Students & Families Adult Education Adult & Community Learning Services
Adult and Community Learning Services

Regional Strategic Plan Meetings

Tuesday, January 22, 2008 10:30-12:30 - Bristol Community College, Fall River G-Building, Atrium (Back of Cafeteria)

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 9:00-11:00 - UMass Boston Healy Library, Boston Healey Library, 11th Floor Room A

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 1:00 - 3:00 - Northern Essex Community College, Lawrence Main Building, 2nd floor Room L244

Wednesday, February 6, 2008 12:30 - 2:30 - Holyoke Community College, Holyoke Kittredge Center Room 302

Thursday, February 7, 2008 10:30-12:30 - Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester Alden Library Building, Learning Center Room 109A

January/February 2008

Agenda

• Introductions and Background

• Today's Objective

• Review: Proposed ABE strategic goals and underlying components

• Is there anything missing?

• Operationalizing the plan

  • What will programs need to do to meet each goal? (e.g., start, stop, change, add)
  • What would the outcomes be if we were successful?
  • How should we measure the results?
  
  

• What can we do together to make sure this plan is implemented and you are informed about the progress?

• What are your biggest concerns?

• Other comments?

• Next Step and timeline

ABE Strategic Framework: 2009-2012

ABE Mission

To provide each and every adult with opportunities to develop literacy skills needed to qualify for further education, job training, and better employment, and to reach his/her full potential as a family member, productive worker, and citizen.
Massachusetts Board of Education, 1993

Proposed Strategic Goals

• Ensure that Adults Needing ABE Services Have Access to High Quality Programs

• Prepare Students for Success in College, at Work, and in the Community

• Increase System Effectiveness

Underlying each goal are four 'constants' or key components that will improve ABE outcomes. The ABE system is responsible for assisting programs in building each of these components into program services to increase public support for ABE, and to prepare all students to be successful by meeting their personal and professional goals.

1. Awareness: The general public, potential students (young adults, immigrants, incumbent workers), educators, employers, and policymakers need to recognize that literacy is the gateway - the critical 'first-step' toward achieving long-term success as students, workers, parents, and contributing members of their community.
2. Standards: The ABE system will continue strengthening teacher effectiveness and program quality by building on and upgrading ABE content, performance, and professional standards.
3. Partnerships: Formal and substantive informal partnerships will enable more adults from across the Commonwealth to access ABE services, build the core skills needed for success in today's economy, and actively participate within their community as involved parents and family members, savvy consumers, and informed citizens.
4. Resources: Stakeholders at the state and local level need to leverage a wide range of resources - human, financial, organizational - over the next few years to fully realize the goals in the ABE strategic plan.

Each of the four components must be supported concurrently at the community and state level (ACLS) to maximize the potential to achieve the strategic goals within four years.

Strategic Goal 1: Ensure that Adults Needing abe Services Have Access to High Quality Programs

• Significantly reduce the waitlist by X by increasing annual student enrollment
• Increase outreach to under-served, high need groups
• Identify and remove barriers that will increase access for different populations
• Create multiple service delivery and scheduling options for adults unable to attend traditional programs

  Key Components (What, who, when, where, how?)

  1. Awareness
  2. Standards
  3. Partnerships
  4. Resources

Strategic Goal 2: Prepare Students for Success in College, at Work, and in the Community

• Ensure that students gain the literacy, academic skills, and guidance so that they are ready for higher education, skills training, work, and that they can fully participate in their multiple roles as parents, family members, and contributing community members.
• Develop appropriate assessment, goal setting, and placement practices that support high expectations for all students.
• Structure a needs-based continuum of services emphasizing student-centered learning based on sound instructional programs, contextualized curriculum, use of technology, and attention to individual student needs.
• Increase support services (guidance, counseling, case management) to bolster student persistence, completion, and post-ABE transitions for all students.

  Key Components (What, who, when, where, how?)

  1. Awareness
  2. Standards
  3. Partnerships
  4. Resources

Strategic Goal 3: Increase System Effectiveness

• Continue advancing standards-based education and research-based methodology to strengthen teacher effectiveness and drive continuous program improvement.
• Increase program and operational flexibility based on specific regional and local needs
• Use data to identify effective programs and the practices that produce the best results with different populations and promote them across the state.
• Seed local innovation to develop diverse program models and services that, if successful, will be replicated in other communities.
• Professionalize the ABE field, including attracting diverse new talent by improving working conditions for full and part-time staff.

  Key Components (What, who, when, where, how)

  1. Awareness
  2. Standards
  3. Partnerships
  4. Resources