Workshop Descriptions ABE Directors Meeting May 24, 2016

Deadline for Registration is Monday, May 23, 2016 at 10AM

Annual ABE Directors’ Meeting May 24, 2016

As a result of a year-long, comprehensive planning process, which drew input from a broad group of stakeholder the Commonwealth of Massachusetts submitted the required combined state plan to meet the requirements of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). This plan meets the objectives and also reflects the goals and vision that the WIOA core partners have adopted as guiding principles for the public workforce development system in Massachusetts. The WIOA plan is being implemented as of July 1, 2017.

The goal of this one-day meeting is to clarify questions regarding WIOA implementation and to provide a structure for collaborative partners to identify ways to strategize for partnership collaborations.

We look forward to seeing you at the Devens’ Common Center.

Keynote Address Tuesday, May 24th – 9:15am-10:15am – Devens Grande Ballroom Jenn James, keynote speaker, is the Director of the Workforce Skills Cabinet at the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

In her keynote address, Jennifer will provide an overview of:

 key elements of the combined state plan,  how WIOA fits into the Governor’s vision for WIOA implementation, and  how WIOA promotes system alignment.

1 Workshop Descriptions

Session A

A1 Fulfilling the New ACLS Curriculum Requirements Tuesday, May 24th – 10:30am-12:00pm – Junior Ballroom A This session will provide an opportunity to learn about the new ACLS curriculum requirements. Participants will: hear the rationale for the policy; be guided by the three SABES content centers on the relationship between the scope and sequences, instructional units, and lesson plans; and learn how this process can result in changes in actual classroom practice. There will be ample time for questions. Presenters: Jane Schwerdtfeger, Curriculum Coordinator, ACLS Tom Mechem, State Chief Examiner-HSE, ACLS Donna Curry, Director, Math and Adult Numeracy, SABES Merilee Freeman, Director, English Language Arts, SABES Dori McCormack, Director, ESOL, SABES

A2 ABE Collaborations with One-Stop Career Centers Tuesday, May 24th – 10:30am-12:00pm – Junior Ballroom B The Department of Career Services (DCS) oversees the Massachusetts Network of One-Stop Career Centers that assists businesses in finding qualified workers and provides job seekers with career guidance as well as referrals to jobs and training. This session will provide an overview of how the One- Stop Delivery system is defined within WIOA. Presenters will learn the types of services available in conjunction with core partners. Presenters will also share how local ABE programs may connect to the four career pathways goals. Presenters: Alice Sweeney, Director, Department of Career Services Mark Whitmore, Executive Director, North Shore Career Center, Salem

A3 Local Memoranda Of Understanding (MOU): How to Get Started Tuesday, May 24th – 10:30am-12:00pm – Solarium Ballroom This session will provide an overview of the state MOU and expectations for local MOUs. Participants will learn the importance of collaboration with WIOA core partners in the development of the local MOUs and hear current state guidance for local MOU development and implementation. They will also have an opportunity to ask questions, share what additional supports they need, and engage in a discussion. Presenters: Jolanta Conway, ABE State Director, ACLS Jenn James, Director of the Workforce Skills Cabinet, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

A4 ABE Collaborations with the Department of Transitional Assistance Tuesday, May 24th – 10:30am-12:00pm – Devens Club A/B This session will provide an overview of the services provided by the Department of Transitional Assistance. Recent policy changes will be reviewed and participants will learn how these changes may impact students in the ABE system. There will be time for questions. Presenters: Kimberly Rowe-Cummings, Director of Employment Services Program, Department of Transitional Assistance Amy Kershaw, Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Programs, Department of Transitional Assistance

A5 Labor Market Information (LMI) 101 2 Tuesday, May 24th – 10:30am-12:00pm – Executive Club A/B In this session, participants will get a hands-on introduction to the important topic of LMI, including accessing key websites that present LMI and understanding the basics about industries and occupations to better assist students to become college and career ready. The session will also include an interactive review of the new LMI Primer and related materials developed by ESE as tools to support LMI research. There will be time for questions. Presenter: John Niles, Director, Strategic Youth Initiatives & Policy, Commonwealth Corporation

A6 Navigating the ESE Fiscal System for ABE Program Directors Tuesday, May 24th – 10:30am-12:00pm – Hilton Garden Ballroom A This session will provide an opportunity to learn how to manage ESE/ABE awards and financial activities properly. The presenter will guide participants through standard ESE procedures to help grant recipients understand accepted accounting practices and comply with administrative procedures and requirements for the use of public funds. These practicies include the difference between direct, indirect, and administrative costs, budget applications and amendments, the process for requesting funds, final financial reports, audits, data audits, and other fiscal related topics. There will be ample opportunity for participants to ask questions. Presenter: Dave LeBlanc, Director of Audits and Compliance, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

