The April 2011 e-newsletter for the Ray Marshall Center has just been released. A copy of the newsletter can be viewed at this link. Our newsletters are sent semi-monthly. If you would like to receive a copy of our future e-newsletters, please sign up at this link.
4/21/2011 – Foundation for Child Development Partners with Ray Marshall Center in Dual-Generation Strategy Initiative
The Foundation for Child Development has awarded the Ray Marshall Center a grant of $218,219 to support the first two phases of the Dual-Generation Strategy Initiative, a multi-year project aimed at providing quality early and primary education programs (PreK-3rd) to children from low-income families, and effective workforce development and skills training to their parents. The objectives in the project are to improve simultaneously educational outcomes for the children and employment outcomes for the parents, ultimately leading to long-term learning and economic success for both generations. The project also seeks to provide new data and to encourage widespread implementation of dual-generation strategies among policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels.
Dr. Chris King, along with Center researchers Dr. Bob Glover and Tara C. Smith, will implement the project. The first phase begins in April 2011 and includes gathering information, developing the project’s framework, identifying participants, and convening with key stakeholders. The second phase will begin in fall 2011 and centers on development of a detailed implementation plan for the initiative and selection of pilot sites. Subject to garnering additional funding and partnerships, the third phase will be the pilot implementation, which is targeted to begin June 2012. The fourth phase will occur throughout the entire project period and focuses on developing the research agenda and performing ongoing evaluation of the initiative.
The Foundation for Child Development (FCD) is a national private philanthropy in New York City dedicated to promoting a new beginning for American education from PreKindergarten through Third Grade (PreK-3rd). PreK-3rd Grade Education is a seamless learning continuum, connecting high-quality PreK programs with high-quality elementary schools, to create a well-aligned primary education for all our nation’s children. The Foundation promotes the well-being of children, and believes that families, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and governments at all levels share complementary responsibilities in the critical task of raising new generations.
4/18/2011 – Ray Marshall to Participate in CLASP 40th Anniversary Policy Series
On May 9, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) will host a 40th Anniversary Policy Series Event in Washington D.C. entitled “Developing America’s Workforce – Learning from 40 Years of Policy and Practice to Inform the Next Generation.” Details and registration information for the event are below:
Developing America’s Workforce: Learning from 40 Years of Policy and Practice to Inform the Next Generation
May 9 | 3 – 4:30 p.m. | Washington, D.C. | Register Now
The President has prioritized creating a competitive workforce to meet a changing global economy. While employers are beginning to hire again, structural problems in the labor market will continue to keep unemployment levels high in the coming years and limit economic mobility for low-income workers. Join us for a high-level bipartisan discussion of lessons we can draw from the last four decades of workforce policy to help the nation effectively navigate its immediate and long-term labor market challenges. This event will be held in Washington D.C. at Dirksen Senate Office Building, SD-562. It is part of CLASP’s 40th anniversary policy series, Policy and Promise for Low-Income People in America.
Moderator: Kwame Holman, Congressional Correspondent for the PBS NewsHour
Speakers include:
- Ray Marshall, U.S. Secretary of Labor in the Carter Administration
- William E. Brock, U.S. Secretary of Labor in the Reagan Administration
- Steven Gunderson, Republican Congressman from Wisconsin 1980-1996.
- Roberts T. Jones, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training in the Reagan and Bush Administrations
- Kitty Higgins, Deputy Secretary of Labor in the Clinton Administration
4/04/2011 – Chris King Presenter at State of Urban Education in Texas Forum
On Apr. 4, the Texas High School Project along with the Urban League’s of Texas – Austin, Greater Dallas & North Central Texas, and Houston Area organized the State of Urban Education in Texas Forum held at the AT&T Executive Training Center at the University of Texas in Austin. The event provided an opportunity for learning and exchange between researchers, policymakers, community leaders, and education professionals. Key topics presented at the forum included updates on current education policies and legislative issues, ongoing research and best practices in the field, and also trends and outlooks for improving education programs and outcomes.
