WorkReady U

WorkReady U and You is an online, self-paced introductory course to adult education with a specific focus on Louisiana’s WorkReady U (WRU) program. It is purposefully designed for both veteran and novice faculty and staff. Upon reviewing the objectives in each lesson, participants can then make the decision as to whether an in-depth or surface review of the material is needed based upon prior knowledge and comfort level. In addition to each module’s general content, best practice checklists, extension readings, and sample forms are typically available for those who would like to further explore the topic.

Onboarding Course Modules

• Program Overview
• Adult Learners
• The Enrollment Process
• Assessments & Accountability
• Goal Exploration
• Planning for Instruction
• Customer Service
• Performance Standards

WorkReady U, Louisiana's Adult Education Network, has adopted four sets of content standards to define the knowledge and skills adult students need to successfully transition to employment, post-secondary education or training, and/or increased engagement in the community. These content standards define the content domain of instruction in adult education classrooms and programs across the state. All WorkReady U programs are expected to incorporate these content standards into their programming at all levels.

1. College & Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) for Adult Education
2. English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education
3. OCTAE’s Employability Skills Framework
4. Northstar Digital Literacy Standards

College & Career Transitions

WorkReady U programs employ a variety of approaches aimed at helping adult learners successfully transition into postsecondary education and training or directly into careers. Review resources below and also connect with other WRU programs and training guides through our Basecamp and Google spaces. 

Distance education is a formal learning activity where students and instructors are separated by geography, time, or both for the majority of the instructional period. Distance learning materials are delivered through a variety of media including, but not limited to, print, audio recording, videotape, broadcasts, computer software, web-based programs, and other online technology. Teachers support distance learners through communication via mail, telephone, email, or online technologies and software. 

Distance education curricular resources must be reviewed and approved for use by WorkReady U staff. Proxy hours must be recorded and reported using the method indicated for each curricula/product below.

Distance Learning Resources

• EdTech Center at World Ed
  • Transforming Distance Education Course
  • Digital Skills Library
  • Remote ESOL Project
  • Digital Navigator Playbook

An essential component of a high-quality adult education program is the integration of digital literacy into curriculum and instruction. WorkReady U requires all programs to support the digital literacy development of students at every class level.

Digital literacy can be defined as the skills associated with using technology to enable users to find, evaluate, organize, create, and communicate information. The integration of digital literacy into curriculum and instruction is required to provide opportunities for students to explore, experiment, and develop expertise using real-world applications for digital literacy while building their academic skills. Programs should incorporate myriad tools and technologies into the classroom to support learning.

Digital Literacy Resources

• Northstar Digital Literacy Standards
• Teaching Skills That Matter: Digital Literacy
• SkillRise: An ISTE Initiative
• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards
  • ISTE Standards for Education Leaders
  • ISTE Standards for Educators
  • ISTE Standards for Students
• Maryland Digital Literacy Framework
• Digital US — Report from 2020

WorkReady U has organized three online communities of practice  -- faculty & staff, administrators, and data managers & specialists --  for the purpose of collaboration and communication. Each community of practice has a message board for theme based discussions and content, a chat center, file and resource sharing capabilities, and a shared calendar for events. Contact Adrienne Fontenot -- [email protected] -- if you would like to join one of these communities of practice. 

WorkReady U -- Louisiana's Comprehensive Adult Education System -- is governed by the Louisiana Community & Technical College System's Board of Supervisors. All policies established by WorkReady U must have LCTCS Board approval. All LCTCS policies can be viewed here -- https://www.lctcs.edu/policies -- but WorkReady U policies are also listed below. 

WOrkready u Policies

• 1.101 WorkReady U - Legislative Authority and Accountability
• 1.102 WorkReady U - Program Administration
• 1.103 WorkReady U - Assessment
• 1.104 WorkReady U - Data
• 1.105 WorkReady U - High School Equivalency
  • Operational Procedures for HSE
• 1.106 WorkReady U - Curriculum and Instruction

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law on July 22, 2014. WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. Congress passed the Act with a wide bipartisan majority; it is the first legislative reform of the public workforce system since 1998.

WIOA RESOURCES

• WIOA Combined State Plan for Louisiana | PY2020-PY2023
• Louisiana Regional and Local Workforce Development Area Plans
• Local Workforce Board Contact Information
• Louisiana's American Job Centers (AJC) List

Grant management is the administrative work and process that goes into accessing and fulfilling the requirements of receiving Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) funding through WorkReady U -- Louisiana's comprehensive adult education network. There’s a significant amount of organization involved that can be improved by helpful management methods and tools. Grants are basically contracts, and this contract stipulates the grant agreement – or the intended use of funds, implementation procedures, reporting requirements, and timelines. Effective grant management ensures that all parties follow-through on these conditions.

GRANT MANAGEMENT RESOURCES

• WorkReady U Administrative Handbook: FY 2022-2023
• LCTCS Grant Management System
• Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR)

HiSET Test Center Management

LCTCS/WorkReady U authorized HiSET test centers are run through our AEFLA federally funded programs. 

Find a HiSET Test Center Near You

AEFLA federally funded programs may become a test center by completing one of the forms below and emailing it to [email protected].

There are many federal and state regualtions that govern student eligibility for WorkReady U adult education programs.
- Students must be 18 years of age or older to enroll in an adult education program. 
- Students 16-17 years of age may enroll in an adult education program only if they have exited K-12 education with a signed waiver from the local superintendent for the child to exit school to enroll and attend an adult education program approved by the Board of Supervisors of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS). 

Eligibility RESOURCES

• Waiver Request and Process for Exiting School - Revised 3/16/2021
• 1.102 WorkReady U - Program Administration
• WorkReady U Pathway Finder - Eligibility