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Archive

January

MPAEA 2012

Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/MPAEA2012_activities_state_support.pdf  for Montana Logistical Update for MPAEA 2012.

December

GED Update

Greetings,

With January 2012 just around the corner, I would like to share the progress that is being made to prepare Montana for transition to a GED computer-based test with content aligned to the common core standards.

·        A task force with representation from higher education, K-12, GED examiners, and the State Workforce Investment Board will be meeting on January 9^th to review Administrative Rule.

·        There will be no changes in GED fees or test administration until the Rules have been reviewed and adopted. This will likely be a 6-8 month process.

I will keep you apprised of proposed changes as the work proceeds.

GED Testing has informed me that there may be information on the content of the new test by the summer of 2012.

 Margaret

November

Surveys:  Bridge Curriculum and MABLE Data

Good Morning,

It is the season for surveys!

Staff Survey-Please forward

I would like to remind you that the Bridge Curriculum Survey should be distributed to staff and submitted to Suzette Fox. I am becoming increasingly aware of the importance of having a statewide transition course. Please have your instructors complete this survey; curriculum developers need to have a clear understanding of program needs and existing resources.

Directors, Data Personnel, MABLE Users Survey-Please forward

Below is the link to the survey Renee Bentham discussed in our November Shop Talk. This survey is going to be used by the MABLE team to guide them in the development of a Best Practices Manual for all MABLE users. The committee would like this survey to be completed by directors, data entry personnel, and staff who use MABLE or who may be very interested in becoming more involved in working with the data.

Here is the link for the MABLE DATA SURVEY:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6MVPDVF

Both surveys are to be completed by December 16, 2011.

We know that everyone is incredibly busy, but the surveys are only way we can receive the feedback needed to create resources that will make work easier for everyone.

Regards, 

Margaret

Directors Meeting

Good Morning,

I would like to thank all of you who submitted an e-mail sharing your preference for a January director's meeting or rescheduling the directors' meeting to coincide with the MPAEA Conference. The overwhelming majority prefer to meet in the spring.  

As things are evolving a spring meeting will be very timely; the OPI staff had a Webinar with OVAE/NRS yesterday to learn more about the new NRS guidelines and programming changes that are going to be required by July 1, 2012.   After this meeting, I am confident we need to set aside time for staff training to help you prepare for the upcoming changes. OPI staff will be participating in more Webinars over the coming months to receive guidance on implementation of the new rules. By spring we will have completed all meetings with OVAE/NRS and will be able to begin the implementation conversation with all ABLE programs.

Beyond NRS changes, I am hoping we will know about our state allocation and other important topics in April.  

Currently, we have a Shop Talk Scheduled for January, and if need be I will extend the time of this call to adequately cover all agenda items.  We will not schedule another conference call or meeting in January. We will make the January 17^th Shop Talk meet our needs.

Margaret Bowles

Employment Goals and Employment Status

Click here for explanation about Employment Goals/Employment Status.

Good Afternoon,

 

Many of you were in attendance at the MABLE break-out session during the September Data Quality Conference. During the conference a question came up regarding employment status that is reported in MABLE. Our MABLE experts spent considerable time looking at the employment status question. I am happy to report there is no glitch in MABLE; your employment data match is working very well.

 

Attached is an explanation entitled Employment Goals/Employment Status.

 

I want to extend special thanks to the folks who spent considerable time addressing this issue: Norene Peterson, Char Hurd, Betty Boten, Erin Niedge, Renee Bentham, Linda Gardner, and Carol Flynn.

 

If you have any questions, please contact me.

 

Best,

 

Margaret

MABLE Update on Student Goals from Year to Year

November 1, 2011:  Displaying Student Goals on Student Pages

Mable will only display current year goals at the top of the Student pages. As always, a complete list of the student’s goals can be viewed in a grid at the bottom of the Student Summary page.

This is a fix that has just been completed in MABLE; we added this fix to the attached FAQ. Beginning this program year, we decided to track all changes to MABLE in an appendix at the end of the FAQ. You can always find the FAQ in LINCS, and it is also in MABLE.

Kudos to the field that brought this needed fix to our attention.

