Technical Commentary Technical Commentary

An information Series by Smart Horizons Lifetime Training Solutions

How to Train 90 Million Americans Who Lack Critical Job Skills

Keywords: Work Training, Vocational, Job Skills, Online Learning, Blended Learning, Virtual Schools

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saves society money by reducing costs of health care, public assistance, and potential costs of incarceration. Yet the current economic climate has required states to cut budgets for adult education initiatives. The cost to the U.S. economy is significant. While the current unemployment rate is 9.1%, the unemployment rate for workers without a high school diploma is 14.7%. An estimated 74% of these dropouts will spend one or more years in poverty, thus requiring public assistance, at a cost to the U.S. economy of $260,000 per recipient. Currently one million students drop out of high school before earning a diploma each year. Additionally, estimates indicate that 88 million adults in the U.S. lack either adequate education or language skills, both of which serve as a barrier to employment. Adult education programs do exist at local community colleges and vocational technical schools. These programs are partially funded through block grants provided through the Workforce Investment Act and programs such as Job Corps. However, funding for adult education programs is less than ten percent that which is designated for K-12 education. Additionally, most programs require at least an eighth grade capability in reading, writing, and mathematics. All too often community colleges and vocational training programs find students lack these basic fundamental skills and require remedial coursework before they can begin college level classes. Many institutions have created Bridge Programs to fill in the gaps for basic reading, language, and mathematics skills. Individuals who take these courses do not have a high school diploma, do not speak English, or have been out of school for many years. However, many colleges and universities are being forced to cut back on remedial programs due to budget shortfalls.

Everyone has heard about the economic benefits of a good education. Statistics have been touted for years about how college graduates earn more on average than those without degrees. State and federal funding has poured into K-12 public schools in an attempt to produce well-educated young people and prepare them for college. Additional funding into Pell grants and student loans have been earmarked to help Americans obtain higher education. However, nearly 90 million working adults do not have college degrees and need additional job skills training. Current estimates indicate that adult education programs only reach 3 million workers each year. Furthermore, 25 million of these workers lack either a high school diploma or GED. Many from the at-risk youth and young adult populations between the ages of 18-24, such as foster children, juvenile offenders, or teenage mothers will become these statistics as adults still lacking critical job skills. These individuals face a higher rate of unemployment or lower lifetime earning potential. These individuals are often limited to work in lowskilled, low-pay service sector jobs, and without some form of post-secondary training, no clear pathway to career advancement exists. Todays economy requires at least some form of post-secondary credentialing. Estimates indicate that two thirds of the jobs in the U.S. will require some credentialing beyond a high school diploma. This category of worker, often called the middle-skilled workforce, is made up of individuals who are trapped by a knowledge chasm that only worsens as technology and society leaves them behind. A recent study by the McGraw-Hill Research Foundation emphasizes that preemptive adult education

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Even with Bridge Programs and local vocational training courses designed to meet the needs of participants with convenient hours and locations, it is still difficult for many students to attend traditional classes. Many face a major challenge in finding the time to take classes while balancing families and jobs. In many instances, these adult learners cannot afford the additional childcare costs to attend classes. Transportation barriers are also a concern for the adult learner, particularly in rural areas, where access to educational programs may be limited. The typical vocational training program duration is 20 weeks with 10-20 hours of classroom instruction per week and an additional 10-20 of non-classroom activities. It is very difficult for adults with families to manage this kind of a time commitment. Another problem with traditional vocational job training programs is the shortage of qualified teachers. While the current economic climate has provided an emphasis on job training, the aging teacher population is causing great concern. In 2007, an estimated 42% of teachers in the U.S. were over the age of 50. As these teachers begin to retire, a critical shortage will occur. This will also be true for post-secondary institutions. This means that adult education programs will also suffer from a critical teacher shortage.

Many alternative schools will offer certification programs so that students can more easily obtain employment. A common problem in this tough economy is that companies who want to hire workers find it difficult to recruit qualified applicants. Job training programs that offer certifications solve this problem by demonstrating workers have earned the necessary credentials.

