The Alliance for Quality Career PathwaysA Complete “Beta” Framework of System Criteria, Quality Indicators, and Participant Metrics

Presentation for WisconsinDecember 10, 2013

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Recent Federal Support for [Adult] Career Pathways

• Grants• Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HHS, 2010)• Workforce Innovation Fund and TAACCCT (rounds I-III) grants (DOL, 2012-2013)• Advancing Career and Technical Education in State and Local Career Pathway Systems (OVAE,

2012)• Technical Assistance to Build State Career Pathway Systems (OVAE, 2013)

• Guidance and TA• Federal Career Pathways Institute (DOL and ED, 2010-2011)• Joint letter of commitment to promote use of career pathways (DOL, ED, and HHS, April 2012)

• Evaluation• ISIS evaluation of career pathway programs (HHS, launched in late 2007; 10 year initiative)• HPOG evaluations (HHS)

• Looking forward• Round IV of TAACCCT • $8b Community College to Career Fund in the President’s FY14 budget• $12.5b Pathways Back to Work in the President’s FY14 budget• All indications are that the federal government will continue to support and promote

career pathways

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State and Foundation Support for Career Pathways

• ~11 have explored or adopted career pathways for educationally underprepared adults and youth– AR, CA, KY, IL, MA, OH, OR, PA, VA, WA and WI

• ~13 have explored or adopted career pathway bridges– IL, IN, KY, KS, LA, MD, MN, NC, OH, OR, VA, WA, and WI

• Several states have explored or adopted career pathways for high school-to-college

• Major national initiatives including:• Ford Bridges to Opportunity• NGA Pathways to Advancement• Breaking Through• Shifting Gears• Accelerating Opportunity

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The Alliance for Quality Career Pathways

• 10 state alliance– Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota,

Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin

• The goal of AQCP is to identify a framework that defines high-quality sector-based career pathway systems including:– Shared set of metrics for measuring and managing participant

success– System criteria and quality indicators

• CLASP is the lead and facilitator

• Funded by the Joyce Foundation and the James Irvine Foundation

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The Alliance for Quality Career Pathways (cont.)

The final products of AQCP will be:• (1) a customizable framework of career pathway participant metrics,

system criteria, and quality indicators; and• (2) a self-assessment tool that can be used to:

– Enhance quality of existing sector-based career pathway systems;

– Build new sector-based career pathway systems more efficiently and effectively; and

– Inform evaluation(s) of sector-based career pathway systems.

• Feedback through Dec. 2013; final framework spring 2014

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Overview – Alliance Beta Framework: Three Parts 1. Definitions and conceptual model

a. Career pathway approachb. Local/regional sector-based career pathway systems (inclusive of

sector/occupational career pathways and career pathway programs)

c. State sector-based career pathway systems2. Career pathway participant metrics

a. Includes interim, credential, and labor market outcomesb. For shared performance measurement and/or continuous

improvement3. System criteria and quality indicators

a. For State sector-based career pathway systemsb. For Local/Regional sector-based career pathway systems

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Career Pathways Approach (working definition)

• An approach to connecting progressive levels of basic skills and postsecondary education, training, and supportive services…– in specific sectors or cross-sector occupations– in a way that optimizes the progress and success of individuals

– including those with limited education, English, skills, and/or work experience

– in helping individual secure marketable credentials, family-supporting employment, and further education and employment opportunities

• Career pathways help employers meet their workforce needs and help states and communities strengthen their workforces and economies.