Dr. Chris King, Ray Marshall Center director, gave a presentation entitled “College & Career Readiness: Insights from the Central Texas Student Futures Project.” The presentation provided an overview of the Ray Marshall Center’s research to identify factors and strategies for improving students’ college enrollment and completion rates, as well as strategies to improve employment outcomes for individuals beyond traditional schooling age.
For more information about the Central Texas Student Futures Project, visit their website at this link.
3/31/2011 – Deanna Schexnayder to be Panelist in 2011 TG Annual Training Conference
On April 29, Deanna Schexnayder, associate director the Ray Marshall Center and senior research scientist, will join a panel of education experts and researchers to discuss “Higher Education Access and Success”. Panelists will provide information and answer questions on higher education policy, ongoing research, and public and private research funding organizations. The panel discussion is part of the three-day 2011 TG Annual Training Conference, which provides an opportunity for exchange between higher education professionals, student services professionals, funders, and policymakers. Registration is required and can be completed at the link below.
2011 TG Conference details:
Date: April 26 – 29, 2011
Location: AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at UT Austin.
Registration can be completed online at this link: http://www.tgslc.org/tgconference/index.cfm
3/16/2011 – Short- and Long-Term Workforce Investment Strategies Presented to University of Birmingham
On Mar 15, Chris King gave a presentation on short- and long-term effects of workforce investment and training to the University of Birmingham in Birmingham, England. Research conducted in the Austin and Travis County area showed that long-term strategies for employment have produced higher, sustained earnings outcome. In contrast, shorter term strategies do lead to an initial increase in earnings but was not sustained over time. King also discussed the assumptions that have historically limited the evaluation of the impact on workforce training and concludes with observations for improving evaluations.
Click here to view or download the full presentation “Evaluating Workforce Investments: Short- and Long-Term Training Results and Larger Measurement Questions.”
3/10/2011 – Center Researchers Meet with SFP Partners and Funders
School district partners, project funders, and Ray Marshall Center researchers involved in the Central Texas Students Futures Project met on Feb. 24 at the LBJ School of Public Affairs to discuss recent findings about factors linked to successful college enrollment. The diverse group included officials from nine area school districts involved in the project, representatives of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, the non-profit group TG, and Center researchers.
The meeting provided an opportunity for all partners to provide feedback and input on current analyses and findings, as well as discuss how prior feedback from partner districts has been incorporated into the current research. The Student Futures Project provides regular updates and engages partners to help ensure that the research continues to provide relevant and constructive information for educators and other stakeholders. As a next step, Center researchers will integrate the feedback received from partners in the development of the research publication.
Photo: Greg Cumption presents findings to partners.
2/21/2011 – Chris King in NPR's Morning Edition
On Feb. 21, NPR’s Morning Edition referenced Chris King, director of the Ray Marshall Center, and Carl Van Horn, director of Rutgers University’s John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, in the news story discussing a new program in Ohio’s jobs offices that offers job placement and training to unemployed people. Click here to read the full NPR article.
2/18/2011 – Center Publishes New Report "Challenges, Promising Programs, and Effective Practices in Adult Developmental Education"
The Ray Marshall Center has released a new publication, Challenges, Promising Programs, and Effective Practices in Adult Developmental Education, by Rheagan Coffey and Tara Carter Smith. The paper provides an overview of the state of adult education in Oklahoma and the nation, and details challenges facing the field. It goes on to highlight successful programs in the areas of GED/Adult Basic Education, ESL Education, and Developmental Education. Finally, the paper reviews best practices in adult education and provides recommendations for further consideration by adult education stakeholders in the Tulsa community.
2/15/2011 – Center Partners with TWC in Workforce Data Quality Initiative
The Ray Marshall Center is beginning work with the Texas Workforce Commission on a new project Texas Workforce Data Quality Initiative. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment Training Administration for $1 million over 3 years. The grant is one of twelve made in the country.