Home - New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals, Inc.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

NYATEP has Reopened the Job Search

for the Executive Director Position

“Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization May Move Youth Development Field Back A Decade”

This CLASP April 2012 report offers five recommendations to ensure the youth delivery system doesn’t fall short and be dismantled through WIA Reauthorization. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/WIAYouthHR4297-Final.pdf

NYATEP Board members and staff had a productive meeting with NYC Employment and Training Coalition’s Chair, Randy Peers, Legislative Committee Chair, Carolina Cordero Dyer, and Lincoln Restler, staff person, to discuss working collaboratively on workforce issues.

Waking Up From the American Dream: Downward Mobility From the Middle Class

A central tenet of the American Dream has always been that children will be better off than their parents. A new study by the Urban Institute finds that a third of Americans raised in the middle class fall out of that status as adults. The research identified key factors that account for downward mobility from the middle class and examined the influence of race and gender on the impact of those factors. Click here for the full report:

http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/1001603-Downward-Mobility-from-the-Middle-Class.pdf

CLASP Introduces Interactive Postsecondary Credential Return on Investment Tools

By 2025, the United States will need to produce about 24 million additional credentialed adults to remain globally competitive. Failure to prioritize investments in postsecondary education will leave states and the nation short millions of credentials and ultimately mean billions in lost revenue and increased public expenditures. To help policymakers and advocates understand where their state is comparatively and what it will mean to increase the number of postsecondary credentials attained, CLASP and the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) have developed a Return on Investment Dashboard. Using Census Bureau, National Center for Education Statistics and Department of Education data, this dynamic tool projects the short- and long-term effects of either maintaining the status quo or increasing investments and the number of credentialed adults in our economy.

Click here for resources and reports related to the Credential Differential project:

http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success&id=0025. To access the interactive State Fact Sheets and Return on Investment tools, click on the map located at the bottom of the page.

There is also a national dashboard that can be accessed by clicking on the link at the top of the page here: http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/publication?id=1097&list=publications&key=20991912

Jobless Rate Falls in Southern Tier

http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20120424/BUSINESS/204240346/Jobless-rate-falls-Southern-Tier?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

American Association of Community Colleges Highlights Key Federal Legislative and Policy Issues Facing Community Colleges and Students

http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Advocacy/AdvocacyNews/Pages/041220121.aspx

In 2001, Father Gregory Boyle, Jobs for a Future and Homeboy Industries, provided the key note address at the annual NYS Youth Academy. His incredible work offering youth a second chance in life continues. The following Fast Company article, “Homeboy Industries Reboots The Lives Of Tattooed Former Gangbangers, And Even One CEO.” provides the story of Father Boyle’s success. http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679680/homeboy-industries-reboots-the-lives-of-tattooed-former-gangbangers-and-even-one-ceo

Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services Issue Joint Letter on Career Pathways

All current proposals to reauthorize WIA include a focus on career pathways initiatives. In a new joint letter, 3 federal agencies encourage States and localities to improve coordination and collaboration to promote career pathways. The letter details essential components of career pathways approaches and shares guiding principles for developing comprehensive career pathways systems.

Click here for more: http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEN/ten2_36_11.pdf

Analysis of House Republican WIA Bill Now Available

The National Skills Coalition has prepared an analysis and chart showing the 27 programs that would be consolidated through HR 4297, the Workforce Investment Improvement Act, which was introduced on March 29. The House may take up this bill in May. Action is not expected in the Senate this year. Click here for links to the analysis:

http://www.nationalskillscoalition.org/homepage-archive/nsc-releases-analyses-of-hr.html

NY Times Article (4/9/12) - "Federal Funds to Train the Jobless are Drying Up"

"Federal money for the primary training program for dislocated workers is 18 percent lower in today’s dollars than it was in 2006, even though there are six million more people looking for work now. Funds used to provide basic job search services, like guidance on résumés and coaching for interviews, have fallen by 13 percent.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/09/business/economy/federal-funds-to-train-jobless-are-drying-up.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120409

House Republicans Ratchet Up WIA Reauthorization Debate

On March 29, House Republicans introduced a new WIA reauthorization bill, the Workforce Investment Act of 2012 (HR 4297). The new bill builds on previous bills introduced by workforce subcommittee chair Virginia Foxx [R-NC], Howard “Buck” McKeon [R-CA], and Joe Heck [R-NV]. Consolidation of 27 programs into a block grant, streamlining, and granting flexibility to Governors to reconfigure the workforce system in their states are central themes in the bill. The House may conduct a hearing on the bill in the coming weeks, and take up the legislation over the summer.

