Stackable short-term credentialsStackable short-term credentials• Strong “wrap-around” support Strong “wrap-around” support

servicesservices

Delegation of Education Delegation of Education TasksTasks

• The Workforce CenterThe Workforce Center– Develops job training and employability Develops job training and employability

programsprograms– Provides adult education services (ABE, GED)Provides adult education services (ABE, GED)– Tests and places students in proper level Tests and places students in proper level

classesclasses– Determines eligibility for CPIDetermines eligibility for CPI

• The College The College – Provides adult education services (ABE, GED)Provides adult education services (ABE, GED)– Administers ESL programs at community and Administers ESL programs at community and

workplace sitesworkplace sites– Offers traditional developmental ed coursesOffers traditional developmental ed courses

Curriculum - ABECurriculum - ABE

• ABE and GED curriculum available at ABE and GED curriculum available at both college and Workforce Centerboth college and Workforce Center

• Developmental ed programs are CAI-- Developmental ed programs are CAI-- I Can Learn Math (web-based) and I Can Learn Math (web-based) and PACE Learning Systems PACE Learning Systems

• Labs are open when the college is Labs are open when the college is open and personal onsite help from a open and personal onsite help from a math instructor is always availablemath instructor is always available

Curriculum – Career Curriculum – Career PathwaysPathways

• First-year students participate in a learning First-year students participate in a learning community:community:– Take the same classesTake the same classes– Meet regularly as a study and support groupMeet regularly as a study and support group

• After all the preparatory curricula, After all the preparatory curricula, participants then move into one of a participants then move into one of a number of occupational programs:number of occupational programs:– Truck driver, CNA, LPN, office administration, Truck driver, CNA, LPN, office administration,

and industrial maintenanceand industrial maintenance– The majority are enrolled in healthcare-related The majority are enrolled in healthcare-related

programsprograms

CPI ladderCPI ladder

Cross-case SimilaritiesCross-case Similarities

• Strong case management and support Strong case management and support services considered essentialservices considered essential

• Partnerships based on respective strengthsPartnerships based on respective strengths• Good relations among partnersGood relations among partners• Recognition of academic and employability Recognition of academic and employability

skills as well as technical skillsskills as well as technical skills• Pathways are created to fill local labor Pathways are created to fill local labor

market needsmarket needs

For Full Report:For Full Report:

• Keep checking at: Keep checking at: http://www.nccte.org/publications/prhttp://www.nccte.org/publications/projectReports.htmlojectReports.html

• Report now available at: Report now available at: http://occrl.ed.uiuc.edu/Projects/GEhttp://occrl.ed.uiuc.edu/Projects/GED/Career_Pathways.pdfD/Career_Pathways.pdf

• Contact me:Contact me:– marisa.castellano@louisville.edumarisa.castellano@louisville.edu