Return-Path: <nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i5TCpWf01194; Tue, 29 Jun 2004 08:51:32 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 08:51:32 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <BD06DDCB.B331%lketzenberg@resolutionpictures.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Laurie Ketzenberg <lketzenberg@resolutionpictures.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-povracelit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-POVRACELIT:1401] Re: The use of testing for workforce X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Status: O Content-Length: 3253 Lines: 64 > 1 What tests (if any) does your program or local One Stop Center > use as a qualifier or gatekeeper for workforce development program entry > or Individual Training Accounts? The Reading, PA CareerLink uses the TABE. > 2 Do any other public or private training programs in your area > also use these or similar tests as qualifiers? What do they use? > 3 Roughly, what percentage of people do not get into programs > because of "failing" these tests? Of 130 students, only about 10 qualified for training, as they had to demonstrate a 10th grade reading level (or a GED). > 4 Do the programs offer test preparation to workers who take the > tests? No; however, even if they did, most students entering with little or no English would never have had the time to reach the standards prescribed. (students were expected to have reached benchmark reading levels throughout the year and, as expected few, if any met arbitrary mandates set forth by the one-stop's comptroller). Colleagues within the community college would not, for example, share CNA materials or the lab which could have gone a long way towards preparing students for the academic work ahead. Instead, CNA training became another area of exclusion despite the critical market need locally and students' interest and capabilities in L1. > 5 Do you suspect or know that people are being kept out of > programs who could be successful in them? Absolutely. Many women wanted to enroll in cosmetology, CNA and culinary arts training because they had interest and competency in their respective areas (in Spanish). However, despite efforts to collaborate with technical school personnel to figure out ways to get the students successfully into and through training, my counterparts wouldn't waive their entrance requirements, nor modify their curriculum to be more accessible. Part of this was their fear of attrition if students couldn't handle the rigors of the academics which, they said, would affect their numbers and, ultimately future funding. > 6 Are there other impacts from the testing that you have noticed, > especially in regard to workforce development or job acquisition? The President of the WIB disallowed his staff to outreach to industry for OJT (because students were excluded from academic training), and admonished anyone else for attempting to do so. > 7 Is there a particular impact on workers with limited English > proficiency? There is rampant stereotyping and open hostility toward language minority adults in Reading, PA on the part of CareerLink administrators in Reading, PA. These attitudes directly lead to non-compliance with the DOL's reissued guidelines. Because the workforce system allows local WIBs to carry out the directives (with little or no monitoring, especially under this Administration), there is pervasive violation (little or no translation, few bilingual case managers) which leads to language minority adults being particularly excluding from family sustaining training opportunities. > > > Laura Chenven > Healthcare Field Specialist > AFL-CIO Working for America Institute > 815 16th St. NW > Washington, DC 20006 > www.workingforamerica.org > Phone: 202 974-8107 > Fax: 202 974-8101 > lchenven@workingforamerica.org
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