Click here for a detailed summary provided by the committee: http://edworkforce.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Detailed_Summary_-__Workforce_Investment_Improvement_Act_of_2012.pdf

Click here for the bill text:

http://edworkforce.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Workforce_Investment_Improvement_Act_of_2012.pdf

New House WIA Bill Summary From NSC

The National Skills Coalition has posted summaries of Title I (Workforce Investment Systems) and Title II (Adult Ed and Literacy) of the House Democrat’s WIA reauthorization bill, HR 4227. Click here for the NSC summaries: http://www.nationalskillscoalition.org/homepage-archive/nsc-releases-house-minority.html.

Click here for the PDF file of text to HR 4227: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr4227ih/pdf/BILLS-112hr4227ih.pdf

To find HR 4227 with searchable index (very helpful for finding specific issues addressed in the bill), go to http://thomas.loc.gov/home/LegislativeData.php?&n=BillText and search for Workforce Investment Act of 2012. (Sorry, the site provides only temporary links to the bill text in this format, so you must search it manually.)

Also, see the NYATEP Members Only email from March 22 for more about the bill.

NYC Issues State of the NYC Workforce System Report

In its second annual State of the NYC Workforce System report, the Bloomberg administration catalogs the myriad workforce system programs operating in the City and the impacts they are having. Detailed data is provided on labor market information, program demographics, services, outcomes, and funding sources, and collaborations. Special emphasis is placed on reporting on the status of youth and young adults. Click here for the full report: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/wib/downloads/pdf/swfs_report_fy2011.pdf

USDOL Issues Comprehensive Literacy/Numeracy Guidance

TEGL 18-11 provides best practices for improving literacy and numeracy gains for youth, including guidance on program design, service delivery, staff development, and basic skills assessment. Click here for more: http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL/tegl18-11.pdf

USDOL Announces $75M YouthBuild Competition

USDOL will award approximately 75 grants of between $700K and $1.1M for YouthBuild programs. This is the first YouthBuild competition under new regulations that expand skills training beyond construction to include training in high-demand occupations such as healthcare, information technology and other fields. Applications close on May 8.

USDOL Announces Second Round Competition for Trade Act Community College and Career Training Grants

ETA will accept applications through May 24 for the second round of TAACCCT Grants. Up to $500M will be awarded to eligible institutions for either developing new education and career training program strategies or for replicating existing evidence-based design, development, and/or delivery strategies for such programs. In addition to grants of $2.5 to $3.0 million to individual applicants, the Department intends to fund grants of $5 million to $15 million to consortium applicants that propose programs that will impact TAA-eligible workers and other adults across a state, region or regions, industry sector or cluster of related industries. Learn more at http://www.doleta.gov/grants/pdf/taaccct_sga_dfa_py_11_08.pdf or search for USDOL SGA/DFA PY 11-08.

Career and Technical Education, Workforce Development, and Skill Gaps: White Paper Seeks Common Ground to Address Growing Needs

A recent white paper, Developing Human Capital: Meeting the Growing Global Need for a Skilled and Educated Workforce, features perspectives on addressing skill gaps and meeting employer needs in the global economy. As the debate continues on program consolidation, improved alignment of services, greater accountability, and improved outcomes, this paper offers practical insight into issues that have stood in the way of better coordination and points to emerging promising practices to address those issues. Authors include Ron Painter, CEO of NAWB, Janet Bray, Executive Director of ACTE, and Mitch Rosen, Director of Adult Education and Workforce Initiatives at McGraw-Hill Education. View the white paper at http://mcgraw-hillresearchfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DevelopingHumanCapital.pdf

States Shake Up Adult Ed to Help Low-Skilled Workers

A number of States, in partnership with private foundations, local community colleges, and employers, are revamping adult basic education programs to provide career training and remedial education at the same time. Building on successful models such as Washington state’s I-BEST and Minnesota’s FastTRAC, more States are seeking to address community college access and retention issues through innovative integrated learning models. Learn more at http://www.clasp.org/news_room/clips?id=0192

Two New Reports Examine Ex-Offender Program Performance and Outcomes

As transitional jobs programs have gained attention in recent WIA reauthorization proposals, two new reports examine the impacts of transitional jobs initiatives focused on ex-offenders.

NYC-based CEO (a NYATEP member organization) is featured in a new MDRC report, More Than a Job: Final Results from the Evaluation of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)Transitional Jobs Program, prepared for the US Department of Health and Human Services. The study found that the CEO model significantly reduced recidivism, especially for those who were more disadvantaged and at higher risk, and produced financial benefits that exceed the cost of the program.

