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The Project

Minnesota Shifting Gears: a system and policy change initiative to advance low-wage, low skilled workers. The Project. Joyce Foundation $10 million, 3-year venture capital effort to improve state adult education and postsecondary policies

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The Project

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  1. Minnesota Shifting Gears:a system and policy change initiative to advance low-wage, low skilled workers Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  2. The Project • Joyce Foundation $10 million, 3-year venture capital effort to improve state adult education and postsecondary policies • Initiative includes: Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin • Desired result: a better educated and more competitive workforce in the Midwest Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  3. The Purpose • Improve adult student transitions (ages 25-54) from ABE to post secondary • Strengthen links between supply and demand to advance low-wage workers • Develop cross-cutting agendas for state agencies for systems and policy change Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  4. The Partners • Business and Industry • Governor’s Workforce Development Council • Jobs Now Coalition • MN Department of Education- Adult Basic Education • MN Department of Employment and Economic Development • MN Department of Human Services • MN State Colleges and Universities Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  5. Population Focus • Adults with low basic skills with some work experience who may or may not be employed currently, have high school diplomas, or be fully proficient in English • Low Wage/Low Skill – The lowest 25th percentile of wage distribution of earners ages 25-54 and is adjustable based on the actual wage per state region Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  6. Long-Term Impact Goal • To increase the percentage of workers with credentials valued by local employers, that lead to higher individual earnings. Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  7. MN Planning Focus • A statewide system and policy change effort to address the question: “How can we create an easily accessible path for low-wage, low-skilled workers to advance within the education and training infrastructure and in demand-driven occupations?” Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  8. Why This is Important • # of HS graduates peaks in 2009 with steady decline for next two decades • It will take 21years of high school graduates combined to equal the same number of current working age adults who don’t have a college degree. Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  9. Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  10. Key Findings • Random acts of excellence- limited, if any systemic support for replication of employer driven industry sector projects. • Transitions between ABE, ESL and postsecondary need “bridge programs” andassessment alignment to reduce remediation and to provide dual enrollment opportunities for contextual learning. • Need for better data connections to investigate the relationship between wage rates and stability of employment by funding a comprehensive study of the wage data set over time. Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  11. Recommendations and Next Steps • A full report of recommendations and an implementation plan is in development led by MnSCU and ABE • Seeking $1M from Joyce Foundation for implementation over next two years Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  12. Thank you Brenda Norman, Executive Director Governor’s Workforce Development Council brenda.norman@state.mn.us 651 259-7569 Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

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