The OVAE Fact Sheet Series highlights efforts currently underway at the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) to support the principles of the President's No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The principle(s) supported by this effort are:

• Increase Accountability and Academic Achievement
• Focus on What Works

Background

Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics projections indicate that 70 percent of the fastest-growing jobs will require education beyond high school and that 40 percent of all new jobs will require at least an associate’s degree. Employers are seeking employees who are proficient in math and reading, and who can solve problems, work in teams, and communicate effectively. In order to meet the demands of today’s workplace, adult learners not only require access to basic education programs, but also admission to community college certificate and degree programs.

Overview

The primary focus of the Adult Education Community College Transitions Project is to identify programs, practices, and policies that successfully facilitate transitions from adult basic education to community college certificate and degree programs. The scope of work includes a review of the literature to help establish criteria that will guide the selection of promising programs. A wide range of transition programs will be reviewed; a number will be selected for detailed case studies. Both the initial review of programs and the case studies will include the characteristics of promising programs and the collection and analysis of enrollment and outcome measures. Berkeley Policy Associates will execute this project.

Outcomes and Products

• Final report including findings from the literature review and a series of case studies
• National symposium for practitioners and policymakers on project findings

Timeline

Fact Sheet Series

Contact

Ronna.Spacone@ed.gov

Website