Located in:
- III. Operational Planning Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- a. State Strategy Implementation
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include–
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
Describe how the lead State agency with responsibility for the administration of each core program or a Combined Plan partner program included in this plan will implement the State’s Strategies identified in Section II(c). above. This must include a description of—
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
- a. State Strategy Implementation
III. a. 2. H. Improving Access to Postsecondary Credentials
Describe how the State’s strategies will improve access to activities leading to recognized postsecondary credentials, including Registered Apprenticeship certificates. This includes credentials that are industry-recognized certificates, licenses or certifications, and that are portable and stackable.
Current Narrative:
In most areas of Kentucky, training investments have been quite explicitly linked to target industry sectors and high demand occupations. In many cases, these investments are individual training accounts (ITAs). An area of focus for the Career Centers is to expand their use of alternate training modalities, specifically employer-driven and work-based models, as well as registered apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and customized training.
Kentucky Department of Education (KDE)
KDE requires all secondary CTE programs to report on career pathway opportunities for students. The career pathway process encourages dual credit courses along with industry certifications and credentialing. KDE works closely with state-level CTE task force groups composed of KWIB representation and business and industry to review industry certification requirements for high school students. The certifications/credentials are then endorsed by the KWIB. This ensures the certificates and/or credentials will lead to employment and/or post-secondary credit. Kentucky also created the Tech Ready Careers for Kentucky (TRACK) pre-apprenticeship program. The apprenticeship areas include carpentry, electricity and manufacturing. The models vary based on the need of industry but lead to credentialing, apprenticeship credit, and/or post-secondary credit at an accredited institution while students are in high school.
Kentucky Adult Education, dba Kentucky Skills U (KYSU)
KYSU, an agency in the Department of Workforce Investment (DWI), is strategically positioned to create significant post-secondary education linkages. These linkages are important in recruiting students and helping them transition to post-secondary education, as well as to assist with planning and providing professional training and development for adult educators. The usual and customary services of KYSU, which services all 120 counties, include addressing academic deficiencies and equipping students for success in the next level of college and/or achievement via preparation for college, the National Career Readiness Certificate and the Kentucky Essential Skills Certificate.
GED Plus
KCTCS and KY Skills U have partnered to bring students an innovative GED® program where students can co-enroll in both Skills U and short-term KCTCS classes and earn their GED® plus a college certificate tuition-free in one of the five top state sectors -- Advanced Manufacturing, Allied Health, Business and Computer Science, Construction and Trades, and Logistics and Transportation.
Workforce Preparation
As a result of the extended pilot for Essential Skills, nearly one—third of the state’s local adult education programs received coaching and training on integrating essential employability skills with academic instruction. KYSU dedicated multiple resources to support this training, including CTE’s Perkins leadership grant funds. Consequently, within an individualized program of study, every student has multiple opportunities to practice and perfect the essential skills (often referred to as soft skills, e.g., collaboration, communication and critical thinking) employers seek.
KYSU plays an active role in several initiatives in the Commonwealth. KYSU programs prepare students to take the ACT WorkKeys assessment to earn the NCRC, a standardized credential that validates reading, mathematics and locating information skills for specific occupations. KYSU programs use WIN’s online curriculum aligned with the WorkKeys assessment within an academic program of study and defrays the cost of the certificate for adult education students. KYSU includes the NCRC as a performance target and will continue to focus on it as a stackable credential throughout the students’ educational journey. KYSU is supportive of the KCC system vision and collaborates with KCC offices across the Commonwealth (e.g., co—location, common intake and referral processes, etc.). The KSN is a unique partnership between the Cabinet for Economic Development, Education and Workforce Development Cabinet including KCC, the Labor Cabinet and KCTCS. The network is dedicated to assessing employer skills needs and designing and delivering effective workforce solutions. Local KYSU programs are available to provide services in cases where potential or current employees are eligible for adult education.
KYSU also partners with the Department of Corrections to serve both full service jails’ correctional offenders and state adult institution inmates. Adult educators provide educational services to jails based on cooperative agreements with jailers. KCTCS faculty is commissioned to serve state adult correctional institution populations; however, adult educators support those educational experiences, offering evening classes for offenders.