The State plans to invest the funds in four activities, all aimed at increasing clients’ basic skills.
Establish and implement a work basic skills credential. The State will continue to work with employers, the WorkOne One-stop Career Center System, adult education providers who specialize in workforce literacy, and other community stakeholders;
Develop and refine models for employer-driven workplace basic skills training through competitive grants that are driven by employer needs and also build capacity through testing the viability and effectiveness of different models of workplace basic skills education. Three demonstration projects will be funded;
Develop and test communication strategies for employers and workers. The goal of this activity is to increase employers’ and workers’ awareness of the challenges associated with low workforce literacy and to increase awareness of the 21st Century Workforce Skills Initiative. The program will develop case statements, return-on-investment arguments, and brief profiles of effective workplace education programs, so that employers understand the positive impacts of investment in workforce basic skills education; and
Increase adult education providers’ capacity to utilize the assessment tools used in the 21st Century Workplace Skills Initiative. The State will certify and train staff in the assessment tools used in this initiative, involving curriculum for 16 adult education programs throughout the state.
