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OPI ABLE Updates Archive
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Click on OVAE Connection http://www2.ed.gov/news/newsletters/ovaeconnection/2012/06212012.html to access more information about Career and Technical Education Reform.
CTE Innovation: Career Academies
President Obama’s 2013 budget request, as well as the Blueprint for An America Built to Last and Investing in America’s Future: A Blueprint for Transforming Career and Technical Education, propose the establishment of more high-quality career academies across the country. The request for the academies is $1 billion over three years with $200 million designated for FY 2013 ...
Click here http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/cte/transforming-career-technical-education.pdf to access Investing in America's Future: A Blueprint for Transforming Career and Technical Education.
Click below to access resources from Adobe Connect meeting.
Good Morning,
Thanks to everyone who joined in the meeting this morning, and as promised we have material for you. The Adobe Connect recorded session and Q & A will be forthcoming.
Attached are the PowerPoint, new student Intake Form, and the definitions of the optional student measures you can now enter into MABLE. I am sorry we haven't been collecting all of these measures through the years, as it is compelling information when describing our student population to stakeholders. The good news is we will now have this to report.
Please contact us if you would like an additional MABLE session in the coming weeks, as we are eager to assist in the new reporting.
Best,
Margaret
REMINDER – NRS CHANGES ARE COMING JULY 1, 2012!!!
PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND AN ADOBE CONNECT MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2012
9:00 AM TO 11:00 AM
Good Afternoon:
We would like to visit with as many of you as possible via an Adobe Connect meeting on next Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 9:00 am. We have blocked two hours for the meeting but I’m sure we will not take the full two hours. We want to show you the new fields in MABLE and discuss with you what you need to know about the NRS changes that will take place on July 1.
Please let me know who from your program will be participating in the Adobe Connect meeting by Thursday, June 21, 2012! We need at least one person from each program to participate.
A few things we’ll be sharing with you will include:
· Updates to the personnel page and student page
· Professional development page
· Cohorts
· New intake form will be available July 1
More information will be available at the Data Quality meeting September 18-19, 2012 to be held at the Holiday Inn Downtown, Helena, MT.
If there are some of you out there unfamiliar with Adobe Connect, Linda Gardner is willing to visit with you prior to next Tuesday to make sure you are comfortable getting into the meeting. You can email her at ligardner@mt.gov or call her at 406-444-0281.
To join the meeting:
http://connect.opi.mt.gov/mable/
Once the page opens up, click to enter as a guest and type in your name or program name then enter the room. If you have not done Adobe connect before it may be a good idea to test your connections before Tuesday. Click on the link below to test your connection or to get a quick overview of what adobe connect is all about.
----------------
If you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting before:
Test your connection: http://connect.opi.mt.gov/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview
Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat and Adobe Connect are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.
Look forward to chatting with you next Tuesday.
Carol
We will use this time to introduce the changes to MABLE. More information will be coming on the delivery system we will use.
Thank you,
Margaret
CollegeNOW/Best Practices Conference Summary
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/ABLENext_Steps2012.pdf to access a summary ABLE Next Steps based on Best Practices Conference.
Good Afternoon,
I want to thank all of you for your participation in the Best Practices Conferences; it was ground-breaking for ABLE. I will continue to visit with Sue Jones, Darren Pitcher, and John Cech regarding the important role of ABLE in the P-20 education system. I definitely hope to include creating a focus group to discuss ABLE rebranding on the next College!NOW sub-committee meeting agenda.
I am attaching the summary of the next steps for ABLE that was discussed at the end of the conference. The list includes immediate steps that can be taken at the local level, as well as State level work.
One immediate State level activity was to update the memos we are including in all mail to GED test takers; on both the congratulatory message and the message to individuals who have not passed, or have to take additional tests, I have added a note to contact a local adult education center to help him/her in planning for the next steps. If you have any suggestions regarding the message, please let me know by Friday, June 22nd, ideas for modifications are welcome! The updated memos will begin going out next week.
Also on the list of immediate State level activities was for me to contact DPHHS regarding any changes in the TANF education rules. I did contact Hank Hudson, and he confirmed there have been no changes. Some local case workers may work collaboratively with local education providers; these would be local level decisions.
I look forward to our future work with postsecondary. We have outlined some very pro-active steps.
Best,
Margaret
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/CP/cp_resource.htm#Bridge Program to access DRAFT VERSIONS of the Bridge Curriculum.
Good Afternoon,
Attached is the draft Bridge Curriculum that has been developed for ABLE instructors to use to assist students in their transitions from ABLE to careers and postsecondary. The Power Point and Word document contain the same information; we just wanted to offer the material in more than one format. Please encourage your staff to peruse through the curriculum over the summer months, as we would like to hear suggestions and comments from the field. At the conclusion of the summer these draft documents will be finalized and reviewed at the Data Quality Conference in September.
The intent of the curriculum is to have abundant free resources available for teachers to use to assist students in moving through ABLE. The curriculum builds on the PEP Talk Process and all the other wonderful, creative strategies teachers are using; once the student's PEP Talk Plan and specific academic needs are identified teachers can differentiate instruction using the Bridge Curriculum when needed.
We look forward to hearing from you,
Margaret, Suzette, and Michelle
Good Afternoon,
I am happy to announce that Katya Marandino Irish has received her BEST Plus Certification; she is now a member of the small cadre of national trainers.
This certification is a very rigorous and long-term process; Katya invested many hours and submitted volumes of documentation (including a video showcasing her instruction). We are very fortunate to have our very own state trainer!
Congratulations, Katya!
Margaret Bowles
Click here http://www.mdrc.org/publications/629/full.pdf to access Returning to Work after Prison.
A link to Returning to Work After Prison; good information for those of you working with corrections.
CTE Blue Print and PBF; adult education is ahead of the curve.
Have a great Thursday, May 31, 2012
Margaret
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/GED/URL_Key_New_GEDTS_Website_May20121.pdf to access list of new URLs.
Good Afternoon,
GED Testing Service hosted a conference call this morning for state administrators, and they did inform us that this summer the goal is to start rolling out instructional material for the new test. The item sampler is still scheduled to be released in July.
Regarding the price list for the 2014 test, they have not made a determination on the cost per battery. The price will stay at $120 for the entire test for the 2014 year; but, with the change from five to four tests, they are not sure what each battery will cost. The language arts will be significantly longer, so this test may cost more.
They have created a list of all the new URLs on the GED Testing Service Website, which I have attached.
Texas, Missouri, and New York have released RFI's asking for vendors to respond regarding development of a high school equivalency test. These states will share the results with other states that are interested. I will keep you posted as this moves forward.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Best,
Margaret
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/ServingUnderpreparedStudent_Agenda%20Final%205%2016%2012.pdf to access agenda.
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/shoptalk5-22-12.pdf to access May ShopTalk.
ABLE GRANT APPLICATION UPDATE!!!
IF YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT, ADD COMMENTS, COPY OR PASTE WITHIN THE RFP, YOU WILL NEED TO UNLOCK THE FILE USING THE PASSWORD: rfga_2013
REMINDER – BIDDER’S CONFERENCE IS MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2012 AT 9:00 AM.
If you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting before:
Test your connection: http://connect.opi.mt.gov/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview
NOTIFICATION
OF
AVAILABLE GRANT
GRANT ACTIVITIES: Adult Basic and Literacy Education
GRANT AGENCY: Office of Public Instruction
AUTHORITY: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (1998)
RELEASE DATE: April 16, 2012 http://www.opi.mt.gov/pdf/ABE/12ABE_RFP.docx
http://opi.mt.gov/PDF/CTE/Rating-Form.pdf
DEADLINE: Applications are due Friday, May 18, 2012 at 5:00 pm Mountain Time
GRANT PERIOD: July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013
ELIGIBLE Local educational agency, community-based organization of demonstrated
APPLICANTS: effectiveness, volunteer literacy organization of demonstrated
effectiveness, institution of higher education, public or private non-profit
agency, library, public housing authority, other non-profit institutions
providing literacy services to adults and families. A consortium of the above .
listed eligible applicants may also apply.
DEFINITION OF The term “adult education” means services or instruction below the post-
ADULT: secondary level for individuals who have attained 16 years of age, who are
not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under State
law; who lack sufficient mastery of basic educational skills to enable the
individual to function effectively in society; who do not have a secondary
school diploma or its recognized equivalent, or have not achieved an
equivalent level of academic performance; or who are unable to speak, read,
or write the English language.
BIDDER A Bidder’s Conference will be held April 23, 2012 at 9:00 – 11:00 am at the
CONFERENCE: following link: http://connect.opi.mt.gov/mable/
The Bidder’s Conference will be the main opportunity for potential applicants
to ask questions. All questions and answers will be posted on our website after
the conference call no later than the following Monday.
HOW TO APPLY: Application will be available April 16, 2012 at http://www.opi.mt.gov
or by contacting the Division of Career, Technical and Adult Education at
(406) 444-1691
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/BestPractices4Serving_UnderpreparedStudents.pdf for more information.
Dear Directors,
More follow-up information from the directors' meeting; a three-hour meeting is a bit rushed!
Preliminary conference calls with the presenter/resource person, for the Best Practices in Serving the Underprepared Student, Bruce Vandal, (who, by the way, is with ECS, the Education Commission of the States), suggested that he could contact Jobs for the Future to identify a resource person for the ABE attendees. We said “Sure!” ---and the good news is that he received word that a representative from the Accelerating Opportunity project will be available for our workshop. He says that person will help us with the Adult Basic Education conversation part of the workshop. This will be a great opportunity to glean information from the national perspective and a successful project.
The conference will be free-of-charge and will include a continental breakfast and buffet lunch on both days.
An agenda will be for sent soon; registration and lodging information are included in the attachment.
Another terrific opportunity!
Margaret
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/mtlincsguide2012.pdf to access MTLINCS Guide 2012.
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/mpaea/MPAEAAwards2012.pdf to see your Montana MPAEA Award Winners.
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/mpaea/mpaeafaces2012.pdf to see more faces from MPAEA 2012.
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/data/MontanaABLE_Data_Team2012.pdf to see your MABLE Data Team.
State Directors' Meeting PowerPoint by Margaret Bowles
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/Montana_Adult_Basic_and_Literacy_Education2.pdf for a pdf of the PowerPoint.
Summary of Montana Data Trends by Renee Bentham
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/data/Data_Trends4-13-12.pdf for a pdf of Montana Data Trends.
State Directors' Meeting
April 12, 2012
Red Lion, Helena, MT
1:45-5:00 p.m.
