NLA Information: National Workplace Education Policy Study

[Paul Jurmo]

Dear Friends, 

You might recall that last year Learning Partnerships issued a report on 
how workplace basic education was -- or wasn't -- being factored into 
state-level policy for workforce development.  

Although we recognize that the state level will be where much of the 
action will be in terms of policy which will impact on adult learners and 
adult educators, we also know that much can still be done at the national 
level to create policies which can affect what happens at the state 
level. 

Learning Partnerships is now embarking on a new study which will look at 
the question of "What can be done by decision-makers at the national 
level -- within both the federal government and national-level business
and labor organizations -- to support the use of adult education to prepare 
American workers for productive and rewarding roles in the U.S. economy?" 

This question expands the focus of our previous study (which looked at 
state-level policy for adult education i the workplace).  We are now 
looking at (a) national-level policy and (b) how adult education in or 
ourside the workplace can be used to help workers prepare for roles in 
the world of work which are both technically "productive" and "rewarding" 
for the worker. 

As a first step in gathering information for this study, the researcher 
will work with other adult educators to conduct a two-part workshop on 
April 27th at the Workshop Learning Conference in Milwaukee. 

Participants in the workshop will focus on these questions:

1. Adult basic education takes many forms, operating within many types of 
institutions, for various populations, and with a mix of funding 
sources.  While "workplace basic skills program" have historically been 
seen as the primary way to help learners enhance their job-related skills 
and careers, other types of adult education programs are potential or 
actual vehicles for helping adult learners improve their job performance 
and career options. 
	Please brainstorm:  In what way might various types of adult 
education programs be used to prepare their lerners for productive, 
rewarding roles in the workplace?
  
2. Given the range of ways that adult education might be used for 
workforce preparation and workplace change, what "message" should 
advocates for adult education be delivering to decision makers in the 
federal government and national-level business and labor organizations?  
That is, what should we be telling those decision-makers about (a) the 
value of investing in work-related adult education and (b) where they 
might best target their investments? 

3. Which decision-makers should adult educators be targeting their 
messages to in (a) the federal government, (b) the national-level business 
sector, and (c) national-level labor organizations?

4. What mechanisms might advocates for work-related adult education use 
to (a) communicate with each other around these issues and (b) deliver a 
strong, unified message to national-level policy makers?


These are the questions we'll be discussing in Milwaukee and in subsequent 
months. We will keep you updated bout the ideas that emerge from these 
discussions.

In the meantime, please feel free to use the WEC list to respond to these 
questions.  Your responses will be duly noted.


Paul Jurmo
Learning Partnerships
14 Griffin St.
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
908/254-2237