The Education Commission of the States notes:
"Work-based learning can serve a critical role in teaching high school students employability skills and facilitating career exploration and preparation.
State policymakers have an important role in developing a comprehensive policy approach that ensures students have equitable access to high-quality work-based learning experiences."
A new report from ECS -- Work-Based Learning: Model Policy Components -- explores five interrelated policy areas (State and Regional Coordination, Access, Finance, Program Quality, and Graduation Credit) and includes state examples.
USDA Partners to Improve Water and Wastewater Infrastructure for More than 442,000 Rural Americans across 42 States
The Department of Agriculture has announced it is investing $392 million to help rebuild and improve rural water and wastewater infrastructure in 42 states.
USDA is supporting investments in 120 infrastructure projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. It can be used to finance drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems for rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents. In many cases, states, other federal partners and nonprofits are working with USDA to also provide funding for these projects.
Evaluation of Employment Coaching for TANF and Related Populations: HHS/ACF Seeks Comment on Additional Data Collection Activity
The Administration for Children and Families within the Department of Health and Human Services today (September 18) is proposing an additional data collection activity as part of the Evaluation of Employment Coaching for TANF and Related Populations.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs approved this information collection in March 2018 (0970-0506). ACF is proposing a second follow-up survey conducted as part of the evaluation.
This study will provide an opportunity to learn more about the potential of coaching to help clients achieve self-sufficiency and other desired employment-related outcomes. It will take place over five years in the following employment programs:
- MyGoals for Employment Success in Baltimore
- MyGoals for Employment Success in Houston
- Family Development and Self-Sufficiency program in Iowa
- LIFT in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles
- Work Success in Utah
- Goal4 It! in Jefferson County, Colorado
Together, these programs will include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies and other public or private employment programs that serve low-income individuals. Each site will have a robust coaching component and the capacity to conduct a rigorous impact evaluation. This study will provide information on whether coaching helps people obtain and retain jobs, advance in their careers, move toward self-sufficiency, and improve their overall well-being. To meet these objectives, this study includes an impact and implementation study, as approved by OMB.
This submission builds on the existing impact study, which randomly assigned participants to either a "program group," who were paired with a coach, or to a "control group," who were not paired with a coach. The effectiveness of the coaching will be determined by differences between members of the program and control groups in outcomes such as obtaining and retaining employment, earnings, measures of self-sufficiency, and measures of self-regulation.
The proposed information collection activity summarized in the September 18 FEDERAL REGISTER is a second follow-up survey, which will be available to participants approximately 21 months after random assignment. The second follow-up survey will provide rigorous evidence on whether the coaching interventions are effective, for whom, and under what circumstances.
Comments due within 60 days of publication (November 18).
Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. Email address: OPREinfocollection@acf.hhs.gov. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection.
See: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-09-18/pdf/2018-20223.pdf