A Complete Framework for Building
Career Pathway Systems
Neil Ridley
CLASP
National Council for Workforce Education
October 16, 2013
CLASP: Policy Solutions that Work for
Low-Income People
• CLASP develops and advocates for policies that improve the lives of
low-income people.
• Our Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success, launched in
2010, advocates for policies, investments, and political will that help
increase the number of low-income adults and out-of-school youth who
earn postsecondary credentials.
• CLASP managed the Shifting Gears initiative and provided technical
assistance to the six partner states. Shifting Gears supported state-level
inter-agency teams to build pathways to postsecondary credentials for
low-skilled adults in the Midwest.
• CLASP facilitates the Alliance for Quality Career Pathways
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Recent Federal Support for [Adult] Career Pathways
• Grants
o Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HHS, 2010)
o Workforce Innovation Fund and TAACCCT (rounds I-III) grants (DOL, 2012-2013)
o Advancing Career and Technical Education in State and Local Career Pathway
Systems (OVAE, 2012)
o Technical Assistance to Build State Career Pathway Systems (OVAE, 2013)
• Guidance and TA
o Federal Career Pathways Institute (DOL and ED, 2010-2011)
o Joint letter of commitment to promote use of career pathways (DOL, ED, and HHS,
April 2012)
• Evaluation
o ISIS evaluation of career pathway programs (HHS, launched in late 2007; 10 year
initiative)
• Looking forward
o
o
o
o
Round IV of TAACCCT
$8b Community College to Career Fund in the President’s FY14 budget
$12.5b Pathways Back to Work in the President’s FY14 budget
All indications are that the federal government will continue to support and
promote career pathways
State and Foundation Support for Career Pathways
• ~11 have explored or adopted career pathways for
educationally underprepared adults and youth: AR, CA, KY, IL,
MA, OH, OR, PA, VA, WA and WI
• ~13 have explored or adopted career pathway bridges: IL,
IN, KY, KS, LA, MD, MN, NC, OH, OR, VA, WA, and WI
• Several states have explored or adopted career pathways for
high school-to-college
• Major national initiatives including:
o Ford Bridges to Opportunity
o NGA Pathways to Advancement
o Breaking Through
o Shifting Gears
o Accelerating Opportunity
The Alliance for Quality Career Pathways
• 10 state alliance: Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kentucky,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and
Wisconsin
• The goal of AQCP is to identify a framework that defines highquality career pathway systems including:
 System criteria and quality indicators
 Shared set of performance metrics for measuring and
managing their success
• CLASP is the lead and facilitator
• Funded by the Joyce Foundation and the James Irvine Foundation
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The Alliance for Quality Career Pathways (cont.)
• The final products of AQCP will be a customizable
framework of criteria, indicators, and metrics and a selfassessment tool that can be used to:
 Enhance quality of existing career pathway systems;
 Build new career pathway systems more efficiently
and effectively; and
 Inform evaluation(s) of career pathway systems.
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Career Pathways Approach
(working definition)
• An approach to connecting progressive levels of basic skills
and postsecondary education, training, and supportive
services…
--in specific sectors or cross-sector occupations
--in a way that optimizes the progress and success of
individuals – including those with limited education,
English, skills, and/or work experience
--in helping individual secure marketable credentials, familysupporting employment, and further education and
employment opportunities
• Career pathways help employers meet their workforce needs
and help states and communities strengthen their workforces
and economies.
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Local/regional career pathways and
programs: key elements
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Career Pathway Systems
“Beta” Criteria for High-Quality CP Systems
• STATE
1.
2.
3.
4.
Commit to a shared vision and strategy
Provide resources
Implement supportive state policies
Use data and shared measures
• LOCAL/REGIONAL
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Commit to a shared vision and strategy
Engage employers
Provide resources
Implement supportive local/regional policies
Adopt evidenced-based practices
Use data and shared measures
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AQCP career pathway metrics
• A comprehensive set of career pathway metrics will
support:
 Performance measurement of pathway programs and
systems;
 Focus on reducing disincentives to serve underprepared
and lower skilled participants.
 Continuous improvement of pathway programs and
systems;
 Shared performance accountability framework;
 Evaluation of career pathway system impacts on
participants.
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Overview of ‘beta’ career pathway metrics
A. Interim Education and Training Outcomes (9)
B. Pathway Education and Training Outcomes (5)
C. Labor Market Outcomes (7)
 Note: Not all pathways will use all metrics…it depends
on the pathway design.
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AQCP Next Steps
• July-December 2013: Alliance states review and field-test
framework; CLASP seek feedback outside Alliance
• Winter 2014: CLASP and Alliance partners incorporate
feedback
• Spring 2014: CLASP and Alliance partners release
“Version 1.0” of framework and self-assessment tools
• Future: CLASP work with any interested states to provide
technical assistance to use tool to build quality career
pathway systems
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2013 Career Pathway Forum
Join United Way and CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy) for Strengthening Your Career
Pathway Systems: Tools, Tips and Tactics. Career pathways are gaining momentum as a strategy to
improve regional economies and individual economic mobility. At this conference we'll explore strategies
for strengthening, scaling and sustaining current career pathway innovations.
DATE: Thursday, November 7
TIME: 9 a.m.– 3:30 p.m. (light breakfast at 8:30 a.m.)
LOCATION: Crowne Plaza, St. Paul
COST: $35 (early-bird rate); $50 (after October 17)
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Johan Uvin, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education
Cynthia Bauerly, Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development, MN DEED
Garret Groves, Senior Policy Analyst, National Governors Association
Vickie Choitz, Senior Policy Analyst, Workforce Development, CLASP
Jaclyn P. Dowd, Special Assistant for Workforce Innovation and Reform, Office of the Governor
Scott Sheely, Executive Director, Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board
Jennifer Foster, Associate Vice President, Illinois Adult Basic Education and
Workforce Development, ICCB
Thank you!
Vickie Choitz
Senior Policy Analyst and
Director of the Alliance for Quality Career Pathways
CLASP
vchoitz@clasp.org
202-906-8048
Neil Ridley
Senior Policy Analyst
CLASP
nridley@clasp.org
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