Narrative: III. a. 2. H.

A master plan for improving Arkansas higher education attainment was presented to the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board on October 30, 2015. The 2015–2020 five year planning cycle adopted in this plan is a critical component in the long–term objective to reach the 2025 goal of a 60 percent post–secondary attainment rate in Arkansas, increasing from the current estimate of 43.4 percent. By 2020, the plan is to reduce the educational attainment gap in Arkansas by increasing the number of postsecondary credentials by 50 percent over the 2013–2014 academic year levels; increasing the number of certificates awarded to 19,200; associate’s degrees to 12,700; and bachelor’s degrees to 19,900.

Title I of WIOA allows funds to be provided for adults and dislocated workers who meet WIOA Title I eligibility requirements for occupational skills training, on–the–job training, programs that combine workplace training with related instruction, skills upgrading and retraining, entrepreneurial training, job–readiness training, adult education and literacy activities described in section 134(3) (D) of WIOA. ADCE–AED is collaborating with Title I programs to combine resources, reduce duplication of services, and provide support to Arkansans.

During the state’s administrators’ meeting the program manager from the Office of Apprenticeships does a workshop session on apprenticeship programs across the state and how adult education can be a partner in the process. Apprentices who may need additional academic assistance are often referred to adult education. One of the challenges is the availability of evening classes offered in the adult education centers to accommodate working adults. One of the ways the state is combatting this issue is by increasing the number of distance learning classes being offered to provide around the clock access.

Lastly, the Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center (AALRC), adult education’s professional development center, hired consultants, Michelle Carson and Libby Livings–Eassa, to provide over 40 hours of professional development training on Career Pathways to adult education directors, staff, and partners. Career pathway is a new concept for many adult education providers and in order for this to be a successful initiative, training was imperative. Administrators’ were reminded of adult education’s role in assisting students to gain portable and stackable certificates. Programs were encouraged to start identifying partners who can help develop career pathways for students. Adult education directors were also reminded that career pathways is now one of the 13 considerations that must be met in order to receive federal funds; “whether the eligible provider’s activities coordinate with other available education, training, and social service resources in the community, such as by establishing strong links with elementary schools and secondary schools, postsecondary educational institutions, institutions of higher education, local workforce investment boards, one–stop centers, job training programs, and social service agencies, business, industry, labor organizations, community–based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and intermediaries, for the development of career pathways Section 231(e) (8)).

Over the last five years, ARS has worked to align resources for training and education resulting in industry recognized postsecondary credentials. ARS first focused on its own provider of postsecondary training, the Arkansas Career Training Institute where the training and services provided did not result in industry recognized postsecondary credentials. Now, all training programs meet national accreditation standards, and students are able to attain multiple industry recognized credentials. In addition, when individual plans for employment are designed, the training and education must result in these types of credentials demonstrating value in the attainment of competitive integrated employment. ARS has plans to utilize statewide registered apprenticeship training providers to facilitate placement in registered apprenticeship and one provider has been approved as a vendor for this service. Within the next year there are plans for six 40–hour pre–apprenticeship training classes to train 90 people with disabilities.

DSB has traditionally paid tuition for vocational and postsecondary education that will lead to employment. DSB will increase its use of Registered Apprenticeship training opportunities for its consumers and align its resources for training and education resulting in industry–recognized postsecondary credentials.

It is imperative for staff from core and non–core programs to increase engagement with training providers and programs that lead to postsecondary credentials engage to ensure that they apply and are accepted onto the Eligible Training Provider List.