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 These strategies are embedded within the newly
released Strategic Plan for Adult Education and Literacy that
focuses on advancing models that combine basic skills and workforce
training, leading to a credential and meeting employers’ needs. The
strategies developed in the newly released plan will guide Illinois’
adult education system over the next five years to ensure all adult
learners have access to and success across the services that are
cohesive, coordinated, and innovative.
“Over the past six months, the Statewide Task Force on the Future of
Adult Education and Literacy has been engaged in a strategic
planning process focused on expanding and scaling comprehensive
career pathways and integrated education and training programs that
have been successfully implemented across the state to produce a
trained workforce and improve wages,” said Dr. Karen Hunter
Anderson, ICCB executive director and chair of the task force.
“Adult education can no longer be viewed as an end point or final
state in the transition to work,” added Jennifer Foster, ICCB Deputy
Director for Adult Education and Workforce. “Instead, adult
education is the foundation of Illinois’ career pathway system.”
The five-year strategic plan put forward by the task force addresses
these critical needs through the identification of a set of four
goals and related objectives developed to spur stronger overall
system outcomes.
Goal 1: Improve outcomes by scaling effective models and strategies
across the system.
Goal 2: Increase postsecondary transitions and credential
attainment.
Goal 3: Strengthen college and career readiness.
Goal 4: Develop life-long career pathway systems and enabling
technologies.
"I am proud to stand in support of this strategic
plan. Community colleges and other adult education providers have
always been the most adaptable and fleet-footed in responding to
ever-changing needs of employers. I am pleased they will continue to
focus on the need for skilled workers and, by doing so, continue to
grow our own job opportunities in each region of Illinois," said
task force member State Representative Norine Hammond (R-Macomb),
Minority Spokesperson for the House Higher Education Committee.
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“We all agree more jobs in Illinois will solve a lot of problems.
At the same time, we have job openings right now that aren't being filled
because the education and training of many applicants doesn't match the needs of
the employers," said task force member State Senator Chuck Weaver (R-Peoria),
Minority Spokesperson for the Senate Education Committee. “This strategic plan
offers a way to bridge that gap and properly equip our workforce for the stable,
good-paying jobs that are available, while enabling our businesses to expand and
grow our economy.”
More than 1 million Illinois residents do not have a high school credential and
approximately 1.8 million immigrants do not have the English literacy or other
skills to enable them to meet social, educational, and work demands. At the same
time, a more demanding economy means that 70% of all jobs in Illinois will
require some form of education and training beyond high school. To confront
these challenges, the Illinois General Assembly approved Senate Joint Resolution
40 to create a Statewide Task Force on the Future of Adult Education and
Literacy.
For more information, including a copy of Expanding Career Pathway Opportunities
in Adult Education: Strategic Directions for Illinois, visit www.iccb.org.
As the third largest community college system in the country and the leading
public workforce development trainer in the state, Illinois community colleges
serve over 600,000 residents each year in credit, noncredit, and continuing
education courses. Illinois is home to 48 colleges in 39 community college
districts which provide high quality, accessible, cost-effective educational
opportunities to the entire state. The Illinois Community College Board is the
state coordinating board for community colleges and has statutory responsibility
for administering state and federal grants to community college districts and
adult education providers and managing high school equivalency testing for
Illinois.
[Matt Berry
Deputy Director for Legislative & External Affairs
Illinois Community College Board]
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