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Sector-Focused Career Pathway

1. Well-connected education and training offerings; often delivered via multiple linked and aligned programs

3. Multiple exit points at successively higher levels of family supporting employment and aligned with subsequent entry points

2. Multiple entry points/on-ramps including for those with limited education, English, skills, and work experiences, i.e., bridge programs

Increasing skills,competencies, and credentials

bridge(s)e.g., industry certificate

Good Job

Good Job

Good Job

informed by

industry/employers

e.g., career and technical ed

e.g., one-year credential

e.g., 2-year degree

e.g., 4-year degree

e.g., military transition

e.g., ABE/pre-college

e.g., incumbent worker

e.g., corrections

Good Job

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Career Pathway ProgramsFour key elements:

• Participant-focused instruction and training

• Appropriate and meaningful assessment

• Supportive services and career navigation

• Direct connections to employment

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Sector-based Career Pathway Systems

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The “Heart” of Sector-based Career Pathway Systems:

Career Pathways and Programs

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Career Pathways and Programs

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* Partnerships Follow Guiding Principles: Shared vision and

strategy Leadership and

commitment to CPs Demand-driven/

employer engagement

Aligned policies, measures, and funding

Use data and promote continuous improvement

Enhance partner capacity

Career Pathways and Programs

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* Partnerships Follow Guiding Principles: Shared vision and

strategy Leadership and

commitment to CPs Demand-driven/

employer engagement

Aligned policies, measures, and funding

Use data and promote continuous improvement

Enhance partner capacity

State Career Pathway System*

Career Pathways and Programs

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State Career Pathway System*

Federal Agencies

* Partnerships Follow Guiding Principles: Shared vision and

strategy Leadership and

commitment to CPs Demand-driven/

employer engagement

Aligned policies, measures, and funding

Use data and promote continuous improvement

Enhance partner capacity

Career Pathways and Programs

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AQCP Career Pathway Participant Metrics

• A comprehensive set of career pathway participant metrics will support:– Performance measurement of pathway programs and

systems;– Focus on reducing disincentives to serve

underprepared and lower skilled participants.– Continuous improvement of pathway programs and

systems;– Shared performance accountability framework;– Evaluation of career pathway system impacts on

participants.

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AQCP “Beta” Career Pathway Participant Metrics

A. Interim Education and Training Outcomes• e.g., skill level gain; attainment of high school diploma

or GEDB. Pathway Education and Training Outcomes

• e.g., attain certificate or degreeC. Labor Market Outcomes

• e.g., employment, retention, wage gain

Note: Not all pathways will use all metrics…it depends on the pathway design.

Options for Use

Options for Sharing

Use commonmetrics family

for fund sources

Measure pathwayresults using

common metrics

Pool results across fund sources for

pathway participants

Pool accountabilityfor pathway partners

for pathways

Calculate the metrics

Use for continuousimprovement

Report resultspublically

Set goals and assessgoal attainment

Use for resource allocation

Alliance state partners have many options along these dimensions for considering how career pathway metrics might be used.

Figure 3. Two Dimensions of Shared Use

Accountability Options

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“Beta” Criteria for High-Quality CP Systems

• STATE1. Commit to a shared vision and strategy (6 indicators)2. Provide resources (3 indicators)3. Implement supportive state policies (4 indicators)4. Use data and shared measures (7 indicators)

• LOCAL/REGIONAL1. Commit to a shared vision and strategy (3 indicators)2. Engage employers (2 indicators)3. Provide resources (3 indicators)4. Implement supportive local/regional policies (8 indicators)5. Adopt evidenced-based practices (4 indicators)6. Use data and shared measures (7 indicators)

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AQCP Next Steps• July-December 2013: Alliance states review and field-test

framework; CLASP seek feedback outside Alliance• Winter 2014: CLASP and Alliance partners incorporate

feedback• Spring 2014: CLASP and Alliance partners release “Version

1.0” of framework and self-assessment tool

• Future: States and Local/Regional partnerships use AQCP framework and tool to continuously assess progress toward high-quality career pathway systems

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Discussion• Do you have any clarifying questions?

• Does this description of sector-based career pathways, programs and systems resonate with your understanding of them?

• In general, what should we keep in mind as we work with our Alliance partners to develop a framework that defines high-quality career pathways and systems?

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Thank you!Vickie ChoitzSenior Policy Analyst and Director of the Alliance for Quality Career PathwaysCLASPvchoitz@clasp.org

Neil RidleySenior Policy Analyst CLASPnridley@clasp.org