Adult Basic Education

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Adult Basic Education
Pat Thomas SW ABE Program Manager pthomas_at_starpoin
t.net [phone]
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ABEChanging in responseto the needs of
todays workforce
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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
  its equivalent
• c. Are unable to speak, read or write the
  English
• language

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Programs in ABE

• GED
• High School diploma
• Reading Comprehension Fluency
• Citizenship
• Basic math and computation skills
• Basic computer skills
• Assessment testing
• Family Literacy

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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

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Why focus on Workforce Education?
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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,
  timeliness and 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/2005skil
  lsgap 

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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.)

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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?
• Were able to come to the workplace to offer
  short-term classes OR were able to host classes
  at local ABE classrooms?

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ABE Workforce 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

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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.

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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.

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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
  employees ability to communicate with their
  supervisor and co-workers effectively.

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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.

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Why does it pay?

• FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
• Ability to subcontract ABE services
• Potential to reduce your costs
• Potential to make money off of ABE services
• ABE generates future funding

• PAYOFFS OF COLLABORATION
• Expansion of clientele
• ESL instruction
• Basic Computer Training
• On-site instruction
• Cost savings
• Limiting business contacts by ABE

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WEBSITE

• www.southwestabe.org
• www.marshalladulteducation.org

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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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