BRING YOUR SUMMARY SPREADSHEET (DETAILS BELOW)
Good Morning,
I am looking forward to our State directors' meeting, as there are many important topics and opportunities to discuss. Although the directors' meeting is in the MPAEA Conference schedule, this is a place-holder for the conference planning committee to ensure we have a meeting room for the afternoon. The meeting will begin at approximately 1:45 (after the luncheon) and last to approximately 5:00 P.M.
I have attached a draft agenda for our meeting. Please let me know if there is any specific topic(s) you would like covered that is not on the agenda.
One agenda item I know you will all be very interested in is Renee's technical assistance summary. She will present a state summary, as well as summary by program size (small, medium, and large). She would like each of you to bring the data summary spreadsheet she prepared for your program, as it will be very helpful if you have your summary in hand to compare with the statewide data.
Best,
Margaret
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/shoptalk3-20-12.pdf to access March ShopTalk.
Good Afternoon,
Our programmer, Joe, has been a VERY BUSY guy. By tomorrow, or Monday, two new features will be moved into production in MABLE.
A GED report will be added to MABLE (perfect time to help find those folks who need to complete their GED test), and the site summary grid on students needing testing will be a little different. The only names remaining on the summary page will be students needing pretests and those in the 30 day window. By clicking next to the student list that will remain on summary page, you will see a link to the Site Summary Active Student List. The report will provide detailed student information.
More information on these features will be forth coming. The data team has given incredible guidance on these enhancements; and I you can look forward to hearing from them in our upcoming meetings.
Best,
Margaret
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/shoptalk2-21-12.pdf to access February ShopTalk.
Greetings,
Thank you for your time this morning; attached is a summary of topics discussed.
Distance Learning Reminder
Please confirm with Carol by tomorrow afternoon who will be participating in the Distance Learning Refresher from your program. In one hour Melinda will share all of the tips and tricks that make GED Online work; a second session will be scheduled with instructors within two-to-three weeks following the March 2nd session. Even more tips and tricks, and a chance to discuss questions that arise between the first and second session.
MPAEA Update
A tentative conference schedule is on the Web site. Brenda Dann Messier is definitely on for Friday, April 13th luncheon keynote.
Thanks for your great work,
Margaret
MABLE Site Performance Summary
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/pp/MABLEFAQCurrentUpdate2-14-12.pdf and go to p. 11 for an explanation of the Site Performance Summary
Good Morning,
I am happy to share the latest update to MABLE; directors and teachers who have access to MABLE now have a Site Performance Summary. If you go to the Summary Tab in the upper left-hand corner, you will see Site Performance Summary in the drop down. The summary will give you data on:
· Core goal completion
· Level completion
· Goals and goal setting
· Enrollment and attendance
Attached is the MABLE FAQ that we now use to keep a running log on updates and changes to MABLE (You can also find the FAQ in MABLE and in the ABLE Handbook in MTLINCS).
The site performance description begins on page 11.
The OPI MABLE staff is very grateful to the field data team (Norene Peterson, Betty Botnen, Sarah Ghicadus, and Renee Bentham). Their input in the development of the Site Performance Summary was invaluable!
Best Regards,
Margaret
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/MPAEA2012_activities_state_support.pdf for Montana Logistical Update for MPAEA 2012.
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 9th 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
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
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 17th 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,MargaretMABLE 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
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.
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,
CarolClick here for Eastern Regional Training information.
Click here for Western Regional Training information
Click here to access DQ 2011 resources.
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 30th
· Per the training at the Data Quality Conference, this is the date to have completed data clean-up.
Revised Extension Plans-Optional
· October 6th
· 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 3rd
· 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 3rd
· 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 20th: Missoula training
· Registration on MEA Website September 27th if you are paying by check.
· Registration on MEA Website by October 11th if you are paying by credit/debit card.
· Attachment has links for MEA registration.
· October 27th: 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
Click here for the agenda.
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!!CarolLearning 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
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)
Click here for help with Post Testing Protocol.
Good Morning,We had our Director’s Shop Talk call this past Tuesday and there was lots of discussion about trying to post test as many students as we possibly can between now and June 30 so that we can meet our performance targets for 2010-2011.Open this document to discover a fast and efficient way to find these students! Together we will meet our negotiated targets.Kudos to Renee in Missoula and Linda for pulling together a document to guide the process of finding students who are eligible for a post test.Carol
Good Afternoon:
Thank you all for participating in this morning’s Shop Talk. As promised, please find attached the TABE White Paper, May Shop Talk notes, the updated MABLE FAQ document and the PowerPoint on Effective Teachers that Margaret received in DC at her director’s meeting.
If you have any questions on the spreadsheets I sent you, don’t hesitate to call or email me. I looked at your TABLE 4 for students with 12 or more hours and included any satellites you may have as of last Friday, May 13. I did the same on TABLE 5 to look at our GED outcomes. Column A lists the functioning levels, Column B shows you the percentage we need to meet as a state, Column C shows you your current outcomes on NRS TABLE 4 and 5 and Column D tells you how far you have to go to meet the target in the next six weeks. If you have “SUPER” In Column D, you have met the target for that particular functioning level.
I’ll be looking at data in hopes that I can help you catch things that are missing so that we can be sure we meet our statewide targets. Good luck with lots of post testing.
Carol
MT ESOL Conference 2001 Review
Dear ABLE Directors and GED Administrators,
Many of you attended the GED Initiative meetings in December to share in the cross agency discussion on reaching out to youth who have left school and do not have a GED. The meeting helped shape the Future ForGED Initiative. This month is a soft launch, time to get the materials you selected out to the field. Attached is the cover letter that will accompany the package you will receive. Note the Web page at the top of the letter. ( http://www.montanagednow.mt.gov/ ) It is live and linked to valuable information. This fall a GED promotion will be announced on this page, and Future ForGED is already on Face Book!
Today I will be joining colleagues from the Department of Labor, Job Corps, and Youth Corrections to package the material that has been purchased to promote the GED. Materials are also being sent to numerous other agencies, businesses, and libraries. The Youth Council hopes to see these materials being readily distributed all across the state to encourage and support future GED test takers.
You will be receiving the following: pencils, stickers, bookmarks, post cards, and brochures to distribute. The brochures have a place on the back for you to put contact information. Once all of these materials are distributed, there will be a link for you to print additional materials.
It is an important time to promote the GED very aggressively. GEDTS and Pearson Vue are committed to the new test by 2014, and they are promising increased rigor and a much more expensive test. It is very important that GED candidates understand that the new test is coming, and test scores will not be carried over to the new test.
Please join the Youth Council in sharing the materials you will be receiving along with the message that the time to take the GED is now!
Thank you for all that you do to transition adults to productive lives.
Best,
Margaret
Click here for information about Post Testing report.
Click here to access MABLE change.
Click here http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Releases2&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=40286 to access the complete article about the new GED venture.
ACE and Pearson Collaborate to Transform GED Test, Aligned with Common Core State Standards, Based on GED 21st Century Initiative
Enhanced GED Testing Program Will Validate Career- and College-ReadinessWashington, DC (March 15, 2011)—The American Council on Education (ACE) and Pearson today announced the creation of a ground-breaking new business that will drive the future direction, design, and delivery of the GED® testing program. Building on the goals of the GED 21st Century Initiative, the two partners will combine their collective expertise and resources to develop a new GED Test aligned with Common Core State Standards that will assure colleges, universities and prospective employers that adults who have passed the GED Tests are prepared to compete and succeed in a global economy ...
ESOL Conference
Who: All ESL teachers invited
When:
May 3: Pre conference meeting 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Macaroni Grill
May 4: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at Red Lion
Where:
Macaroni Grill and Red Lion Colonial Hotel
Helena, MT
Other Information:
Registration Deadline: April 1 Contact Carol Flynn.
Sleeping Rooms are blocked at Red Lion under OPI Adult Education, 443-2100.
Sleeping rooms need to be guaranteed by April 3, 2011.
Who: For new staff or a refresher
When:
May 3, 2011
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where:
OPI 1227 Training Room
Helena, MT
Other Information:
Registration Deadline: April 1 Contact Carol Flynn.
Sleeping Rooms are blocked at Red Lion Colonial under OPI Adult Education, 443-2100.
Sleeping rooms need to be guaranteed by April 3, 2011.Who: Required Training – one trainer from each program
When:
May 5, 2011
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where:
Holiday Inn Downtown, Elkhorn B Conference Room
Helena, MT
Other Information:
A block of ten sleeping rooms are at the Red Lion, guarantee by April 3, 2011.
A block of ten sleeping rooms at Holiday Inn Downtown, 443-2200 guarantee by April 14, 2011.Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/data/Student_Profile_Form_March_2011.doc to access updated form for March 2011.
LATEST AND GREATEST UPDATED STUDENT PROFILE FORM
Good Afternoon:
Attached please find the most current Student Profile form. The latest corrections are:
Word processing corrected a few typos that slipped by.
You can now check a yes or no box if a student has or does not have a signed social security waiver in their file.
On the very last page, we added a yes and no box to the question: “Have you been enrolled in another ABE program in the past program year?” This should help those of you who forget to check if a student is already in the MABLE data base before you test them only to find out the student has current tests on file.
I have requested that this documented be put on the ABLE website. Since Janet is out this week, it will most likely be posted early next week.
CarolNational Career Awareness Project
Click here http://lincs.ed.gov/pd/NCA for more information.
Good Afternoon,
Jan Clinard would like MUSWA Workshop registrations from ABLE staff no later than March 3rd. ABLE instructors who register can be reimbursed; just let Carol know which workshop your staff will be attending. She will take care of your paper work.
Last year's ABLE instructors said this training had a positive impact on their writing instruction, a great learning experience!
The deadline was today, but Jan understands that we have been very busy lately.
Regards,
Margaret
We have some GREAT news to share with all of you regarding the Annual Statistical Report!
The number of test takers for the state went up 9% from 2009. In 2009 there were 3,458 test takers and in 2010 we had 3,700.
The total number that took the test and passed also went up 9% from 2009. In 2009 2,150 students passed and in 2010 that number jumped to 2,371.
This is great news for the state of Montana and all GED students. Keep up the good work and let’s make 2011 an even more productive year!
Thank you all for making this happen.
Margaret & Debbie
Programming Priorities Clarification
Good Afternoon,
It has come to my attention that this e-mail may have caused some confusion. I would like to clarify that Carol and Linda's work with MABLE has not changed. They will continue to respond to all of your inquiries. They welcome your MABLE questions.
The change is the programming priorities. We will only send emergency programming issues to Mandy. We know you are very anxious to implement the new approved hours, and we want to make this available to students as soon as possible. If your inquiry will require programming, we will ask that you keep a log so the request is not forgotten.
Thanks,
MargaretDear Directors,
Attached is the PBF formula model (below) that we reviewed at our meeting last week. I have also attached the summary report (below); the summary report does explain how each section of the formula was determined.
