Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS)

Revised MA Guidelines for Effective Adult Career Pathways Programs

April 20, 2016

Dear Adult Career Pathways Program Directors, Workforce Partners, and Career Center Directors:

Last year, ACLS began working with its Adult Career Pathways (ACP) Task Force on revising the Massachusetts Guidelines for Effective Adult Career Pathways Programs (Guidelines)   . This work resulted in a revised version of the Guidelines that was distributed for input at the September 2015 ACP Kick-Off Meeting. ACLS and the Task Force then made some final revisions based on this feedback, and I am pleased to inform you that the final version is attached and available on our website.

The original Guidelines were released prior to the 2014 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity ACT (WIOA). One of the purposes in revising the Guidelines was to ensure alignment with WIOA as the state moves toward full implementation on July 1, 2016. This revised version also reflects ACLS's policy that Massachusetts ACP programs must meet the definition of a "career pathway" program as defined in WIOA Title I Sec. 3 (7) (Pg.10.).

The revised Guidelines reflect Massachusetts' continued support for the design, delivery, and ongoing evaluation of career pathways programs that provide access to education and training that leads to employment in high-demand industries. The Guidelines also clarify and define the roles and responsibilities of each of the three regional key partners—the workforce partner, ACP program, and One-Stop Career Center. The key partners share both the customer and the responsibility for providing services to that customer, and the Guidelines now articulate each one's unique role in moving customers along regional career pathways.

I would like to express my gratitude to the ACP Task Force and all the ACP program directors and partners that provided input on the Guidelines. If you have any questions, please contact Derek Kalchbrenner at dkalchbrenner@doe.mass.edu or your program specialist.

Sincerely,

Jolanta Conway
Massachusetts ABE State Director