Thanks,

Margaret

October

Improving Adult Literacy Instruction: Options for Practice and Research Report

Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/research/Improving_Adult%20_Literacy_Instruction.pdf for a pre-publication copy of the report.

Learning to Achieve Agenda

ATTENTION!!

ALL LEARNING TO ACHIEVE PARTICIPANTS IN BOTH THE WESTERN AND EASTERN LOCATIONS

Good Afternoon,

Attached please find the agenda for the L2A trainings. CLICK HERE FOR THE AGENDA. The agenda is the same for both trainings.

I want to remind you if you do not  already know, all participants must bring a 1 ½” binder to the training.

Please share this email with your colleagues who will be attending the training.  My email is not all inclusive because I do not have emails for some individuals who will be coming and I want to make sure they come to the training with the required binder.

For those of you attending the Western Training/MEA/MFT, I need a copy of your confirmation  that you are attending MEA/MFT so that I can reimburse you the $25.00 registration fee.  I need proof that you attended  in order to reimburse you.

Thank you for your attention these matters.

Carol

Learning to Achieve Training Update

Hello Everyone!

I have attached the logistical information on the Learning to Achieve Trainings that will be coming up in Missoula and Billings in October. Training days will start at 8:30!

Select the region closest to you that fits your schedule. This training is directly connected to Standards in Action because you will learn additional strategies to make EFL gains for lower level learners.

OPI will reimburse up to four participants per program and directors are strongly encouraged to attend. We want every program represented at one of the nationally recognized trainings. An agenda will be forthcoming.

PLEASE EMAIL ME NO LATER THAN MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2011 AND LET ME KNOW WHICH TRAINING ABLE STAFF FROM YOUR PROGRAM WILL BE ATTENDING.

Thank you,

Carol

Click here for Eastern Regional Training information.

Click here for Western Regional Training information

 

Data Quality 2011 Resources

Click here to access DQ 2011 resources.

September

Deadlines

Good Morning,

I would like to thank everyone for your participation in the Data Quality Conference last week. It was a very rewarding conference; evaluations confirmed that teachers and data entry staff found the information relevant and the foundation for future program improvement decisions. Below is a summary of important activities and dates for you to mark on your calendar:

Data Clean Up-Getting Ready for Data Match

·        September 30^th

·        Per the training at the Data Quality Conference, this is the date to have completed data clean-up.

Revised Extension Plans-Optional

·        October 6^th

·        After reviewing program improvement plans at the Data Quality Conference, several of you determined that you would like to modify your extension plans. Please send updated program improvement pages to Carol Flynn.

Standards-in-Action Training-Let us know if you are interested in quality professional development delivered to your area! The Traveling Technical Assistance Team (TATT) is ready to travel the state to bring outstanding instructional ideas your way!

·        October 3^rd

·        Evaluations confirmed teachers were energized and motivated by the Standards-in-Action strand at the Data Quality Conference. We need confirmation on the number of programs that would like to participate in regional trainings that will assist instructors with implementation of standards-based instruction for math. Once we have confirmation of programs, a schedule of site visits will be set up. After the visits, you can set back and watch math achievement soar!

Learning to Achieve (two trainings to choose from)-Learn the strategies to effectively work with adults with learning disabilities; a nationally recognized training that makes a difference!

·        October 3^rd

·        Send list of participants for L2A training to Carol Flynn. OPI will need the list of participants in order to set up reimbursements with fiscal. Participant numbers are also needed for finalizing our materials order.

Programs will be reimbursed for up to four participants. Directors are encouraged to be one of the four participants.

·        October 20^th:   Missoula training

·        Registration on MEA Website September 27^th if you are paying by check.

·        Registration on MEA Website by October 11^th if you are paying by credit/debit card.

·        Attachment has links for MEA registration.

·        October 27^th:   Billings training

·        No official registration required (participant list to OPI is all that is needed)

I look forward to getting the TATT teams out to various regions in the state and seeing everyone at the L2A trainings,

Margaret

 

GED Conference 2011 Agenda

Click here for the agenda.

Data Quality 2011 Agenda

Click here for the agenda.

