On April 23, the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services issued a Request for Information (RFI) soliciting feedback on aligning federal grants and services in order to develop high-quality career pathways systems. This request follows on prior efforts of the three departments to better coordinate work across federal agencies on career pathways, which they broadly define as "a series of connected education and training strategies and support services that enable individuals to secure industry- recognized credentials, obtain employment within an occupational area, and advance to higher levels of future education and employment in that area."
This specific RFI is designed to yield information on (1) benefits of and challenges to aligning diverse funding streams, programs, and stakeholders around career pathway systems; and (2) the current and potential future use of career pathways systems to help at risk populations gain skills and access the middle class.
The departments hope to collect information from the education, workforce development, human services, economic development and business communities, including from practitioners, policymakers, funders, business and industry associations, and researchers at all levels of program implementation. A total of 13 key questions are included in the RFI, covering such topics as key program components, resources and outcomes.
The information collected will be used to inform and coordinate policy development, strategic investments, and technical assistance activities; and to improve coordination of Federal policy development with investments at the State, tribal and local levels.
Responses must be received by June 9, 2014, and should be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov or by mail. More details on the submission process can be found in the Federal Register notice.
A webinar will be held to discuss the RFI on May 1 from 2 to 3:15 p.m. EDT. You can access information about the webinar by visiting this website—https://www.workforce3one.org/view/5001411230480370094/info. You must create an account to register.
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