This is the model; the dollar amount for the upcoming year will not be the numbers in the model.
Thanks to everyone for a very positive meeting last week.
Margaret
Good Morning,
Announced at the directors' meeting last week were the new pre-post test hours that have been approved for TABE testing. I am asking our programmer to make this a number one priority, and the programming changes will be quite daunting. However, once programming is complete, we can implement the new approved hours.
It would be most helpful if you could keep a log of MABLE questions/requests that do not need to be addressed immediately until after the programming is completed, and please do not cc Mandy on e-mails. Our goal is to be ready for the new rules to be implemented sometime in April; this can be accomplished if Mandy can focus primarily on programming for the new rules.
Please adhere to the 60 hour rules until further notice. This is great news!!! I have attached the new post test rules for you below:
New Language on Pre/Post Test
Section G – Post testing Administration ((PAGE 9)
Levels 1-4 (ABE)
The recommended number of instructional hours between a pre and post test for Levels 1-4 (ABE) is 50-60 hours of instruction, with a minimum of 40 hours, or after the completion of one continuous term of instruction.
Levels 5-6 (ASE Low and High
The recommended number of instructional hours between a pre and post test for Levels 5 and 6 is 30-59 hours of instruction.
Each student's term of instruction is unique. It begins at the date of enrollment and concludes one year from the date of enrollment. At the end of one continuous term of instruction all TABE tests taken during the term will be expired. However, if a student post tests within 30 days prior to the end of the continuous term of instruction, test scores may be reentered as pretests for the new instructional year. Students may post test within 30 days of the end of their continuous term of instruction, even if they have not completed the minimum number of hours of instruction.
REMINDER!!!
FOLLOW UP CONFERENCE CALL TO THE MABLE USER’S CONFERENCE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011
3:00 PM TO 4:00 PM
Good Afternoon:
Please find attached an agenda for tomorrow’s conference call along with the parking lot questions that came out of the MABLE User’s Conference.
We’ll be discussing:
Mable User’s Update
Calendar of Upcoming Events
State of the State Update
I sent you the numbers to call in but just in case, I’ll give them to you again:
Helena folks are local so you call 444-7946 and give the password 4727.
Out of Helena folks call 1-888-556-4635 and give the password 4727.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Carol
1/10/11
- Good Morning:
I have attached the agenda for the upcoming MABLE User’s Conference next week in Billings. We will meet in the Board Room of the Lincoln Center. We’ll start at noon on Wednesday, January 19 and lunch will be on your own. I’ll come up with an afternoon snack. On Thursday, breakfast is on your own and we’ll start right at 8:00 am. A mid—morning snack and lunch will be provided.
Please come with the following:
- Be prepared to share progress you have made on your data action plans.
- Bring Gallery Walk resources
- Be sure you have written down the link to MABLE as well as your user name and password to log into MABLE.
Look forward to seeing everyone next week. Travel safe.
Carol
Good Morning,
The number one item on today's MTLINCS Newsletter is a very important reminder for you.
Last week in our directors' Shop Talk Renee did an excellent job explaining how the MABLE Users' Conference will assist you tying your submitted program improvement plan directly to MABLE for data quality checks. The link below will take you to all of the submitted plans. You may want to read plans from some of the other programs before the conference.
An agenda for the conference will be forthcoming, but the first item on the agenda is set. This will be sharing time. Each of you will have the opportunity to share your plan, successes and challenges to date.
We look forward to providing an excellent professional development opportunity.
Planning committee,
Norene, Renee, and Margaret
1. Montana ABLE Action Plans Posted
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/data/mt_able_action_plans.htm to access Montana ABLE Action Plans. Look at what other programs are doing!
Margaret Bowles
Montana ABLE Action Plans Now Posted
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/data/mt_able_action_plans.htm to review Montana ABLE Program Action Plans.
Good Morning:
I just wanted to give you heads up that Mandy has updated MABLE with the new times for the distance learning classes.
Merry Christmas everyone!! Enjoy the down time!
CarolGood Morning,
Attached you will find an information sheet (See below.) on an upcoming training for Learning to Achieve: Research-Based Training on Serving Adults with Learning Disabilities.
This training is offered in three locations this summer, and Montana and Idaho were selected as the Western states to receive this training. We are able to send a team of 6-9 (or more) instructors, directors, or other support service personal. I would like to send representative staff from as many programs as possible, and it is important to get teams together as soon as possible. The attached document describes the details of the training and expected follow-up activities. I would ask that you encourage someone from your program to participate in this training.
Below are some of the initial facts about the logistics (location and week of training will be finalized once we know who will be attending)
Location may be Spokane, Coeur D"alene, or Billings
All expenses will be paid by OVAE
Training can be the week of June 27th, July 11th, or July 25th.
Please contact me if you have further questions, and we will fill the slots on a first come- first serve basis. This is an incredible opportunity to enhance our efforts in working with this special population.
I look forward to filling the Montana slots, and then we will ask to include additional participants.
Thank you for your consideration.
Margaret
Click here for update.
Please note the article on last week's Career Pathway Technical Institute. (See below.) It is fortunate that Montana was selected to participate in this historic co-hosted training. It was the first time that the Department of Labor and OVAE have put together such an intense training. The Montana team has representatives from a variety of agencies, and we are determined to develop a strong pathway system. After our November Shop Talk, Margaret Girkins was asked to serve on the team. We will provide a detailed update during next week's Shop Talk.
Also, the new OVAE hires are putting together the Learning To Achieve Institute that I sent information on yesterday. They have hit the ground running.
Great things are happening, and I am thrilled that Montana is in the mix!
Margaret
Posting from OVAE
OVAE and the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) co-hosted the Career Pathways Technical Assistance Institute Nov. 30–Dec. 2, 2010, in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the institute was to provide technical assistance to grantees in the development of career pathway systems for low-skilled adults and dislocated workers. Nine states and two Indian and Native American entities received grants to convene the necessary partners, including local employers as well as representatives from the workforce, education and human services arena, to build effective and comprehensive career pathway systems. The grantees are: Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Gila River Indian Community and Tucson Indian Center in Arizona.
OVAE and ETA have drafted an organizing framework, Six Key Elements of Career Pathways Systems and an assessment tool, Career Pathways Readiness Assessment Tool for the initiative, both of which will be disseminated across the workforce and education systems through the participating agencies in the near future.
Greetings,
Please scroll down to the link to Great Data Systems, Great Data. The link is to the NRS Resource Guide to Data Systems. They are featuring five states, Montana, Utah, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas. It is good to see the hard work in the development of MABLE has been noticed. This paper validates that good data systems are ongoing work; looks like we will never be done!
Kudos to state staff (Linda, Carol, and Mandy), and all of you in the field; it is your continual input that is making our data system one of best!
Margaret
Click here http://www.nrsweb.org/docs/DataSystemsResourceGuide.pdf to access NRS Resource Guide to Datasystems.
Good Afternoon,
A lot of planning has been going on since our October meetings, and I am happy to share the latest information on upcoming trainings.
First, I would like to thank everyone for the hard work you are doing on your Planning for Success data-driven program improvement plans. The plans submitted to date are exemplary (Mary Ann and Larry will be impressed). For those of you who have not submitted, the due date is Monday, November 8th. As we discussed at the Data Quality meeting, you will get to spend some time during the January MABLE Users' Conference discussing your plans and gleaning ideas from other participants. I am pleased to inform you that Renee Bentham and Norene Peterson are putting together an incredible agenda for this meeting. Since they want this meeting to be a quality professional development experience, they will be getting a little more data from each of you to help them finalize the meeting agenda. Norene will be sending a survey to everyone before the end of November.
I can assure you this will be better than the October Data Quality Conference because these ladies are conference planners extraordinaire. Below is the important logistic information you need for the MABLE Users' Conference:
MABLE Users' Conference
When:
January 19th 12:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.
January 20th A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Where:
Billings Lincoln Center
Renee and Norene have assessed the training room available at the Lincoln Center, and due to limited computers, each program will be limited to three participants.
Lodging information will be forth coming.
Update on Annual Directors' MeetingThe annual directors' meeting will be in February, as it will require more time than will be available during the January conference. The facilitators from MPR & Associates who have worked with the Formula Funding task force are able to come to Montana in February. The task force and the MPR facilitators will be planning an in-depth presentation on the work of task force. At this point, we think the training will last a minimum of one full day. Dates for this will be announced when a contract with the facilitators is finalized.
I am looking forward to sharing everyone's great work!
Note From Kristen and Ruth
Dissemination Planning - November 22nd from 10-11:30am MT (Margaret, Ruth, Kristen, TF volunteers)
Review draft February agenda
Agree on February meeting outcomes
Agree on February meeting content
Call in information will be sent closer to the time of the call.
Thanks,
Margaret_________________
Good Afternoon,
Since our last meeting, I have been waiting to hear from Kristen and Ruth regarding their extended contract with Montana. They e-mailed yesterday to inform me that the contract should be finalized soon.
So they will be scheduling a conference call to discuss our February meeting very soon (before Thanksgiving). They will have a definite date very soon.
The good news is they will be able to present at our directors' meeting. I know this will help all of the directors who were not involved in the task force understand the level of expertise and guidance that was provided by MPR.
I will send a note to all the directors apprising them of the February meeting.
Have a wonderful weekend,
MargaretWe have completed our PEP Talk Best Practices report which you can find at: http://www.ourfactsyourfuture.org/admin/uploadedPublications/4169_PEPTalkBP.pdf
It will also be posted to the http://smartaboutcollege.org/ website in the next week or so. The PEP Talk team wants to thank everyone who provided their best practices to us. There are some innovative uses of PEP Talk and some great success stories. If you have something you’re doing with PEP Talk that you would like shared, let us know.
Just a reminder, we still have plenty of brochures and intake cards left. Our supply of Blueprints and skills cards is getting low. Contact me if you need any of these supplies.Annette Miller, Information Resources Supervisor
Research & Analysis Bureau
PO Box 1728
Helena MT 59624www.ourfactsyourfuture.org406-444-2741
MABLE Update
Good Morning,
We continue to receive excellent questions from the field regarding MABLE, and we would like to share responses we have sent to individuals since the Data Quality Conference last month. This document may help you finalize your Data Quality Plan, as well as provide background information for the MABLE User's Conference in January. In this document you will find explanations on
student hours,
the primary area of instruction,
EFL's,
gains for the ASE high, and
a brief history of the instructional year.
The Frequently Asked Questions in MABLE is not available, because many of the responses were outdated after recent required changes to our assessment policy. The information in this document will be included in a soon to be released Frequently Asked Questions. In the meantime, keep sending in your questions.
