Recent Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act legislation in the United States has initiated increasingly complex and multi-tiered systems for program implementation in the adult learning, career training, and workforce development sectors. The paper presents a conceptual framework to assist in understanding capacity building for implementation…

Our nation's economy and global competitiveness depend on an educated, skilled workforce that can quickly adapt to changes in technology and business processes. Adult educators understand that adult learners need opportunities to obtain workplace and career management skills through work-based learning experiences that prepare them for the complex…

In today's volatile economy, we can no longer afford to underinvest in America's opportunity youth. The costs of ignoring these young people, who are disconnected from education and out of work, are too high and growing. Building skills and gaining work experience are key to young people's upward mobility, but the pandemic has all but shut off…

It has become increasingly difficult to succeed in the U.S. workforce with only a high school diploma. While 75% of the middle-class workforce had only a high school education in the 1970s, that percentage dropped to below 40% by 2007. An estimated two-thirds of all jobs in 2020 will require some postsecondary training, up from just a quarter of…

Many adult education providers are developing career pathways (CP) programs, which are viewed as an important workforce development and poverty alleviation strategy in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, by state and local governments, and by private funders. Based on a three-year researcher-practitioner partnership, this paper uses…

Given that work-based learning (WBL) can -- and should be -- a key driver of student career readiness in these efforts, it is essential that all states have a robust work-based learning continuum of experiences and exposure that spans K-16. WBL is an essential element of career and technical education (CTE), and ExcelinEd's CTE Playbook series…

The guided pathways approach to community and technical college redesign has significant impacts for adult basic education (ABE). The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and Ability to Benefit provide federal support that complements the work being done in Guided Pathways. Washington state's approach to implementing guided pathways…

Despite legal mandates and evidence of predictors of success in transition, there continue to be poor outcomes for students with disabilities as compared to students without disabilities. This article describes the first steps of a quality improvement project, including a needs assessment and description of the current constraints of transition…

This resource was prepared in response to a request for information about the innovations and lessons learned as the result of the investments States have made in transforming their workforce using their Race to the Top -- Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grants. These strategies and accomplishments will be helpful to other States as they…

This booklet describes three legislative bills to reform existing federal manpower programs. The proposals share an emphasis on a single comprehensive manpower program for the disadvantaged, using state and local planning of flexible programs to meet local needs. A combination of the three proposals is recommended. (BH)

In view of the trend at the national level for vocational education to be handled by non-educational agencies, the author recommends a stronger concreted effort for many State Manpower Development Training Act and vocational education laws that ensure people-centered programs rather than politically-centered programs. (Author/EA)

Amendments to the Manpower Development and Training Act of 1962 consist of the following: (1) Section I extends the labor mobility demonstration projects, trainee placement assistance demonstration projects, and training and appropriations in correctional institutions to June 30, 1970; operating authority to June 30, 1972; and disbursement…

This report presents the results of a study to design the appropriate evaluation system needed at the Department of Labor for decentralized operation of a comprehensive manpower program. It covers not only the priority evaluations needed and the methods of performing them, but also changes required in planning, reporting, and administration in…

Current programs supported by federal funds for the disadvantaged, teacher institutes, educational media, teacher fellowships, occupational training, and research are presented with their related federal legislation. The Vocational Education Amendments of 1968 and the Education Professions Development Act are examined. (MU)

The Administrator of the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training (BAT), U.S. Department of Labor, presents an overview of the Federal government's role in apprentice training, Federal apprenticeship legislation and programs, labor standards and their administration, and the 40 years of BAT, established in 1937 by the National Apprenticeship Act. (MF)