A7 Supporting Digital Literacy Behind the Wall Tuesday, May 24th – 10:30am-12:00pm – Hilton Garden Ballroom B In this session, participants will have the opportunity to hear from and dialogue with educational pioneers from Massachusetts county houses of corrections and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction about their efforts to support digital literacy (DL) in ABE corrections education. Topics will include: providing secure internet access, the use of online assessments, computer literacy resources and curricula, and integrating digital literacy in their program. Panelists: Karen DeCoster, Program Specialist, ACLS Kip Fonsh, Director of Education, Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office Gloria Granfield, Digital Literacy Instructor, HiSET® Supervisor, Hampden County Sheriff’s Office Denise Justice, Superintendent, Ohio Central School System Jennifer Mason, Digital Literacy Instructor, Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office Dr. Daniel E. O’Malley, Director of Education, Hampden County Sheriff’s Office

Session B

B1 Designing Effective Integrated Education and Training Programs Tuesday, May 24th – 1:15 pm-2:45pm – Junior Ballroom A Integrated Education and Training programs are designed to accelerate student progress along career pathways that lead to employment in high-demand industries by contextualizing ABE instruction that is offered concurrently with workforce training. Participants will learn about the essential components of effective models, including identifying industry sectors, building workforce and higher education partnerships, engaging employers, and contextualizing curricula. Promising implementation, management, and evaluation practices will be reviewed to help participants learn how to develop high- quality programs through collaboration with workforce partners. Presenter: Derek Kalchbrenner, Program Specialist/College and Career Readiness Specialist, ACLS

B2 ABE Collaborations with One-Stop Career Centers Tuesday, May 24th – 1:15pm-2:45pm – Junior Ballroom B

3 The Department of Career Services (DCS) oversees the MA Network of One-Stop Career Centers that assist businesses in finding qualified workers and provide job seekers with career guidance as well as referrals to jobs and training. This session will provide an overview of how the One-Stop Delivery system is defined within WIOA. Presenters will learn the types of services available in conjunction with core partners. Presenters will also share how local ABE programs may connect to the four career pathways goals. Presenters: Alice Sweeney, Director, Department of Career Services Mark Whitmore, Executive Director, North Shore Career Center, Salem

B3 State Performance Standards Framework Tuesday, May 24th – 1:15pm-2:45pm - Solarium Ballroom In this session, participants will learn about the new Massachusetts State Performance Accountability System including the standards by which adult education programs will be measured in the next five-year funding cycle. Participants will also learn about data matching and follow-up measures used to track student outcomes. Presenters: Toby Maguire, Assistant Administrator, ACLS Brian Newquist, Senior Data Analyst, ACLS Cheryl Russo, Team Leader, ACLS Dana Varzan-Parker, Program Specialist/Assessment Coordinator, ACLS

B4 Understanding the WIOA Youth Title I Program and Opportunities to Coordinate Services with the ABE Title II System Tuesday, May 24th – 1:15pm-2:45pm – Devens Club A/B This session will provide an overview of the major changes to the WIOA Title I Youth Program. The session will also focus on strategies to help out-of-school youth (16-24) navigate between the ABE and workforce systems. Participants who attend this session will have the opportunity to learn how WIOA Title I Youth services and ABE services can be coordinated to support successful outcomes for young adults. Presenters: Sacha Stadhard, Grants Management Specialist III, Department of Career Services, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Cathleen DeSimone, Adult Basic Education Program Director, Bristol Community College Attleboro Campus

B5 Integrating Digital Literacy in the Classroom: Preparing Students for 21 st Century Skills Through Academics Tuesday, May 24th – 1:15pm-2:45pm – Executive Club A/B This session will highlight ways to incorporate digital literacy into curriculum and instruction. The use of technology to enhance academic rigor will prepare students for success in careers and postsecondary education. Participants will hear from a panel of program staff with expertise integrating digital literacy skills in ESOL and ABE instruction. In addition, panelists will share successes and challenges from their experiences. There will be time for questions. Presenters: Cathy O’Keefe, Advisor and DL Coach, Methuen Public Schools Johnetta Hudson, Teacher, Methuen Public Schools Jessica Cardin, Teacher, North Shore Community Action Program Jana Pickard-Richardson, Teacher, Cambridge Community Learning Center Wyvonne Stevens-Carter, Program Specialist/Digital Literacy Coordinator, ACLS