Thanks,
Margaret, Linda, Carol
Below is the link to the proposed changes in the NRS, each state is being allowed one response in a survey that is being sent to each state director. After reading the proposed papers, please send your comments directly to me, concerns or things you like. Respond no later than Monday, October 11th ... If you don't have comments, that's fine but for those of you who may be concerned about how you are going to collect this information or other concerns, let me know.
Thanks, everyone, I am glad we have an opportunity to respond.
See you all this week,
Margaret
All Attendees of the NRS Congress of Adult Education State Directors:
As indicated in the e-mail from Assistant Secretary Brenda Dan-Messier, the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) has revised the six issue papers on proposed NRS changes presented at the NRS Congress. OVAE is now offering you one more opportunity to provide additional comments on their potential impact on your state.
We have put the revised papers on NRSWeb at the following location:
http://www.nrsweb.org/docs/community/2010-09%20Issues.html
On this web page you will also find two additional papers on a topic that was not discussed at the Congress, two proposed sets of measures on students’ prior education and teacher qualifications.
After the 2010 NRS Congress, OVAE engaged in discussions about collecting data on teacher credentials and student educational attainment. The new papers include tables that are proposed as required data to be reported annually to the NRS. Please read the introductory paragraphs to the proposed new NRS tables and provide OVAE with your comments to those as well.
After reviewing the papers, OVAE urges you to share the papers and discuss the changes with your state and local program staff.
| April | May |
| February | March |
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December
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January |
| October | November |
| August | September |
STARS: Schedule Tracking Attendance Reporting System
TABE Workshop
Performance Based Funding Meeting
PERFORMANCE BASED FUNDING MEETING
WINGATE INN, 2007 NORTH OAKES STREET, HELENA
Monday, May 24th, 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Tuesday, May 25th, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
GED Annual Conference and Data Quality Institute
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE GED ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2010
GED Annual Conference
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Red Lion Colonial Hotel, Helena, MT
Call and reserve a sleeping room at the Red Lion, 443-2100. Sleeping rooms need to be guaranteed by September 4, 2010. Closer to the actual date, we’ll get an agenda out to you. For now, please mark your calendars!!
Please note: There will not be a GED/ABLE combined meeting this year!
I am looking forward to meeting with you.
Margaret
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR DATA QUALITY INSTITUTE 2010
DATA QUALITY INSTITUTE
Wednesday and Thursday, October 6-7, 2010
Red Lion Colonial Hotel, Helena, MT
Call and reserve a sleeping room at the Red Lion, 443-2100. Sleeping rooms need to be guaranteed by September 4, 2010. Closer to the actual date, we’ll get an agenda out to you. For now, please mark your calendars!!
Please note: There will not be a GED/ABLE combined meeting this year!
MT ABLE Assessment Standards and Guidelines
Click here for Assessment Standards and Guidelines
Good Morning,
As explained at the directors' meeting last month, some of the language regarding instructional year in our Assessment Standards and Guidelines was not approved. The modification to policy does require programming changes, and the state MABLE team has spent considerable time outlining the programming specifications.
I have attached the proposed specifications to this e-mail, as well as the approved assessment policy. Please note in the specifications we have referenced the Assessment Policy and NRS Guidelines. Both documents were carefully reviewed in building the guideline for programming changes, we are hopefully this alignment will ensure ongoing policy approval.
We would like you to read the guideline, and please let us know if you see potential problems or have questions. In order to keep everyone involved in the discussion, please Reply to All when e-mailing.
Due to time constraints, we would like all feedback by Wednesday, April 7, 2010. The Race and Ethnicity programming is being worked on simultaneously. Cindie will be scurrying to meet the July 1st deadline.
Thank you for your time; we look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Margaret, Linda, Cindie, and Carol
Second Annual ESOL Conference: May 20 – 21, 2010, Red Lion Colonial Hotel. This training will go 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on May 20 and 8:00 am to 12 noon on May 21. We encourage all ESL teachers and Program Directors to attend. Also, we encourage ABLE instructors to attend, as this conference is focused on strategies that can help ESL and ESL students who are transitioning to TABE.
Click here to view results of the Montana OPI ABLE Survey 2010.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!!IMPORTANT UPCOMING ASSESSMENT TRAININGS AND OUR SECOND ANNUAL ESOL CONFERENCETABE Training/Assessment Policy: May 12, 2010, Red Lion Colonial Hotel. Sleeping rooms are blocked for those who may need a room. Guarantee sleeping rooms by April 11, 2010 by calling 443-2100. An individual from CTB McGraw Hill will conduct this training. Anyone who is the TABE Test Trainer at your site must attend this yearly training along with anyone in your program who has never been TABE trained and who wants to be TABE trained. Each program should have a train-the-trainer. I anticipate the training will go from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.Yvonne Hauwiller’s Best Plus Training: May 19, 2010, Helena College of Technology. Anyone in your program that has never been Best Plus Trained or who needs a brush up training should attend. We encourage all TEST PLUS examiners to participate in order to update their skills. This training will go from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. For those that want to attend the ESOL Conference the following day, sleeping rooms have been blocked at Red Lion Colonial Hotel.Second Annual ESOL Conference: May 20 – 21, 2010, Red Lion Colonial Hotel. This training will go 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on May 20 and 8:00 am to 12 noon on May 21. We encourage all ESL teachers and Program Directors to attend. Also, we encourage ABLE instructors to attend, as this conference is focused on strategies that can help ESL and ESL students who are transitioning to TABE. Sleeping rooms have been blocked at Red Lion for the nights of May 19 and 20 and need to be guaranteed by April 19, 2010.WOULD YOU PLEASE BE SO KIND AS TO EMAIL ME BACK BY MARCH 12, 2010 AND LET ME KNOW WHO FROM YOUR PROGRAM WILL BE ATTENDING ALL OF THESE TRAININGS SO THAT I CAN MAKE SURE I HAVE SECURED ENOUGH SLEEPING ROOMS AND TO PLAN FOR SUPPLIES WE NEED.Carol Flynn
Distance Learning and Pep Talk Grants
Good Afternoon,
WIA incentive grant dollars will soon be available for two project grants. Awards will be available March 1, 2010, and the allocation must be expended by June 30, 2010.
Project One: Building infrastructure for GED Online.
Project Two: Building infrastructure for implementing PEP Talk and supporting student transitions to employment or postsecondary.
- Applications will be available February 17, 2010.
- Applications will be due February 26, 2010.
- Final report will be due August 31, 2010.
- Award amount: Depending on the number of applications, each award could be between $4,500-$9,000.
At the directors’ meeting, time will be scheduled for discussing how programs can use this one time only money to strengthen GED Online and support student transitions using PEP Talk.
I encourage you to consider applying for both projects.
Margaret
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/Retooling_GEDmath.ppt (right click and save) to check out a PowerPoint created by by Tom Mecham, the GED Chief Examiner for Massachusettes, entitled Retooling the GED Math Classroom for College Success.
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/COABE_teneasy_steps.ppt (right click and save) to check out a PowerPoint created by the Kentucky Jefferson Publish Schools and Adult and Continuing Education for 2009 COABE: Creating a Successful Transitions/Concurrent Enrollment Program in Ten Easy Steps.
Click here to check out the Student Highlight page to access article on the Billings Gazette related to New Beginnings.
http://www.cal.org/caelanetwork/profdev/states/montana/montana.html
Wow, take a look at this Web page. We are one of the first states up on this site. What a celebration of our work with CAELA. I truly believe we are building a powerful professional development model.
Stay tuned, conference planning for this year is now underway. Dates to be announced soon. In the meantime, stay connected with CAELA on LINCS.
Hooray for Montana.Margaret
Two Important Dates!!Thursday, January 21, 2010 - Connect Pro meeting on MABLE Changes, 9:00 am to 9:30 amFriday, January 22, 2010 - ABLE Shop Talk - 11:00 am to 12 Noon(we had a conflict here on January 19 so needed to reschedule this call)Good Morning:Please put these two important dates on your calendar.CONNECT PRO: We will be doing our second Connect Pro meeting on the recent changes to MABLE on January 21 from 9:00 am to 9:30 am. Once Linda has a link for us, I'll pass that on to you. For now, please just mark your calendars.JANUARY SHOP TALK: We had to reschedule our January Shop Talk to Friday, January 22 because of conflicts here. For those of you who do not normally work on Friday, we hope you will call in from home. We have a lot to visit with you about and we would appreciate your participation. Please let me know who from your program will be participating. We'll get an agenda to you prior to the call.
The Obama Administration is preparing for WIA reauthorization and has asked the National Institute for Literacy’s Discussion Lists to engage in a candid and constructive discourse about what the field’s successes and needs are in providing adult education programs and services.
Click here http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/wia_conversation.htm for specific information on how to participate!
Click here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PW88B27 to access a brief, nine-question online survey regarding MTLINCS services. The survey will remain open until Saturday, January 16.
I am sending this message as a follow-up to the e-mail that Annette Miller sent to all PEP Talk participants last week, as I am excited about the professional development you will receive. The facilitator will assist each community with PEP Talk integration and the agency collaboration that will be necessary to fully implement PEP Talks and readily transition our students to meaningful careers.
Currently, we are in the process of hiring the facilitator and planning the on-site meetings. I will send further updates after the first of the year. You can look forward to a meeting in your community very soon.
Regards,
Margaret
Needing to access the videos and materials from the PEP Talk Training? Click on the information below.
... You can access the Q & A form at the top of your MABLE site summary page. The form is under the HELP tab in Useful Forms and General Information. Click the yellow bar at the bottom of the page to submit your question. I encourage you to check the MABLE FAQ frequently to review the questions and answers. There are two post test questions in the Q & A already ...
Margaret Bowles
In just a few weeks, each ABLE program will have the opportunity to participate in a PEP talk training. Immediately after the training, your students will be able to begin the PEP talk process.Who should attend the PEP talk training?
- Every program director should plan on attending.
