December 2, 2015 NCL Policy call notes Attending: Judy Mortrude; JoAnn Weinberger; Michelle Diecuch; Michelle Bellso; Jeff Carter; Jackie Taylor; Anne Muir Ability to Benefit "adult education" meaning Helpful for OCTAE to back up the HEA Title IV financial aid folks; OCTAE could identify some strategies and promote some good practice examples; WIOA CP versus HEA CP - align the definition. Will check into this work and send WIOA serving individuals with barriers to employment Is there a concern that the ABE system might start creaming? PA directly concerned about that; built career awareness into the state plan. Other WIOA levers that support NOT creaming: Disaggregated reporting and WIOA purpose statement. WIOA planning process is done in most states. The next opportunity for action is when states start competing the grants. Idea - After plans come out, NCL should be thinking about some recommendations how to hold a competition (state RFP). Maintenance of Effort: 6-10 states in Jeff's survey of adult education directors were thinking about uncoupling state funds from WIOA funds, not necessarily because of WIOA. Dangerous because that will send the message that WIOA isn't supporting the hardest to serve; leaves open the opportunity for states to reduce funding without the "threat" of losing federal funds. One final survey going to adult directors this month on WIOA planning. Appropriations update - Jeff Carter Deadline for CR is Dec 11th. Some talk about extending to Dec 18th. Policy riders are a threat to passage. Unclear whether WIOA Title II will be level funded or get a bump - current talk of 3.3% for Labor, Health, Human Services, Education (vs other non-defense spending increase of 6.9%). Presidential Survey ProLiteracy is compiling comments, discussing how to incorporate them, and will probably send a new draft to everyone. Currently, the survey is more of an awareness building tool than a direct questionnaire. Answers to direct questions could be "published" to make more of a call to action feeling. Will include references/citations for research used in survey. Please send suggestions for contacts. PIAAC conference Supplemental research will be presented; Michelle D, Jeff C, Judy M attending. Challenge is moving all that data into policy. Team - if I missed anything, please chime in! Judy Judy Mortrude 651-276-7067