Virtual School Solution

There are many different types of alternative schools. Most of these alternative models feature smaller classroom size, close student to teacher ratios, a diverse curriculum, and the ability to prepare the student for success outside the classroom. However, many of these models still require a traditional instructor-led classroom where students have to physically show up at a pre-designated schedule. The exception to this would be the virtual school model. This model provides an accredited online curriculum that allows students to take courses at their own pace. Many virtual schools can complement traditional instructor-led training so that both can be integrated for the learners convenience and learning enhancement. The benefit of a virtual school is that working adults can be at home with their families while taking classes to improve their future. Therefore, they do not have to worry about child care costs or transportation issues. An estimated 35% of the Bridge Programs in the U.S. use online instructional delivery for their learning programs.

Alternative School Solution

One solution to this growing problem is alternative schools. Alternative schooling is not a new concept. Such programs originated in the 1960s as a means of reaching students who were unsuccessful in a traditional classroom setting. Typically when one thinks of alternative schools, they assume K-12 educational initiatives; however, these same model schools can be used for adult education. Some alternative schools provide only short-term programs that are designed to solve a specific problem and then reintegrate the student back into a traditional classroom. This model is often used for younger learners. However, longer term programs often focus on vocational skills development in an effort to transition a student from school to employment. Such training typically includes resume and cover letter writing, job search strategies, and interviewing tips.

Funding Sources
Multiple funding streams exist to cover job-related skills training for youth and adults in transition. Currently the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program supports education and training, skills building, and employment services. Many states are getting creative in how they spend these funds. Instead of cash distributions, they are using these monies to fund programs that directly help with job creation. The Educational Training Voucher (ETV) Program is available for current and former foster youth and adoptive youth to attend college or job training programs. Each eligible student can receive up to $5,000 per year to pay for tuition, books, and other school related costs. The ETV program is available for young adults, ages 18-21. Additionally, funds are available through the Workforce

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Investment Act (WIA) that originate from youth opportunity grants and adults and dislocated worker grants. These funds cover job training and vocational rehabilitation. All of these funding sources have been used towards alternative school solutions that offer life skills training and career development.

Internet Access
Internet access has been one of the biggest challenges to those seeking online vocational training and to those seeking to provide it for others. Fortunately, programs are surfacing to provide internet access to needy families. A joint venture between the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), non-profit leaders, and companies that offer broadband access has resulted in the creation of the Connect to Compete initiative to provide internet access to the more than 100 million Americans who do not have this service. This program also provides computers for only $150, all of which are loaded with the latest software and content. For qualifying individuals, basic digital literacy courses are provided through training providers at no charge. This initiative makes online learning accessible to nearly every American regardless of financial means.

need. However, the strain on state budgets requires a more feasible means of implementing such training for adults. Additionally, the time and costs associated with such training creates the need for new educational solutions. Using existing funds to support alternative programs, such as online learning and virtual schools, which are convenient, cost effective, and readily accessible to learners, is the best method for achieving results. Lifetime Training Solutions is a division of Smart Horizons an online learning company that provides many educational programs for youth and adults in transition. For more information they can be reached toll free at 855-777-8032 or via the web at http://www.mytrainingnow.com

Conclusion
As technology advances, economies will require better educated workers. The current structure of the U.S. economy requires more professional services and knowledge workers than in past decades. This necessitates that workers obtain high levels of post-secondary training and education. The rapid pace in which new industries are being created in the technology sector is requiring new job classifications only filled by workers who have current skills. Even 40% of recent college graduates surveyed do not have the necessary skills to meet these new occupations. This means that a new model for providing training to the American workforce is required to rapidly respond to changing market conditions. Most economists agree that neither the public school system, nor colleges and universities, will be able to keep pace with this workforce demand. This places greater emphasis on adult education and job training programs to fill in the

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REFERENCES: -Aligning Education and Training Systems with the Global Marketplace, Workforce Strategy Center, July 2007 -Alternative Schools Information for Families, Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice -Building a Higher Skilled Workforce: Results and Implications from the Bridgeconnect National Survey, Workforce Strategy Center, November 2010 -Building Bridges to College and Careers: Contextualized Basic Skills Programs at Community Colleges, Workforce Strategy Center, January 2003 -Broader Uses of the TANF Block Grant, INGENIX Consulting, July 2009 -Making Your TANF Dollars Work: A short guide to creative possibilities in TANF spending including additional resources, Colorado Collaborative Partnership, 2006 -The Benefits of Online Training for At-Risk Youth, Smart Horizons, November 2011 -The Return on Investment (ROI) From Adult Education and Training, McGraw -Hill Research Foundation