- Staff members who will be directly involved in helping students with the PEP talk process. This would include:
-Counselors, or-The lead teacher who will be the site administrator for this process. Every local program must have one person designated as the site administrator who will be in charge of passwords and getting students started in the process.-Other staff who will be also designated as the contact for students when they have questions or would like to discuss any thing they have learned during the PEP talk modules.Since this is a collaborative effort between the Department of Labor and the Commissioner of Higher Education, we are making every effort to track participation and set up appropriate working groups at each training. Therefore, we would like all participants to register for the site that has been assigned to their program at the following link:Programs that have to travel to a designated site will be reimbursed for one car per program. Lunch will be provided and with regional meetings no lodging will be necessary.This is really going to be a wonderful opportunity for our students.Please contact me if you have any questions.Margaret BowlesAdult Literacy and Basic Education SpecialistOffice of Public InstructionBox 202501Helena MT 59620-2501(406) 444-4443
Greetings,MABLE programming updates are nearly complete! Extensive testing will be going on for the next two weeks, so you can look forward to the new version of MABLE after the fall conference. Going live is scheduled for September 14th. MABLE will be down on September 14-15, 2009 for moving the updates into the program.I am attaching the draft document, ABLE Student Information System Guidelines that has been created simultaneously with the program development. It became very clear over the past several months that a document explaining how MABLE is working behind the scenes is very important. The goal of the document is to reduce MABLE questions and give you more time to focus on student instruction. You will no longer have to guess what MABLE is doing. In the document you will notice a lot of repetition. This was done purposefully, as you may just want to read only one or two sections of the document; therefore, some specific information will be repeated throughout the document.It is important to understand that the OPI team has untaken this programming project based on the assessment policy changes required by the U.S. Department of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE). Although mandated to make changes, our OPI team has worked diligently to do what is best for your programs and the students. We have also taken the opportunity to clean up some areas that were causing confusion.MABLE is now much more student focused, we have worked to tie MABLE and students more closely together to better manage student hours and ensure all educational gains are captured. Due to the wide discrepancies in program calendars, all students will now have their own instructional year/continuous term of instruction. By individualizing the instructional year for each student, you will be given increased flexibility in managing student progress. Another significant change for our students is their ability to select a primary area of instruction (PAI) when they have a need to focus on one area of instruction.In order to make the rule for self-selection of PAI retroactive to July 1, 2009, we will need to manually adjust some student records. We will explain the process for requesting changes at the conference, as we will now be formally tracking all requests for technical assistance.We have blocked time at the fall conference to address all of the questions you may have after reading the ABLE Standardized Testing Guidelines and Policy. In order for this time to be well spent, we would ask that you send all questions to Linda Gardner at ligardner@mt.gov. no later than September 11, 2009. This will give Linda time to prepare a more complete answer. She will also walk through the program, pointing out where you will see some changes and explaining the reasoning behind them.This has been a daunting project to complete in such a short time. Our ABLE program is fortunate to have such a capable and dedicated staff. Kudos to Carol Flynn, Linda Gardner, and Cindie Tenneson.Regards,MargaretMargaret BowlesAdult Literacy and Basic Education SpecialistOffice of Public InstructionBox 202501Helena MT 59620-2501(406) 444-4443
Good Morning,I would like to remind you that the cut off date for rooms for our fall conference, Building the Power, is August 14th. Once again, I encourage you to bring a team to the conference on September 15th and 16th. Many cutting-edge program improvement strategies will be covered that will positively impact your instructional delivery for the year. Also, all adult educators will benefit from Art Ellison's training on how to build statewide support for ABLE.As last year, The GED Annual meeting will be held the day after the ABLE conference. We welcome ABLE representation at this meeting; ABLE representation should include the ABLE program director and one staff representative. This will guarantee that the GED Chief Examiners and Examiners have a one ABLE staff and a program director from their area to discuss GED concerns.Agendas will be sent out in August.Please contact Carol Flynn after making reservations to let us know who will be on your team for the ABLE Conference and the GED annual meeting.Have a wonderful weekend,Margaret
2008-2009
August September October November December January February March April May June July
2008-2009
August September October November
- Research Item #3: Our Treacherous Path
- ESL Website
- Research Item #4: Research Quoted during Reach Higher, Montana Conference
- MABLE Updates
- Meetings Announced (See Calendar.)
December January February
- Summary of 1/28/09 Directors' Meeting
- Research #8: Multiple Intelligences
- More Distance Learning Tools
- Leadership Academy Resources
- Conference calls
- Research #9: A Whole New Mind
March
- CS Team Video
- Distance Learning Math Videos
- Research #10: Reading and the College Student
- Response #1 - Strategy Recommendations
- Response #2 - Three Cups of Tea - Online E-book
- Response #3 - More Reading Strategies
- Economic Stimulus Job Bill Signed into Law
- Are Fractions Outdated?
- Research Item #11: Multitasking
April May
- Shop Talk
- Budget Memo
- Research Item #14: Working with English Language Learners
- Research #15: Promoting Success of Multilevel ESL Classes
- Funding Formula
June July
- Conference Call Summary for 7/14/09
Click here to access the following July 09 information provided in the 7/14/09 Conference Call.
Click here to see follow-up of ESL Conference by Margaret Bowles.
Click here to check out ESOL Conference Professional Development Tasks.
Research Item #13: Using Authentic Materials Continuation
Research Item #10: Reading and the College Student
- Response #1 - Strategy Recommendations
- Response #2 - Three Cups of Tea - Online E-book
- Response #3 - More Reading Strategies
Economic Stimulus Job Bill Signed into Law
Official E-Mail from the Montana Office of Public Instruction Denise Juneau, Superintendent
Subject:: Economic Stimulus/Jobs Bill Signed Into Law
Today, February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in Denver, Colorado. This is the Economic Stimulus or Jobs Bill that has been making its way through Congress the last few weeks. The Conference Committee Agreement that comprises the final bill contains some changes from the House and Senate versions that we posted details on in the past. On our OPI Web site home page, you can visit the latest information we have under the blue box on the right side of the page labeled "Economic Stimulus Bill News". The chart posted there under Related Documents gives the latest update on expected state by state amounts under the various provisions in the final bill, and we will soon have district by district estimates for Title I Part A and IDEA Part B. These are prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) and are not final but give a ballpark figure of what districts can expect.
By clicking on either the link to Senate Information or House Information, you can find the full text of the Conference Agreement. Select Division A and scroll or pull down to page 168 for the Department of Education language and to page 425 for the State Fiscal Fund Stabilization language.
We previously posted estimates for School Modernization, Renovation, and Repair (called "Construction" on a previous estimates chart). That specific stream of funding was eliminated from the bill as a separate funding component. However, funds under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund for Education (81.8 percent of the total after set asides at the federal level) can be used for school modernization, repair, and renovation, including "green" projects, but not for new construction. These funds must be distributed to districts on the existing state primary formulae (plural) for elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education to address shortfalls in state funding. The funds may also be used by districts for any activity authorized under the ESEA, IDEA, Adult and Family Literacy, or Carl Perkins Acts.
We will keep you informed as more details become known. In the meantime, please visit our Web page on the Economic Stimulus News for new information that will be posted there as we receive updates and further guidance.
- Click here to access online instructional math videos at http://www.teachertube.com/uvideos.php?UID=231117 .
- Click here http://skyview.billings.k12.mt.us/departments/math/videos/ to access math videos from The Math Video Project at Billings Skyview High School.
Click here for a video of the CS team at work!
More Distance Learning Tools Posted 2/09
Several more items from the Distance Learning Protocol Guide have now been posted as individual documents on MTLINCS. Click below on the categories.
2/3/09
Thanks Renee and Norene for the great resources posted!RE: MI question: We use a lot of graphic organizers (from you) to help scaffold information for learners and encourage use of highlighters, post-it notes, small group, and summarization to help students retain information. However, overall, I feel that I am not tapping into MI strategies as much as I would like. I end up using packets more than I should , mostly because I feel I don't have the time to really individualize instruction beyond setting up a learning plan and offering canned curriculum. I did do a unit for a small part of my Masters on autobiographical writing where all language instruction was integrated into the context of their writing. They loved it, and great things happened in the room through the small group sharing and writers workshop. I also taught four students how to use power points and two ended up teaching several other students how to import pictures and sound to create these great autobiographical presentations. I would like to head in that direction more, but time and staffing are real life constraints that I experience as obstacles to innovation at this time.Ellen Guettler, Bozeman
Adult Multiple Intelligences
Participants of the Leadership Academy discussed several research items the last time they met. They will soon be surveying your interests in research studies. Here's just a snippet from one such research study:
"It's not how smart you are, but how you are smart."
Dr. Howard Gardner
The February 2001 Adult Multiple Intelligences Study sponsored by NCSALL was the first systematic application of multiple intelligences (MT) theory to adult literacy education. The Adult Multiple Intelligences Study says:
Multiple Intelligences and Adult Literacy, http://store.tcpress.com/0807743461.shtmlStudents whose instructors utilized the Multiple Intelligences theory took more control over their learning, were more engaged in classroom activities that used authentic materials, and, in some cases, attended class more regularly.
MI reflection enhanced students' perceptions of their abilities.
Program Administrators' Sourcebook, A Resource on NCSALL's Research for Adult Education Program Administrators, NCSALL, December 2005, p.21. http://www.ncsall.net/?id=1039
Questions:
Summary of 1/28/09 Directors' Meeting
1/25/09
More tools have been posted on MTLINCS! Check them out!
1/25/09
Looking back over our records, our lowest level reader in GED online had a GE of 4.7. She struggled in Skills Tutor reading but was unable to come to class due to living 90 miles away; she ended up dropping out and going back to high school. Most of our online students were 8.0 GE or higher in reading.
Melinda Lynnes
Miles Community College
Center for Academic SuccessIn response the need for higher level reading scores for on-line learners. It is important to remember that GED on-line is specifically designed for those students with a reading level of at least 8th grade. Our experience showed that 8th grade was too low. My suggestion would be that any student scoring below ASE on the TABE would not make a good candidate for GED on-line. SkillsTutor is geared toward a much lower reading level than GED on-line and is a good alternative.
It is important to remember that on-line learners must possess a high level of self motivation. Many, but certainly not all, low level readers are easily frustrated and they quickly loose their drive to complete on-line assignments. What’s best for the learner needs to always be in the fore front of our thoughts, on-line is not for everyone.Jerry Guay
HardinI would be curious to know from those who implemented the Montana Distance Learning Pilot Project if or how they used it for the low-level reader. We have been using SkillsTutor in our program for approximately three years. However, we do have some of the lower-level modules that aren't available in the GED Online program. Mike Rea has suggested below, "Those readers, however, would probably benefit more from the direct instruction at an adult education center."
So my question is two-fold:
Did any of you encounter students who wanted to work on the GED Online but were unable to do so because of insufficient reading skills?
Did any of you implement suggested reading levels as was done in North Carolina?
Thanks for your input!
Norene Peterson, Billings
1/23/09
While the consideration of reading level is important, wouldn’t it make the need for SkillsTutor unnecessary to use with GED Online since SkillsTutor is geared towards students with lower reading levels? That means those students with reading difficulties would have little chance to qualify for GED Online. Those readers, however, would probably benefit more from the direct instruction at an adult education center, thus supporting the North Carolina study. At the very least, SkillsTutor could possibly be used as part of the instruction at an adult education center; otherwise, it wouldn’t seem to serve a purpose with GED Online.
