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SHOP TALK Announcement

November 2005

SHOP TALK: Adult Ed Responses to Workforce Needs

Dear Adult Educators:

On August 30, 2005, adult education program directors and local workforce development staff were invited to a work session preceding the August quarterly forum hosted by the Texas Workforce Commission. This work session provided an opportunity for review and discussion of four tasks included in the Texas Workforce Development System’s Strategic Action Plan:

1. to develop and distribute to local adult education programs a best practices guide identifying models of successful adult education services for job seekers and acceptable examples of industry-specific curricula;
2. to explore the development and implementation of distance learning approaches;
3. to identify types of services ABE could offer employers (e.g. assessment, literacy task analysis, etc.); and
4. to develop and implement outreach services for incumbent workers to employers via ABE and workforce network partnerships.

Your input during the August 30 work session was excellent and is being used to guide adult education’s responses to the needs of adult learners for whom employment is critical. Education Rider 82 and the TWC, TEA, THECB Joint Strategic Action Plan (Destination 2010) both call for adult education to develop demand-driven workplace literacy and basis skills curricula.

In the meantime, I would like to announce the beginning of SHOP TALK, a series of informative releases meant to accomplish two things: to address issues, concerns, and questions raised by both adult educators, employers, and local workforce development personnel; and to build awareness and expertise in meeting the educational needs of Texas’ emerging, incumbent, and displaced workers.

Periodically, Texas LEARNS will post SHOP TALK releases on its website. SHOP TALK will include tips, techniques, best practices, and general information about workforce-related education issues and services. You may want to create an electronic file for this informative series or maintain a three-ring binder as a desk reference. If you have additional topics or questions you would like to have addressed, please send your requests to Mario Villafranca. Coming soon: SHOP TALK #1:Glossary of Terms.

Joanie Rethlake, State Director
Texas LEARNS