Challenge 2: Improving the flow through the workforce-training pipeline
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After the high school years have passed, unprepared adult learners must still acquire K-12 skills to bridge the distance from where they are to college- and career-ready.
The grade-level academic building blocks, skills, and requirements stay fairly constant no matter at what age students learn them. However, while we typically expect a child to acquire, for example, 5th-grade skills within one school year, an adult may need more or less time to obtain those skills.
Some adult learners find the grade-level blocks of skills and requirements reasonably easy to acquire. Many others are challenged not only by the skill-building itself, but also by concurrent family and work responsibilities.
Again, strengthening K-12 students' foundational building blocks would speed the flow along the academic continuum. As evidenced by the previous slide, just helping more RI young adults start their journey from a college- and career-ready point (rather than at a point lacking even basic skills) would likely improve degree attainment.