Mike Rea, Lewistown
Research Item #7: Distance Learning and Literacy
Is distance learning for everyone?
The Reach Higher, America report states the following:
including those at lower levels of literacy, online learning can be a powerful way to assist adult learners. Touch screens and other userfriendly technologies can provide lower-skilled adults—even those with little or no computer experience—with access to electronic instruction. Bill Gates predicts that voice-activated computers will be the next revolution in technology. That technology may hold promise for lowskilled adults, including nonreaders.With 73 percent of adults already online in 2006,
Reach Higher, America: Overcoming Crisis in the U.S. Workforce, Report of the National Commission on Adult Literacy, June 2008. National Commission on Adult Literacy, http://www.nationalcommissiononadultliteracy.org/, p.25.
Should you consider reading level of the online learner? Participants in the GED online program at Vance Granville Community College in North Carolina must demonstrate a 9th grade level or higher in order to be enrolled in online courses.
For all new online students, Reading scores must be at 9th grade level or higher. For all returning "active" online students with a lower than acceptable score to continue in their program, they will be given two months to raise their Reading score to the 9th grade level. Failure to reach a 9th grade Reading level will result in that students being removed from the online program; however, they will be given the opportunity to continue their education program in a literacy lab (classroom) setting until a 9th grade reading level is achieved. http://www.vgcc.edu/Literacy-Online/literacy-expectation.cfm
Students desiring enrollment in one of our Literacy Online programs but not
reading at a 9th grade level can expect to be assigned lessons designed to
improve reading skills. The objective is to first raise those reading skills
to a 9th grade or better level. A similar program will also be available to
provide improvement in basic math skills.
http://www.vgcc.edu/Literacy-Online/literacy-ged.cfm
Question:
o Should you consider a student's reading level in relationship to online learning?
1/19/09
SkillsTutor Scope and Sequence
The scope and sequence is located in the Montana workroom. Click the FAQ button and it is located in the Quick Reference folder. The file was just scanned into the system and the font is a little weird - but it will give the information you need. You can save the document to your computer by right clicking on the file and choosing "Save."
Thanks,Mary GrottGED Online
I just wanted to give you heads up that programming set up the Distance Learning classes for me in MABLE. I've gone into each of the new Distance Learning Sites and set you up so that you should now be able to see GED Connections, GED On- Line with all of the lessons and Skills Tutor.Pick a student and click on their summary page. Go to add attendance and pick today's date. You should see the three Distance Learning classes you need in the drop down of classes for your site. If you choose GED On-Line you will also see all the lessons you need. I see everything you should have so please check to make sure this works for you.I've also copied in the data entry folks not in my DL distribution list so that they realize the new classes have been added as well.Let me know if you have any problems. Have a great weekend.
Carol
There is a problem with Skills Tutor. I had an email from Melinda today saying she wanted to check her students work in Skills Tutor and went to check a class and there are no classes to check. I sent off a quick email to Mary Grott and she contacted Skills Tutor.Any teacher with a Montana login can change a password and manipulate classes. We are guessing that someone was in practicing with Skills Tutor and did something by accident. The bad news is any student data that was in the class is also gone.
Carol
1/11/09
Distance Learning January Meeting
It doesn't work for everybody. Hardin
If you (the employer) show that you care about the employees, it keeps them from making a lateral move to another business. Havre
I don't want to become a faceless avatar. Kalispell
It may be a good idea to go to the smaller communities and talk about what adult ed money they have and what they can contribute. Missoula
Distance learning can be time intensive. Miles City
Distance learning can get students into the door that have never been there. The goal is to hook them! OPI
Marketing should be separate from partner agencies. Roundup
If we provide incentives for students to get their GEDs, then they become more literate and better employees. Salish Kootenai
Curriculum Masters
Surveys for Online Teaching and Learning
Are you a good candidate for teaching online? Click here to access an online survey.
Are you a good candidate for learning online? Click here to access an online survey.
1/6/09
We are currently using GED online with two students. Both have small children, so it allows them to stay home with their children and work at their own convenience. One also works outside the home during the day so she can work on the GED courses in the evening. We are currently in the process of setting up the online program for some students who live out of town so that studying for the GED is more convenient for them.
Challenges:
The main challenge is that many of our students do not have computers, or if they do, they do not have Internet access. This keeps the student from even participating in the online program. Another challenge is that students do not have the immediate assistance from an instructor when they have difficulty with the assignments. The last challenge is that it does not provide the face-to-face instruction that students often need in order to be successful in adult ed. Sometimes students don’t make it in for the weekly visits so keeping track of student success is difficult.
Mike Rea, Lewistown
Research Item #6: Distance Learning
Beginning in January 2009, several Montana ABLE programs will be added to OPI's Distance Learning Project as a way to provide another educational delivery method for students.
The Reach Higher, America report states the following:
Technology should be used in all its forms to make learning a continuous process of inquiry and improvement that keeps pace with the speed of change in business and society. It can be used to create new models for teaching and learning, provide greater access and knowledge resources to adult students in real time, help working adults with childcare and transportation issues improve their education, provide training to instructors, improve program management and data collection, allow students to work and learn in virtual teams with video conferencing and collaboration software, and much more. It can put the highest quality teachers in the world at everyone’s doorstep.
Reach Higher, America: Overcoming Crisis in the U.S. Workforce, Report of the National Commission on Adult Literacy, June 2008. National Commission on Adult Literacy, http://www.nationalcommissiononadultliteracy.org/, p.24.
Question:
o How is your program using technology to enhance students' learning?
o What challenges do you see with distance learning?
Content Standards
12/12/08
Good Morning,I know the holidays are rapidly approaching and you are thinking, what will I ever do with my free time. Well, I have a deal for you: http://online.onetcenter.org/skills. This is a Department of Labor site that you may want to refer to when you start filling in the work place skills dots. Also, http://ourfactsyourfuture.org has a link to"What Skills are most Profitable for the Montana Economy?"
by Barbara Wagner
"Who is paid more, a worker with a high level of science skills, or one with problem-solving skills? This article determines which skills are the most profitable in Montana."
Check out the Economy at a Glance publication or
Listen to the EAG PodcastThe article talks about onetcenter, and good information on workplace competencies. When I saw these sites, I instantly thought of the standards.I do want you to enjoy the holidays, so perhaps you can bookmark these sites and look at them after Christmas.Merry Christmas to an exceptional team of professionals,Margaret12/8/08
Good Morning:Content Standards are meeting at Red Lion all day January 6 and half day January 7. Sleeping rooms are set aside at Red Lion for January 5 and then rooms are set aside for January 6 for those Content Standards folks who will participate in the Distance Learning Training.On January 22 I have the 1201 Conference Room here at OPI reserved from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm for those who choose to meet. Sleeping rooms are blocked for January 21 at Red Lion. (Given folks wanted to meet January 6-7 in conjunction with the Distance Learning to save a trip to Helena, I'm not sure the Standards team will want to meet January 22 but I didn't want to cancel anything at this point.) Stay tuned!On February 19, the Content Standards will meet in the OPI 1201 Conference Room from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and sleeping rooms are reserved at Red Lion for the evening of February 18.Carol Flynn
Agenda for Training on 1/7 & 1/8
Good Afternoon,I am sure that even with the busy holiday days, you have had time to figure out that the distance learning training will occur early in January. Not a minute to rest in the New Year!The new semester will be a perfect time to begin your distance delivery, yet I am sure you have dozens of questions in your mind regarding implementation of distance learning. The planned training on January 7th and 8th should address all of your concerns. You can look forward to learning about the online process, student orientation, teacher resources, enrolling and engaging online students, 2007-08 student data profiles, and much more. Prior to attending the training, it is important that you read the Distance Learning Policy that was included in the Protocol Guide, or go to http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/DL/dlpolicy.pdf on the LINCS Website.Beyond reading the Distance Learning Policy, there is work that you should be doing in the next few weeks to prepare for distance learning. Pursuant to each of your applications, work force partners and agencies have been identified to contact with distance learning information, so it is time to begin to prepare for you initial site visits. The work that can be done prior to the training includes:
- Fill out potential employer/partner agency contact sheet (page 51/54 of Protocol Guide) to prepare for your on site time.
- Prepare newspaper article to announce distance delivery (sample on page 51 of Protocol Guide).
- Telephone potential partners to schedule a January meeting (page 53 of the Protocol Guide).
- Create marketing packets for your onsite visits (page 55-58 of the Protocol Guide).
The Montana Distance Learning model is more than a curriculum, it is a process. It is imperative that directors and distance delivery instructors attend the training in order for your program to become enrolled in GEDOnline and experience success with distance learning. Each of you can look forward to lively conversation as ideas and future plans are shared during your time in Helena.It was exciting to see the commitment and vision that was apparent on each application. The application was the first step in planning for an effective instructional model. You can look forward to building on your model next month.Have a blessed holiday with visions of distance learners dancing in your heads!Margaret Bowles, OPI
Leadership Academy
How to Access Interim Activities
Look on the orange card stock “Points of Contact” handout that we got at the Leadership Academy. Directly under the chart of contacts, there is something called “Technology Tips” (with a photo of a computer screen besides it). It has the address for the library:
1. Open http://leadershipliteracy.net/.
2. Click on the link that is circled in red on the picture of the front page.
3. Access LEA Participant Library
4. Scroll down to 08-09 Training Materials Year 1
5. Choose Self Assessment Interim Activity
6. The form can then be saved as a Word document, filled out and saved on your computer.
7. Finally, go back to LEA software, chose your team and upload!
Good luck. Call me if these directions aren’t clear (823-6356)
Cassie
A very interesting article: "The Effect of Music on Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition"
http://www.forefrontpublishers.com/eslmusic/articles/01.htm
Katya Irish, Great Falls
Research #5: Low Parent Education - 12/2/08
I wouldn’t say that we have an “influx” of people, but the students we have had lately seem to lack the skills necessary to earn a decent wage.
Mike Rea, Lewistown
Research #5: Low Parent Education
RISK 2: Low Parent Education Deters Children's Learning
Today, one in four U.S. working families is low-income, and one in five American children lives in poverty. And in many of those households, the parents or caregivers are employed, but they lack the education and skills necessary to earn family-sustaining wages.
Reach Higher, America: Overcoming Crisis in the U.S. Workforce, Report of the National Commission on Adult Literacy, June 2008. National Commission on Adult Literacy, www.nationalcommissiononadultliteracy.org, p. 5
Question:
With the economic problems that our country is experiencing, is your program encountering an influx of individuals who, as the report above states, are lacking "the education and skills necessary to earn family-sustaining wages"?
Meetings Announced (See Calendar.)
