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. E. Partner Engagement with Educational Institutions
Describe how the State’s Strategies will engage the State’s community colleges and area career and technical education schools, as partners in the workforce development system to create a job-driven education and training system. WIOA section 102(b)(2)(B)(iv).
Current Narrative:
Core and non-core programs have strong partnerships with the State’s two- and four-year institutions of higher education, especially at the community college level. Several Arkansas Workforce Centers are located on community college campuses, which enable a streamline process to move jobseekers into needed training or resources to upgrade their skills on the campus. Community colleges are at the forefront of workforce development in Arkansas and have strong connections with local employers, which enable core and non-core programs such as the WIOA Title I Youth, Adult, and Dislocated Worker programs, Trade Adjustment Assistance, and the TANF program to connect their customers to training that leads to occupations that are in-demand.
The TANF program funds the Arkansas Career Pathways Initiative that provides funding to the State’s community colleges to provide post-secondary training to low-income custodial parents that are TANF eligible. This program provides supports to eligible parents to begin training in a career pathway that will enable them to move up the ladder of success in their chosen field.
Service delivery systems for adult education programs are funded through a variety of local administrative entities, including public school systems, colleges, literacy councils, and one correctional institution to name a few. In fact, fifty percent of administrative units for adult education fall under the administration of community colleges. Many local adult education programs work directly with colleges in supporting summer transition bridge programs to college. Others assist in helping students increase their basic academic skills in order to reduce the need for remediation.
The Division of Workforce Services, Adult Education Section (ADWS-AES) has partnered with the Arkansas Community Colleges to offer Accelerating Opportunity to four community colleges and adult education programs in the state. Accelerating Opportunity (AO) is a community college initiative of Jobs for the Future whose goal is to ensure that more workers have the skills needed to earn credentials that lead to family-sustaining careers. The AO programs are transitioning to focus more an Integrated and Education training programs across the state. Both initiatives aim to change how Adult Basic Education is structured and delivered through a collaborative effort in which a basic skills instructor and technical college instructor provide concurrent and contextualized instruction for adults at various levels of education and skills. For the 2018-2019 program year, 343 participants were enrolled in AO and IETs combined. Program Directors continually evaluate these programs to ensure relevance to students and the local workforce needs.
Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) actively engages the State’s education and training providers including two-year and four-year colleges and career and technical education schools as partners in the workforce development system to create job-driven education and training opportunities for individuals with disabilities. A large portion of the agency’s budget is committed to support client enrollment in these types of trainings with a goal of client attainment of competitive integrated employment. ARS’s VR counselors and assistive technology staff routinely engage education and training personnel regarding needed accommodations necessary for clients to successfully complete training programs. Agency staff also participate in Ark-AHEAD, the Arkansas affiliate of the Association of Higher Education and Disability.
Division of Services for the Blind (DSB) has a partnership which provides college preparatory classes to blind and low vision students utilizing the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. DSB has arranged for college and technical school tours for blind and low vision students, so that the students and the institutions of higher education can interact and discuss career goals prior to applying for admission.