4 B6 ABE Collaborations with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Tuesday, May 24th – 1:15pm-2:45pm – Hilton Garden Ballroom A This session will provide an overview of the services provided by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. Each presentation will include an overview of the services provided and the eligibility requirements for clients. Participants will learn what requirements ABE students need to meet to qualify for services and how the systems can collaborate. There will be time for questions. Presenters: Dino DeBartolomeis, District Director, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission William Noone, Director of Research and Development, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission Ellen Spencer, Area Director, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission John Oliveira, Deputy Commissioner, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind

B7 Using the Accuplacer in ABE Classrooms to Promote College and Career Readiness Tuesday, May 24th – 1:15pm-2:45pm – Hilton Garden Ballroom B/C Like it or not, the Accuplacer and the skills needed to “pass” it are major roadblocks to our students’ postsecondary aspirations. In this session, participants will be introduced to ways that free Accuplacer units made available by ACLS can be used to assess postsecondary readiness and diagnose academic strengths and weaknesses. Attention will also be given to what a standards-based curriculum contextualized to focus on passing both the HiSET® and the Accuplacer would look like. Presenter: Tom Mechem, State Chief Examiner-HSE, ACLS

Session C

C1 Designing Effective Integrated Education and Training Programs Tuesday, May 24th – 3:15pm-4:45pm – Junior Ballroom A Integrated Education and Training programs are designed to accelerate student progress along career pathways that lead to employment in high-demand industries by contextualizing ABE instruction that is offered concurrently with workforce training. Participants will learn about the essential components of effective models, including identifying industry sectors, building workforce and higher education partnerships, engaging employers, and contextualizing curricula. Promising implementation, management, and evaluation practices will be reviewed to help participants learn how to develop high- quality programs through collaboration with workforce partners. Presenter: Derek Kalchbrenner, Program Specialist/College and Career Readiness Specialist, ACLS

C2 Next Generation High School Equivalency Testing: Preparing Students for College and Careers Tuesday, May 24th – 3:15pm-4:45pm – Junior Ballroom B This presentation will provide participants with information on what is happening now with high school equivalency (HSE) testing in Massachusetts and what the future holds for the next generation of the HSE assessment. The presenters will provide the best possible timeline and process for moving into 2017 testing as well as what programs need to think about in regards to students’ preparation and readiness for the next tests. Presenters: Ruth Derfler, Director of State HSE Testing and ADP, ACLS Tom Mechem, State Chief Examiner-HSE, ACLS

C3 State Performance Standards Framework 5 Tuesday, May 24th – 3:15pm-4:45pm - Solarium Ballroom In this session, participants will learn about the new Massachusetts State Performance Accountability System including the standards by which adult education programs will be measured in the next five-year funding cycle. Participants will also learn about data matching and follow-up measures used to track student outcomes. Presenters: Toby Maguire, Assistant Administrator, ACLS Brian Newquist, Senior Data Analyst, ACLS Cheryl Russo, Team Leader, ACLS Dana Varzan-Parker, Program Specialist/Assessment Coordinator, ACLS

C4 Understanding the WIOA Youth Title I Program and Opportunities to Coordinate Services with the ABE Title II System Tuesday, May 24th – 3:15pm-4:45pm – Devens Club A/B This session will provide an overview of the major changes to the WIOA Title I Youth Program. The session will also focus on strategies to help out-of-school youth (16-24) navigate between the ABE and workforce systems. Participants who attend this session will have the opportunity to learn how WIOA Title I Youth services and ABE services can be coordinated to support successful outcomes for young adults. Presenters: Sacha Stadhard, Grants Management Specialist III, Department of Career Services, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Cathleen DeSimone, Adult Basic Education Program Director, Bristol Community College Attleboro Campus

C5 The Next Generation MAPT: Assessing the College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education Tuesday, May 24th – 3:15pm-4:45pm – Executive Club A/B The MAPT-College and Career Ready (MAPT-CCR) is coming in July 2017. In this workshop, UMass Center for Educational Assessment staff will provide an update on this next iteration of the MAPT. The focus will be on test development activities completed and planned, emphasizing alignment of assessment and curriculum. Opportunities for practitioner involvement will also be discussed. Presenter: April L. Zenisky, Ed.D., Research Associate Professor, Center for Educational Assessment, University of Massachusetts Amherst

C6 Got Families? Family Literacy and WIOA Tuesday, May 24th – 3:15pm-4:45pm – Hilton Garden Ballroom A Under WIOA, programs will be working hard to prepare learners for careers that provide family- sustaining wages. Much less effort will be paid to supporting learners who are parents and family members to participate in another WIOA purpose, the educational development of their children. What policies can be used to help the next generation of learners follow their parents to success in postsecondary education and training? Presenter: Kathy Rodriguez, Team Leader, ACLS