ABLE Directors Meeting
Carol Flynn
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!Welcome to Distance Learning! I have reserved a conference room at the Red Lion Colonial Hotel, 2301 Colonial Drive, in Helena on January 7 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm to discuss and plan Distance Learning. This portion of the meeting will frame your distance learning for the program year.I have reserved 30 sleeping rooms at the Red Lion Colonial Hotel for the evening of January 7. YOU NEED TO CALL SOON AND NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 12 to reserve a room in the block and guarantee it with your own credit card! The number to call is 443-2100 and ask for the OPI/Distance Learning block of rooms.Mary Grott from GED On Line will conduct our training on January 8 beginning at 8:00 am. We have computer labs set aside at the Helena College of Technology, 1115 N. Roberts Street. Leave the Red Lion Colonial Hotel and travel west to the stop light at 11th Avenue and Fee Street. Stay in the left hand lane driving north past the Albertsons Grocery Store to the next light on the corner of Fee Street and Prospect. Turn left off Fee Street on to Prospect Avenue. Work you way to the right hand lane and continue on Prospect Avenue to the stop light on Roberts Street. American Federal Bank is on the corner of Prospect Avenue and Roberts Street. Turn right on to Roberts Street and go down the street three blocks. The College of Technology will be on the right hand side of the street.We will reimburse lodging at state rate, meals not provided at state rate and one vehicle per site.We look forward to seeing you in the new year!Carol Flynn
Content Standards Writing Meeting
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!
Carol Flynn
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!!The annual Program Director's Meeting will be held in Helena on January 28, 2009. I have a conference room reserved at the Red Lion Colonial Hotel for January 28 and a group of sleeping rooms for the evening of January 27. Please call Red Lion at 443-2100 and guarantee a room with your credit card. Red Lion is located at 2310 Colonial Drive. We'll start our meeting at 8:00 am.Carol Flynn
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!!
Carol Flynn
MABLE Updates
- When using the report criteria you may now use your mouse or the keyboard.
- Grid lines have been added to the NRS tables.
- Duplicate goals have been eliminated; student goals now match the program year.
- The three default classes cannot be edited or deleted.
- In desk monitoring, hours to meet the goal setting criteria will be taken from the goal setting default class.
- On the NRS student list, a separation date column has been added.
- On the site summary page a report has been added that allows you to view student assessment in all three areas (for those students needing an assessment).
- On the site summary, the YTD hours have been added to students needing an assessment. YTD hours refers to hours since the last assessment.
- When entering multiple attendance dates, the class list stays at the last class selected.
- GED Connections has been added as one of the distance learning classes. (For distance learning programs only)
- For assessment only students, the EFL area will show "assessment only" in red.
- In desk monitoring, there is now a line break in the middle of the page between enrollment and attendance records.
We just added new features to your Site Summary page. For each student needing an assessment, you will notice a button that says Assessment Report. This report will show you all the tests the student has been given in all content areas. Also, the last assessment on the site summary is now referring to the last assessment given. It is no longer referring to the original primary area of instruction, and the hours since the last test refers to hours since the last test (not just the last test in the primary area of instruction).These improvements will definitely assist you in tracking student achievement.Coming soon an Assessment Report for all students (not just students on the Site Summary).
11/29/08
The first four research snippets on MTLINCS have been taken from the Reach Higher, America report and the Reach Higher, Montana conference. What really has created the change in education? Mass education for all? What is it we really value any more? What changes do we need to make now at both the local and state level in order to positively affect the most recent statistics? To be honest, in order to move forward, I just don't see how we can do things in isolation. If this isn't a time for collaboration, I don't know what is.
Norene Peterson, Billings
11/24/08
I liked that the conference addressed many of the issues dealing with getting people ready to enter post-secondary ed or the workforce and that we identified several ways to make improvements. It will be interesting to see what our next plan of action will be.
One other thought: If out-of-school youth do not obtain a GED, post-secondary education will not be an option for them. Getting a GED needs to be a primary goal for anyone without a diploma. It seems as if this issue could have been discussed more thoroughly during the conference.
Mike Rea, Lewistown
Jerry Guay, Hardin
11/18/08
The Reach Higher, America report does a wonderful job of sharing the economic impact of education for every citizen. With the economy being the focus of the political arena at present, I would encourage every adult educator to read this report and share the economic impact of raising the literacy levels of all adults with our politicians, legislators, business leaders, and parents!!! If every one of us makes it a priority to share what we do and how important our work is to the lives of our students as well as our local economy, more students will find our centers and access our services.
Suzette Fox, Billings Adult and Community Education
Check out the new website USALearns at www.usalearngs.org.
11/4/08
I downloaded the Executive Summary of “Reach Higher…” and was a little skeptical. It states, “Young adults are less educated than the previous generation”. I’d like to see the data that came from. The percentage of college graduates has steadily increased since World War II and still shows minor increases each year. It also states, “88 million adults have at least one major educational barrier…”. This equates to nearly 60% of the workforce. Personally, I find that a little hard to believe. Also, define “major barrier”. We all have barriers (mine is the fact that I’m not a millionaire). Finally, the report states “One in three young adults drop out of school…” I’d love to know where that came from! I live in an area with one of the highest dropout rates in the state and we don’t even come close to that number. Even our minority students graduate at a much higher rate than that.
I don’t have the time or inclination to read the entire report. I would hope some of these claims are substantiated in the complete report.
I look forward to attending the Time for Action conference in Billings, perhaps some of my skepticism will end.
Jerry Guay, Hardin
____________
Research Item #3: Percentage Lacking Literacy Skills
Our Treacherous Path
Americans should have been stunned when the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), released in 2005, revealed that a staggering 30 million American adults scored at "below basic" - meaning they could perform no more than the most rudimentary literacy tasks. Another 63 million adults could perform only simple, basic everyday literacy activities.
The NAAL findings are ominous because most good jobs require at least some education beyond high school. The NAAL found that of the approximately 222 million adults aged 16 or older living in households or prisons in the United States, some 93 million lack literacy at a level needed to enroll in the postsecondary education or job training that current and future jobs require.
Reach Higher, America: Overcoming Crisis in the U.S. Workforce, Report of the National Commission on Adult Literacy, June 2008. National Commission on Adult Literacy, www.nationalcommissiononadultliteracy.org, p. 2.
Question:
Whoa! Is this the conclusion you all draw from the information above?
Approximately 42% of America's adults aged 16 or older LACK literacy skills in order to get a good job.
Does that figure bother any of you? What do you think? Please tell MTLINCS to take a math class!
Reflections of Professional Development Activities
Norene, thanks for encouraging us to share. I enjoyed many unique sectionals at MEA. It was an informative conference. I would like to thank those who took the time and effort to allow MACCE to be a part of MEA.
M.J. Hamling did an excellent sectional on “Ideas for Struggling High School Math Students”. I particularly like the “rule of four” note-taking sheet. It is setup so that students can take thorough notes on math concepts in different formats (i.e.; algebraic (if applicable), numeric, verbal and geometric). If you are interested in learning how this is done, please email me at jacksonk@billings.k12.mt.us .
M.J. also told us about a book called, Tear Soup by Schweiber, DeKlyen, and Bills. It is an excellent book that explains in simple terms how different people deal with grief. What’s unique about it is that it is easy to understand. The illustrations are excellent, a must for any adult education program.
Finally, I did not learn this at MEA, but I used it during my sectionals. Moourl.com is a website that allows people to shorten and personalize urls. For example, this is a website for math facts: http://home.indy.rr.com/lrobinson/mathfacts/mathfacts.html
I went to moourl.com, shortened and personalized it to: http://moourl.com/mathfacts
It goes to the same website but the second one is easier for the students to remember.
So, check it out and impress your friends. I guarantee you will use it more than once.
Kathy Jackson, Billings Adult Education Center
Click here to access information from MAACE at MEA-MFT Sectionals.
I have always dreaded welcoming people to orientation and saying I am sorry but one of the things we are going to do as a part of orientation is test you. Listening to Lennox share what West Virginia found when they did Student forums and the adjustments they made to their orientation as a result inspired me to talk with our staff about making changes as well. The Missoula ABLE staff was excited about making a significant change to our orientation process. We are in the midst of making the changes now and hope to implement them in time for winter quarter. Testing won’t be a part of the first contact students have. Instead they are going to get to learn about their learning styles and preferences and how to use those in the classroom.
Renee Bentham, Missoula
Montana was fortunate to have Lennox McLendon onsite to host the first Montana/Idaho LA meeting. The self-assessment piece should be a very interesting one for the Billings staff to complete since the staff has several new members. Looking at what we do well and want to improve upon will be good for all of us.
Norene Peterson, Billings Adult Education Center
The first meeting of the Leadership Academy demonstrated the commitment and willingness of the participants to share their time and expertise to improve the delivery of adult education across the state.
Margaret Bowles, OPI
Click here for activities at http://bogglesworldesl.com/halloween_worksheets.htm.
Katya Irish, Great Falls
10/13/08
The Adult Education budget coming from OPI to ABLE has gone up and still needs to go up even higher to allow us to provide even more adequate services and grow our enrollment. That OPI allocated budget to Adult Education as further allocated and used by Margaret still comes from a total OPI budget. The total OPI budget for public education (K-12 & adult education) has ever increasing demands not matched by incoming revenue growth. What we get as adult educators from the State (not federal, not local taxes) is still in competition for resources with K-12 public education. It’s the same pot of money that K-12 and adult education draw upon that become separate line items. There are some State Statute requirements relative to whom adult education money can be spent on. Those regulatory requirements generally say 16 or older and not public school enrolled. There are things that adult education can do in terms of credit recovery, alternative high school credit acquisition, transfer high school credit, and diploma completions for high schools with their ex-students or those disenfranchised for the moment (16 and older, not enrolled, 10 day absence rule victims, counseled out, etc.). Some un-enrolled high school age youth that fall into the dropout category could, would, or do reintegrate to high school enrollment as favorable statistics, if there were adult education services available them enabling that sort of transition or bridge. With the AA High Schools all struggling to meet AYP, they might be looking for help from any source to include adult education.
Marketing adult education, as being able to do just that function, is what I am proposing. We need to sell our potential contribution to K-12 education as self-advocacy allowing us to get more State adult education funding for ourselves, as one of many approaches, to include transition to post-secondary and what we can do for job skills training also. Going proactive may be a whole lot more beneficial than a “poor me” or I need more money approach.
Those types of services would benefit a high school’s AYP, at-risk services, alternative education services, etc. if utilized and perceived as such. In times of economic crunch for public schools, the very programs designed to handle at-risk services and alternative education initiatives of a proactive nature are the first to go. They are the first to go as part of cut-backs, because they are the last added or not deemed as “absolute essentials.” I suspect that if the pending funding court case does not infuse substantial funding for Montana public education K-12 that is not a one time or short term event, then lots of the bigger school districts in Montana will go into a financial “melt-down.”