See the Executive Summary at http://www.mdrc.org/publications/616/execsum.pdf or view the full report at http://www.mdrc.org/publications/616/full.pdf

USDOL has issued a report on findings from a demonstration grant and two follow-up grants to Twin Cities Rise!, a Minneapolis-St. Paul area agency serving ex-offenders through a model that includes personal coaching and “empowerment training.” The report, Process Evaluation and Outcomes Analysis: Twin Cities RISE! Performance-Based Training and Education Demonstration Project, including the Executive Summary, can be found at http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/FullText_Documents/ETAOP_2012_05.pdf

Senate Schedules Hearing on Addressing Workforce Needs at the Regional Level

On Thursday, February 16, the Senate Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety will conduct a hearing focused on innovative public-private partnerships that address regional workforce needs. Witnesses will include representatives from local WIBs and private-sector partners from Seattle, Southern California, Northern Virginia (where the President will announce the new community college program included in his budget proposal), and Madison, Wisconsin. In addition, GAO director Andrew Sherrill will testify. The subcommittee is chaired by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a strong proponent of workforce development programs and funding. Learn more about the hearing at http://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/hearing/?id=5908d481-5056-9502-5dc8-e1456c5d8dab

Center for an Urban Future Report: Bad English

New York State currently ranks 49th out of 50 States for working age people (25 to 64 years old) who are either completely illiterate or at most can read one sentence. Yup, 22% of New York’s working age population is illiterate!! Three main causes are: early high school dropout, diagnosed or undiagnosed learning disability, or non- native speaker who may or may not be literate in their native tongue, but is not literate in English. This is a crisis, but we don’t see it as one, so we don’t aggressively address it. This new report from the Center for an Urban Future points out just how much ground we are losing in New York.

“Technology Puts Young People Out of Work”

John Twomey spoke at Youth Employment Forum, Connecticut State Capitol 1/10/12
View Article

USDOL Announces Solicitation for Workforce Innovation Grants

On December 22, USDOL ETA announced a solicitation for grant applications (SGA-DFA-PY-11-05) for $98.5M in Workforce Innovation Funds to support innovative approaches to service delivery. Read more

USA Today Article: White House Launches Youth Jobs Program

View Article

CNN Money Article: Initial jobless claims fall to lowest level since 2008

View Article

NYS Regional Economic Development Council Project Awards

This booklet breaks down the awards in each region in amount and program.

http://www.governor.ny.gov/assets/documents/CFAAWARDSBooklet.pdf

SUNY Trustees Approve Community College Funding Boost

SUNY Trustees have adopted a fiscal year 2012-13 budget that includes an increase of $23.7M for community colleges. The budget plan also includes $40M for SUNY Works, a cooperative education program that partners with businesses and economic development organizations to provide students throughout the 64 campus SUNY system with paid, credit-worthy career experience.

Learn more here: http://www.lohud.com/article/20111123/NEWS05/111230349/SUNY-trustees-approve-8-1-billion-budget-community-colleges-get-funding-boost

Improving Community College Graduation Rates Produces Broad Economic Benefits

Increasing the graduation rate at CUNY community colleges by 10% would produce a one year boost of $71M to the city and state economy. A new
report from the Center for an Urban Future provides detailed data, examples of innovative strategies being implemented at CUNY, and a set
of recommendations for policymakers to improve retention and graduation rates. View report: http://www.nycfuture.org/images_pdfs/pdfs/MobilityMakers.pdf

The State of Working New York 2011: Smaller Incomes, Fewer Opportunities, More Hardship

The Fiscal Policy Institute has released the report, “The State of Working New York 2011: Smaller Incomes, Fewer Opportunities, More Hardship.” A documentation of employment statistics post the “Great Recession of 2008-2009.” The data includes employment opportunity and earnings loss, populations (including education level and race)and counties most effected, and sectors impacted.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/74140348/FPI-Report

Non-Traditional College Students: Addressing Barriers to Access and Persistence

In recent testimony to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (ACSFA), CLASP outlined barriers faced by non-traditional students and highlighted promising practices to address those barriers. ACSFA is an independent, bipartisan committee charged with advising Congress and the US Department of Education on student financial aid issues.

View the Testimony

Skilled Trades and Middle Skill Jobs: Where the Jobs Are

Policy experts see the current shortage of workers for skilled trades and middle skill jobs as a complex issue that requires a re-imagining of the American education system. Harry Holzer and others point to on-the-job training, apprenticeship, and a focus on vocational education as options for addressing skill shortages in key growth areas in the economy. Click here for more http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15380160

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