RISE Workforce Policy Forum

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RISE Workforce Policy Forum

• February 19, 2008
• Sue Gleason
• RISE Co-Lead, Deputy Administrator
• DWD-Division of Employment and Training

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Objectives for today

• How is Wisconsins Career Pathway effort defined?
• Who are we targeting?
• What are others doing?
• What are the policy issues for public workforce
  programs?
• What is next for RISE activities?
• What work can you start right now?

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RISE Target Population Summary
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Target Population Demographics

• Of the 710,000 earning less than 15.38/hr
• Race/Ethnicity
• 568,000 white (28 percent of white)
• 55,000 black (39 percent of black)
• 56,000 Hispanic (50 percent of Hispanic)
• 31,000 other (34 percent of other)
• Gender 332,000 men, 378,000 women
• Geography
• 15,000 in Madison
• 86,000 in Milwaukee
• 609,000 in Rest of State

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Wisconsins RISE Guidelines

• Vision
• Mission
• Definition
• Outcomes
• Operational Elements

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RISE Vision

• By 2013 - Educational, workforce development and
  economic development institutions, employers, and
  labor are supporting an array of career pathways
  and bridge programs that benefit
• Working adults
• Employers
• Workforce training and education

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RISE Mission

• By 2009 - Career pathways and related bridge
  programs have been established
• To meet employer and worker needs
• State and regional policies and processes
• Pathways in two key industry sectors
• Bridge programs in at least several areas of the
  state

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Career Pathway Definition

• Clear and reliable courses of action for building
  skills
• Postsecondary program as a sequence of modules
• Each step increases skills and earning
  opportunities 
• Targeted industry sectors
• Real collaboration between stakeholders
• Bridge programs to transition to post-secondary
  learning

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Initiative Outcomes

• Higher number of low-income working adults enroll
  in postsecondary education
• Higher proportion of low-income working adults
  attain degrees, technical diplomas, and/or
  certificates
• Higher proportion of remedial adult learners
  transition into and complete associates degrees,
  technical diplomas, and/or certificates
• Increases in earnings and job quality

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Career Pathway Operational Elements

• A. Industry Engagement
• B. Instructional Design
• C. Pathway Support for Life Long Learning
• D. Systems and Partnerships

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Industry Engagement

• Industry sector employers help develop and
  support the pathway
• Predictable progression in compensation or job
  security
• Organized labor is involved
• Regional businesses participate in recruiting
  individuals
• Employers actively support participation

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Instructional Design

• Targeted industries and occupations with
  compelling need for higher-skilled workers
• Curriculum is a sequence of modules allowing
• postsecondary occupational education in
  manageable increments.
• workers to move in and out of their studies
• skills and credits earned with minimal
  inefficiencies and disruptions.
• Leads learners toward family-sustaining wages

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Instructional Design continued

• Employers are engaged in identifying competencies
  
• Credentials recognized by employers
• Curricula are linked to industry skill standards,
  certifications or licensing requirements
• Incorporates learning by doing opportunities

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Instructional Design continued

• Curriculum grants credit for work experience
• Roadmaps illustrate multiple entry and exit
  points within an occupation or career cluster
• Includes a bridge program that assists basic
  education and English-Language-Learning students

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Pathway Support for Life Long Learning

• Career planning services
• Coordinated wrap-around support
• Help with developing soft skills
• Employers support employees lifelong learning
  plans and advancement opportunities

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Systems and Partnerships

• At least one technical college district and one
  workforce development board are involved
• Clearly defined roles and expectations of
  partners
• Coordinated public and private funding

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Questions