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Transcript of A Case for Change in Michigan Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning West Michigan Michigan...
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
West Michigan Michigan Regional Adult Learning Forum
WELCOME!WELCOME!
A Case for ChangeA Case for Changein Michiganin Michigan
Marcia Black-WatsonDeputy Director – Employers
Bureau of Workforce TransformationMichigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult LearningReframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning West Michigan
Michigan Regional Adult Learning Forum
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
• More than 20 leaders from adult education, including community colleges, from across MI
• Meeting monthly and more frequently in small groups to discuss transformation
• Goal: set of comprehensive policy recommendations presented by mid-Sept. 2008
Adult Learning WorkgroupAdult Learning Workgroup
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
• Unanimous willingness to work across program boundaries, out of “silos”
• Agreement that current system is not meeting the needs of many of MI’s adults
• Willingness to work hard between meetings, making key contributions to research, sub-committees and presentations
Pleasant surprises:Pleasant surprises:
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles1. High School Diploma or GED is the
beginning, not the end, of an adult’s educational path
2. Far-reaching changes in Michigan’s economy require far-reaching changes in its adult learning infrastructure
3. A shared vision of Michigan’s future among key stakeholders in education, business, and government is essential
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
* Definitions
Level 1: Below basic literacy or functionally illiterate.
Level 2: Possess basic literacy skills or able to perform simple, everyday literacy activities.
What’s the Situation?What’s the Situation?
Levels 1 & 2 Literacy = 44%
W/O HSD or GED = 17.5%
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
Nearly 2,000,0002,000,000
working-age adults in Michigan have earned a GED or HSD but have not entered college
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
1.2 million1.2 million
Michigan adults lack the skills necessary to engage in post-
secondary education
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
Of Michigan’s 6.4 million working age adults (18 to 64),
68.3%68.3%have not completed college
(associate’s degree or higher)
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
• Lifetime earnings of a person with an associates degree or higher will be at least $500,000$500,000 more than someone who stopped with high school
• Higher overall educational achievement = healthier families, thriving communities, stronger economy
Why Does This Matter?Why Does This Matter?
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
• 8 straight years of job loss in the manufacturing sector
• Longest stretch of job loss since the Great Depression
• More manufacturing jobs gone from MI than from any other state
• Total loss estimate for period mid-2000 through
end of 2008: 369,000369,000
Michiganders need further educationMichiganders need further educationmore than ever beforemore than ever before
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
• The auto industry accounts for about 70%70% of the job loss in manufacturing
• Traditional voc ed pathways target manufacturing jobs
• We have a long tradition of Michigan families assuming that HSD or GED will lead to well-paid auto job
One challenging policy area:One challenging policy area:
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
• Projected job growth in services sector:
50,000 50,000 during period 2006-2008
• Most new jobs are in health services, private education, business services and hospitality
There is some good news…There is some good news…
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
• Michigan employers have job vacancies because our workforce lacks men and women with the required skills
• Our economy will turn around, but not until we reverse the numbers: we want to see 68.3%68.3% of Michigan’s working-age adults with Associates degrees or higher
Michigan’s skills mismatch:Michigan’s skills mismatch:
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
• Work with high schools to create credit transfers and bridge programs into community colleges
• Expand community college programs which link remediation to career preparation
• Continue to engage employers in efforts to support workers who want to go to school
• Encourage local-level innovations which help adult learners to transition from GED to college
We need to:We need to:
A Case for Change in Michigan
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning
Contact InformationContact Information
Marcia Black-WatsonDeputy Director – Employers
Bureau of Workforce TransformationMichigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth
A Case for ChangeA Case for Changein Michiganin Michigan
Marcia Black-WatsonDeputy Director – Employers
Bureau of Workforce TransformationMichigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth
Reframing & Reinvesting in Adult LearningReframing & Reinvesting in Adult Learning Southwest Michigan Regional Adult Learning Forum