SUCCESS STORIES

Ed Walter

Traverse City

When Ed Walter lost his tool & die job he decided to go to college to get training for a new career. But before he could do that he knew he needed to improve his academic skills. Walter did that at the Traverse City Adult Education Learning Lab. "I've learned how to learn and work hard at it," said Walter. He plans to pursue the training he needs to move in to an HVAC career.

Adult Education Transformation

In 2009 Michigan's Council for Labor and Economic Growth (CLEG), the statewide workforce development board, commissioned a study to determine a forward-moving plan for Adult Education. A workgroup was formed to do the research and determine promising practices. Several focus groups were conducted to learn the effectiveness of Adult Education throughout the state.

The workgroup produced a report, which was presented to CLEG in early 2011. The report indicated that in order to assist Michigan workers in advancing their skills to compete in the global new economy, educational providers must collaborate. Working together, Adult Education providers, colleges, and Michigan Works! can help adult learners to transform their skills and their lives.

Click here to view the CLEG report.

In response to the CLEG report, adult educators were convened to begin the process to put the CLEG report recommendations into action. The adult education proposals can be viewed in the following report.

Click here to view the report:  Michigan’s Adult Education System: A Framework for Transormation

 

The chart below shows the relationship between educational attainment, average annual earnings and unemployment rate.

Unemployment and Earnings for Workers 25 and Older by Educational Attainment