Pat Thomas SW ABE Program Manager pthomas@starpoint (507) 537-7046

1. Adult Basic Education Pat Thomas SW ABE Program Manager pthomas@starpoint.net (507) 537-7046

2. ABE:Changing in responseto the needs of today’s workforce

3. ABE Learner Eligibility Adult Basic Education provides services or instruction below the postsecondary level for individuals: A) Who are at least 16 years old B) Who are not enrolled in secondary school C) Who qualify under one or more of the following: a. Lack mastery of basic educational skills b. Do not have a high school diploma or it’s equivalent c. Are unable to speak, read or write the English language

4. Programs in ABE GED High School diploma Reading Comprehension & Fluency Citizenship Basic math and computation skills Basic computer skills Assessment testing Family Literacy

5. Sample ABE Learner Goals • Attain employment and/or better their current employment • Achieve high school equivalency (GED or H.S. Diploma) • Attain skills necessary to enter post-secondary education and training • Exit public welfare and become self-sufficient; • Learn to speak and write the English Language; • Master basic academic skills to help their children succeed in school • Become U.S. citizens and participate in democratic society • Gain self-esteem, personal confidence and sense of personal and civic responsibility

6. Why focus on Workforce Education?

7. 2005 Skills Gap Report “In addition to shortages of various types of employees, manufacturers surveyed reported they are also dissatisfied with the skills of their current employees.  Among respondents to this national survey, nearly half indicated their current employees have inadequate basic employability skills, such as attendance, timelinessand work ethic while 46%reported inadequate problem solving skills among employees and 36% indicated insufficient reading, writing and communications skills.” Full report is available at: www.nam.org/2005skillsgap

8. NEED: • 40% Of the people in the United States lack the basic skills necessary to obtain or retain employment • 42% of Welfare to Work (MFIP) caseloads do not have a high school degree or equivalent (DHS TANF Report) • 12% of Minnesotans over 25 years old lack a high school degree or its equivalency. The average high school graduate earns $7,000 more than a high school dropout. (2000 Census) • Major MN employers report large costs to train and retrain employees whose lack of basic skills or ability to speak English are liabilities to the profit line. (MN Bus. Partnership.) • 36% of job applicants tested by major U.S. firms in 1998 lacked the reading and math skills to do the job they sought. (Amer. Mgt. Assoc.)

9. ABE Serves Did you know… • That over 75,000 individuals participate annually to upgrade their basic academic skills such as reading, writing, mathematics and English? • Over 4,000 individuals are referred to ABE classes each year by employers? • We serve adults with virtually no skills in English or math and have the ability to stay with them and teach them until they reach a 12th-grade level? • We’re able to come to the workplace to offer short-term classes OR we’re able to host classes at local ABE classrooms?

10. ABEWorkforce Education Goals • To Provide quality workforce education training • To provide quality curriculum development • To establish an appropriate array of recommended on-site assessments • To develop and identify model programs and best practices • To collaborate with other government/private initiatives to share information and avoid duplication of services

11. What can we offer to businesses? • A Workforce Education coordinator • Experienced and licensed instructors • Full pre-assessment of learners and site • Full post-assessments of learners’ goals and objectives • Customized curriculum and training • Quality English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction • Reading and writing skills • Flexibility • Workforce Education Program plan including training agreement, schedules, curriculum summary and goals and objectives • Final report, written assessment of learners’ progress and future recommendations.

12. What does a typical Workforce Education Program look like? There is no typical Workforce Education Program. Each of our programs is uniquely tailored to the needs and specifications of the business. This includes identifying and teaching the basic skills the employer wishes to reinforce in the workplace. Examples include: teacher and/or improving English skills, math skills for retail, or identifying and discussing cultural differences that may be interfering with expectations and communication.

13. How are individual business needs met? • ABE is experienced in creating specialized curriculum • State-wide pool of information and experience • We provide a customized curriculum that is intensive, well-paced and benefits the employees’ both professionally and personally. • We understand that productivity is hinged on an employee’s ability to communicate with their supervisor and co-workers effectively.

14. Are we going to steal your clients? MN Policies Regarding Workforce Education in ABE: Workforce Education may include any of the basic skills curricula associated with typical ABE programs (GED, Basic Skills Brush-up, ESL, Family Literacy, Civics/Citizenship), and the content level of the curricula must not extend beyond the high school level. Technical and vocational credit-based content that is normally associated with a postsecondary institution is not acceptable content for using ABE funds.

15. PAYOFFS OF COLLABORATION Expansion of clientele ESL instruction Basic Computer Training On-site instruction Cost savings Limiting business contacts by ABE FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS Ability to subcontract ABE services Potential to reduce your costs Potential to make money off of ABE services ABE generates future funding Why does it pay?

16. WEBSITE www.southwestabe.org www.marshalladulteducation.org

18. READING SKILLS STORIESThe goal of this project is to build fluency and comprehension skills in adult readers through the use of relevant readings specific to an adult audience.  The focus of these reading selections will be on topics such us:  Civics, Employment, Housing, Health, School, Money, and Government.  This project is funded in part through an EL/Civics Grant from the MN Dept. of Ed - ABE Division.  Your comments, questions and feedback are invited.  Click on the Feedback link at the bottom of the page.

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22. “We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once." - Calvin Coolidge