 

August

Data Quality

Good Morning!

 

I can’t believe we are talking about September!!  I’m not done with summer yet!

 

Would you please be so kind as to email me as soon as you can, and no later than  August 18, to let me know who will be coming to our DQI/Standards meeting from your program.  The date of the meeting is September 21-22, 2011.

 

Also, please be sure you call the Red Lion at 443-2100 and reserve the sleeping rooms you will need for your group.  They are blocked  under “OPI – Adult Education”.  Red Lion will release any rooms not called for on August 21.

 

We will be meeting at the Red Lion in the Legislative Room.   The hands on MABLE work will be done in our OPI Training Room, 1227 11th Avenue.  More information will be forthcoming!!

 

See you on September 21 and 22, 2011!!

 

Carol

Learning to Achieve Conference Calls

Eastern

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION!!!

As requested, I have changed the conference call to Wednesday, September 7, 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

Please call 1-888-224-5891 and give the password 2047.

EASTERN REGION TRAINING IN BILLINGS – October 27 – 28, 2011

I have sleeping rooms blocked at the Country Inn and Suites. They are located at 231 Main Street. Take the Metra Exit. Call them at 245-9995 and guarantee a sleeping room. They are blocked under OPI – Adult Education. The release date on the rooms will be October 11, 2011.

Carol

Western

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION!!!

 

As requested, I have changed the conference call to Tuesday, September 6th  from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

 

Please call 1-888-224-5891 and give the password 2047.  Camille, if you are in Helena, you will be local so you call 444-7957 and give the password 2047.  Otherwise use the long distance number.

 

 

WESTERN REGION TRAINING IN MISSOULA  - October 20-21, 2011

 

I have sleeping rooms blocked for the evening of October 19 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula.  They are located at 3720 North Reserve Street.  Please call them at 406-532-5300 and guarantee a sleeping room.  They are blocked under OPI.  You need to make your reservations no later than September 20, 2011 as that is the release date of the rooms.

 

Carol

 

 

Career Pathways

Dear Directors,

I would like to encourage you to register for the Career Pathways Summit in Helena on August 16th. You received the invitation in mid-July, and many of you have already registered to attend.  I believe this will be an important conference for each ABLE program to have representation. I will reimburse one person from each program to attend this one day meeting; this would include travel, meals and lodging, if necessary.  You will be receiving another invitation from Adrienne Piccono at the State Workforce Investment Board tomorrow or Monday. We have extended registration to Wednesday, August 10th; you can register when you receive the invitation, or you may click on the lick below and register now! An agenda will be attached to the new invitation, and I think you will be impressed with the caliber of the presenters. I am especially excited that Willa Panzer, ABE Director from Wisconsin, will be presenting. Wisconsin is one of the premiere states in pathways implementation; I am certain we will glean some ideas from the work they have accomplished.

Career pathways are mentioned in the recent reauthorization bill numerous times, and during meetings with the Career Pathways Technical Assistance Team, I have been advised that future grants will require collaborative pathway work between agencies. I believe there are definite action steps Montana ABLE can do to position our programs for upcoming grants. First, we can glean ideas from the presenters and participants at this conference. Secondly, following this summit we will begin development of a statewide ABLE pathway curriculum.  The instructors that volunteered to work on the National Career Awareness Project team last spring will begin work this fall on a Montana Career Pathway Curriculum that can be incorporated into instructional and counseling activities.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss career pathways, please contact me.

I do look forward to seeing you at the conference. It is going to be a terrific jumpstart to the pathway work that lies ahead.

Margaret

Montana Career Pathways Summit

“Ideally, career pathways are not a separate program, but a framework for weaving together adult education, training, and college programs that are currently separated into silos and connecting those services to employers’ workforce needs.” Funding Career Pathways and Career Pathway Bridges: A Federal Policy Toolkit for States, CLASP

Where: Gateway Center 1710 National Ave, Helena, MT

When: August, 16th 2011

Time: 9am until 5pm

Free Registration: (August 5th deadline)

http://www.opi.mt.gov/RegForms/CTAE/Summit/