http://www.clasp.org/issues/rss/highlights.xml?type=postsecondary_and_economic_success Featured Highlights from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) en-us Tue, 22 May 2012 07:03:47 -0500 info@clasp.org webmaster@clasp.org 40 Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=temporary_assistance&id=0050 A significant share of families receiving TANF cash assistance are "child-only," yet we know very little about how well this assistance meets the needs of the children receiving it. Families receive child-only benefits for many reasons, and each type of case has different implications for the family and the services it may need. A new brief released by the Administration for Children and Families explores what we know about families receiving child-only benefits, and outlines the research that is required to fully understand them. What's clear is there is no one policy solution for meeting these children's needs and more research is needed on the outcomes various policies would have for children. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=temporary_assistance&id=0050 Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Ability-to-Benefit-FAQs.pdf After July 1, 2012, newly enrolled college students without a U.S. high school diploma or secondary school equivalent will no longer eligible for federal student aid, due to the elimination of the "Ability to Benefit" (AtB) options by Congress in December 2011. The loss of AtB options threatens the economic mobility of low-skilled adults and youth seeking postsecondary credentials to improve their job prospects. Furthermore, the loss of AtB is particularly harmful to minority students and non-English speakers with a high school diploma in their home country. This brief outlines the provision and why the AtB policy is essential for maintaining access to education and training for low-income, low-skilled students. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Ability-to-Benefit-FAQs.pdf Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?id=0024 The Workforce Innovation Fund (WIF) is a grant competition that will provide state workforce agencies and local workforce boards (or consortia of these groups) a total of $98.5 million to invest in service delivery strategies and/or system-level reform that improve employment and educational outcomes for workers, create efficiencies in the workforce system, and foster strong cooperation across education, training, and human services systems. CLASP has long supported system-level reform and has gathered resources for those applying for funding under the Workforce Innovation Fund http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?id=0024 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?id=0021 Pell Grants, the federal program that makes postsecondary education and job training possible for nearly 10 million Americans, has become a primary target of cuts in budget and deficit debates. http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?id=0021 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=employment_strategies&id=0027 This CLASP analysis of the American Jobs Act examines provisions specifically aimed at those workers most affected by the recession as well as those struggling even before the economy turned sour. In particular, it looks at the $5 billion Pathways Back to Work Fund, which includes three elements that would create work and learning opportunities for thousands of disadvantaged individuals across the country. http://www.clasp.org/issues/in_focus?type=employment_strategies&id=0027 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Adult-Education-and-Economic-Growth-Act-Analysis.pdf The Adult Education and Economic Growth Act (AEEGA) was introduced in the House of Representatives in June 2011 by Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15). The bill (H.R. 2226) would amend the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) to encourage the use and availability of career pathways for low-skilled adults, strengthen the focus of adult education on postsecondary and career success, increase the number of adult education students receiving marketable postsecondary credentials, and modernize the adult education system to meet the needs of 21st century jobs. Although AEEGA could substantially improve WIA - particularly the Title II provisions that govern adult education - it could be strengthened by incorporating stronger provisions that promote better alignment between WIA Titles I and II, including a shared system of accountability. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Adult-Education-and-Economic-Growth-Act-Analysis.pdf Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-testimony-on-nontraditional-students-to-ACSFA.pdf On Sept. 30, 2011, the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance held a hearing on higher education regulations and nontraditional students. CLASP submitted comments focusing on the primary barriers to access and persistence for nontraditional students and promising strategies and policies and the role of the federal government in helping nontraditional students in overcoming the barriers. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-testimony-on-nontraditional-students-to-ACSFA.pdf Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/publication?id=0929&list=publications Having a postsecondary educationaEUR"broadly defined as a credential beyond a high school diplomaaEUR"continues to be one of the most important factors in getting a good job and advancing in the workforce. Critical federal programs, such as funding for student aid and job training, can help lower-skilled adults and youth access postsecondary education, but important policy choices that support their success and completion can be made at the state and local levels. Beyond Basic Skills describes strategies that state policymakers can use to strengthen connections between basic skills education and postsecondary education to help lower-skilled adults and out-of-school youth attain the postsecondary credentials they need to advance in the labor market. http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/publication?id=0929&list=publications Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?id=0007 Due to a combination of TANF work participation rate requirements, various federal regulations, and a general "work first" approach, many states have provided few opportunities for TANF recipients to participate in education and training. However, some states have bucked this trend by creating successful education and training programs in spite of limits imposed by federal rules. This page includes resources that highlight innovative state strategies, opportunities, and CLASP federal policy recommendations on education and training within the TANF program. http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?id=0007 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Comments-on-Gainful-Employment-Proposed-Regulations-090910.pdf http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Comments-on-Gainful-Employment-Proposed-Regulations-090910.pdf Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Farther-Faster.pdf Students forced to complete a long sequence of remedial or English language classes before they can begin their postsecondary program rarely earn college certificates or degrees. This brief highlights six promising programs that show how career pathway bridges help lower-skilled students move farther and faster along college and career paths through dual enrollment in linked basic skills and occupational certificate courses. Because creating such bridges requires collaboration across college silos, they can also transform the way colleges operate. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Farther-Faster.pdf Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=basic_skills_and_workforce_training&id=0004 While employers are beginning to hire again, structural problems in the labor market will continue to keep unemployment levels high in the coming years and limit economic mobility for low-income workers. This high-level bipartisan discussion focused on lessons we can draw from the last four decades of workforce policy to help the nation effectively navigate its immediate and long-term labor market challenges. http://www.clasp.org/issues/pages?type=basic_skills_and_workforce_training&id=0004 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Five-Strategies-to-Help-Low-Income-Adults-and-Youth-Attain-Community-College-Credentials-092710.pdf http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Five-Strategies-to-Help-Low-Income-Adults-and-Youth-Attain-Community-College-Credentials-092710.pdf Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?id=0010 http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?id=0010 Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?id=0022 Adult Education and Family Literacy Week is September 12 - 18, 2011. Learn about how you can help spread the word about the importance of an adult education system that prepares low-skilled adults for postsecondary education and family-sustaining careers http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?id=0022 Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0762&list=publications This toolkit is designed to help interagency state teams identify and facilitate "braiding" of federal resources to design and develop career pathways and bridges into them for adults and out-of-school youth. The toolkit also will help state teams identify state policy barriers to using federal resources for career pathways and bridges and, ideally, address them. http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0762&list=publications Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?id=0012 Since career pathways initiatives intentionally bring together programming and services from a variety of state systems, states must often "braid" together federal funding sources to develop and sustain these efforts. To help states navigate the federal funding landscape, CLASP's Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success has released a new revised edition of Funding Career Pathways and Career Pathway Bridges: A Federal Policy Toolkit for States. http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/pages?id=0012 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-C-PES-Handout.pdf http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/CLASP-C-PES-Handout.pdf Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/HCERA_SummaryFinal.pdf http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/HCERA_SummaryFinal.pdf Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0734&list=publications http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=0734&list=publications