Please be aware that Helena and Billings both are pursuing other ways of earning a HS diploma outside of the K-12 budget using locally generated adult education funding in conformance with the law, but being a different application and true alternative education as compared to at-risk educational services. Actually, many of the AA High School Districts are interested in the initiatives going on primarily in Helena. Helena has already gotten the State’s Board of Public Education’s “okey dokey” to proceed. For further info, you may want to dial in David Strong working for Helena Public Schools.
If the State wants to allow certain dual enrollment functions by law for greater budget flexibility, effectiveness, and efficiency that would also be a major common sense application. I might add that “common sense” isn’t that common around here or for how we have historically done things in Montana public education.
Woodrow H. Jensen, Billings Adult Education Center
ESL Resource: CAELA
We have so many amazing resources on the CAELA and CAELA Network Web sites that it would be hard to know which ones to begin sending you. Check out Working With Literacy-Level Adult English Language Learners at http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/collections/literacy.html .
Sarah Young, Center for Adult English Language Acquisition (CAELA)
Dear Colleagues,
I just read the comments on MTLINCS and had a couple of observations to add.
First, looking at trends over time, we have seen two additional kinds of dropouts in addition to the litany of reasons that most people leave school. We have a few students each year who drop out because the work is not challenging and they simply want to get on with their lives. Those showed up after NCLB implementation and they are not a very large number of our students. We also have more students who have a high school diploma (and an IEP) who are seeking basic skills so that they might be employable or even just to be better parents.
Still, most of the students we see do not fit into either of those categories. I was intrigued by Renee's comment about liking to see their youth portion of their student population around 25%. We advertise and serve those who are eligible for services. Our young adult population exceeds 50% of our students, and that does impact the other students. Don't Federal and State laws prevent us from discriminating on the basis of age once folks reach eligible age?
Woody, I have to disagree with your funding comments for a couple of reasons. First, the state dollars for ABLE are a drop in the bucket compared to funding for public schools. The Federal dollars clearly state that they cannot be expended on students enrolled in public education. The State dollars that are put up to match the Federal dollars are subject to the same restrictions as the Federal dollars. State law also prevents expending the state funds on students enrolled in public schools. So, I guess my question is, how can Adult Education funds be spent to help districts "capture" additional enrollment counts without breaking the law?
Dixie Stark, Literacy Bitterroot, Hamilton10/5/08
High School Dropout Rate: Has the drop-out rate impacted your ABLE program? If so, how?
Responses to Woody Jensen's Post on 9/23
The new youth dropout impacting the ABLE programs are those with good literacy skills and sometimes exceptional ones who are bailing out of high school because the high school pacing, requirements, and learning environment are limiting, irrelevant, not challenging, and often not done in the way they learn best.
Woody
Even though we aren't a large program, we are seeing a small rise in the number of youth with good skills dropping out and just wanting to take the GED test. If they're at a 12.9 grade level, they are in and out of here sometimes without 12 hours (we do TABE survey, not complete battery) so it impacts our statistics of students with 12 or more hours. I would say the impatience and need for instant everything is a change I see in serving the younger dropouts we're serving.
Melinda Lynnes, Miles City
ABSOLUTELY!!!! In night school we have some students who can complete all the requirements for a specific class in half the time it would take them in a traditional class. However, some need more time to complete curriculum and deadlines are the reasons they fail. I have 2 students who are very bright, but need extra time; they weren't afforded that option in traditional schools. The majority of my students come to the program with a need to connect requirements to how they pertain to them. Without the relevance there is no buy in, and without the buy in even some of the brightest students want no part of it.
Vicki Mattingly, Great Falls
We see students with a wide range of literacy skills from exceptional to very poor. They drop for a variety of reasons, not just ones Woody stated. They might drop for those reasons, but they don't articulate them exactly as Woody stated.The reasons I usually hear include-- "Well, I got into some problems (ie. trouble), or I need to be working more hours, or my family split up and I'm living with a friend and just need to get this GED done asap, or we just moved (mid year) here and I can't catch up to get my credits to graduate, or I have to take care of my child, my sister (or sometimes a parent)--The list goes on.Cathy Smyers, Missoula
Those are not the students we are seeing in Missoula. Some of the students who leave have very good skills but they are more likely leaving because they have missed too much school, they are uncomfortable socially in the high school environment or there is a family situation not because of the pacing, requirements and learning environment. That being said, I agree that some of those things should be looked at but it is not causing the drop out problem in Missoula.
Renee Bentham, Project Director Dickinson Learning Center, Missoula
9/30/08
I would like to share with the ESL instructors the site below. It is really nice!
Thanks
Katya Irish, Great FallsHigh School Dropout Rate: Has the drop-out rate impacted your ABLE program? If so, how?
9/30/08 Response #2 to Question
The dropout rate has impacted Missoula. We work hard to be a program that serves adults. We are not funded to have the staffing required to serve a large population of youth. We have an influx of youth in the fall and winter after the ANB count and when grades come out and students see that they aren’t going to be able to earn enough credits to graduate. We are happy to serve youth, however we like to keep them at no more than 25% of our total program at any given time. When we have more than that it tends to impact the adults and we are challenged with not having the staff to provide the supervision needed to work with the students.
Last winter our population of youth ranged from 31-35%. When that happens I have to spend more of my time walking the halls. We have incidents like all of the spray bottles in our gym being emptied on the floor and other kinds of mischief both more and less serious in nature. In addition, often the youth are not ready to be in a classroom where they are required to be self directed and focused so they are disruptive simply due to a lack of maturity. It is a challenge we deal with regularly as we attempt to sort out how best to serve this population given the resources available.
Renee Bentham, Project Director Dickinson Learning Center, Missoula
9/23/08 Response #1 to Question
ABLE programs have always served young and beyond young dropouts needing a GED as a secondary credential. Traditionally those drop-outs have had poor literacy skills and a lack of success in public schooling. ABLE has always served an adult population having a GED or HS diploma knowing that even with the credential that what they had in their literacy toolkit for being really ready for post-secondary training or having the skills for career advancement was not good enough. The new youth dropout impacting the ABLE programs are those with good literacy skills and sometimes exceptional ones who are bailing out of high school because the high school pacing, requirements, and learning environment are limiting, irrelevant, not challenging, and often not done in the way they learn best.
Knowing the bigger ABLE centers in MT are aligned with and part of public schools and realizing that public schools are struggling, one good marketing approach for ABLE centers through ABLE or community adult education funding is to provide services under a broader concept of public education cooperation to youth 16 or over that the high schools would value or need to help them succeed. Right now, in trying for more state dollars from the K-12 public education budget, if Adult Education gets more, then public high schools get less. That’s a hard thing to sell to OPI budget authorities where adult education should get more when public education is fighting for its own survival. If Adult Education wants more of the state’s budget pie, then they have to provide services and graduate completions, credit recovery, or transition services leading to a return to high school or alternative HS diploma options supporting public school graduation rates.
Woody Jensen, Director of Billings Adult Education Center
High School Dropout Rate Research
9/23/08
Good Morning,Research item number one in the 9/22 MT LINCS email gives you the link to Reach Higher America: Overcoming Crisis in the U.S. Workforce. This is the report the Gary Eyre referred to throughout the ABLE Data Quality Conference and the GED/ABLE Annual Meeting.I urge you to read this document. I believe it is going to shape our work in the years to come.Margaret BowlesAdult Literacy and Basic Education SpecialistOffice of Public Instruction9/23/08
... I have a favor to ask...Could you provide a link to the Distance Learning PowerPoint (from last week's data quality workshop) on the Distance Learning webpage of the MTLincs website?
Victoria ClarkLiteracy Bitterroot staff andBitterroot Valley Community College Effort spokespersonDone! The PDF of the PowerPoint is now posted on the Resource link of the Distance Learning page at http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/opi/DL/dlresources.htm .
MTLINCS
Things to Bring to DQ
Team Members,
As you can imagine, I am very excited to begin the content standards process. My work with our facilitator continues, and as you might expect, I did ask what you would need to bring to the conference. At this point in time, we would ask those of you that have access to a laptop to please bring it along. We will be using laptops on the 17th in the content standards break out room.
Below is a quick overview of the work we will do on the 16th and 17th:
DAY 1: September 16th
Overall Workshop Goal for Day 1
The goal of this presentation is to increase the awareness and knowledge of standards-based education and to recognize the importance of developing content standards for Montana’s adult learners. This will be achieved through a slide presentation with hand-outs and a participative discussion.
Specific Workshop Objectives-Day 1
- Recognize the importance of standards-based education
- Identify the goals of standards-based education for adults in Montana
- Define and differentiate commonly used terms (content standards, indicators or benchmarks, performance standards)
DAY 2: September 17th
Overall Workshop Goal for Day 2
The goal of this workshop is to assist the writing teams in the standards writing process. This will be achieved by:
- Organizing and orientating subject area writing teams for coordinating, developing and reviewing content standards
- Delegating team leaders who will be responsible for coordinating their content area teams
- Brainstorming how to adapt or develop content standards after review existing content standards in other states that use TABE as their assessment system
- Reviewing resources that will guide in the development of the standards
- Identifying potential challenges and solutions to obstacles so that contingency plans can be prepared if difficulties arise during the standards writing process
- Developing an action plan for estimating the timeframe when each subject area’s first draft of the content standards will be completed
Specific Workshop Objectives-Day 2
- Appoint a team leader for each writing team who will be responsible for coordinating the team
- Determine the specific roles of each team participant
- Decide which resources need to be reviewed before the standards writing process begins along with a timeframe for reviewing these resources
- Determine how often teams should meet during the standards writing process which should include the logistics (when, where, how long)
- Form a consensus on what needs to be aligned to Montana’s adult education content standards (NRS, GED test, TABE, college placement tests, EFF)
- Identify potential challenges and solutions to obstacles so that contingency plans can be prepared if difficulties arise during the standards writing process
- Develop an action plan for estimating the timeframe when each subject area’s first draft of the content standards will be completed
Enjoy these last few weeks of summer!
Margaret
Margaret Bowles, Adult Literacy and Basic Education Specialist, Office of Public Instruction
Survey Clarification
Good Afternoon,It has come to my attention that there needs to be clarification of the term instructors in regards to who needs to fill our the ESL Instructor Professional Profile and Needs Assessment. An ESL student is a non-native speaker (NNS) of English, who is enrolled at our ABLE sites for ESL, GED, Even Start, or any type of transition class or any combination there of.Thus, any instructor who logs contact hours with such students should complete the survey.The CAELA team is eager to compile the responses and begin building a long term professional development plan.Please contact me if you have any further questions.Regards,Margaret