State policy is a key lever for increasing the outcomes of state adult education systems. The U.S. Department of Education funded a demonstration project to test policies and practices that strengthen the capacity of state adult education leaders to support low-skilled adults’ transition to postsecondary education, training, and employment.

Abt Associates and Kratos Learning Solutions implemented this demonstration project in eight states: Alabama, California, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Abt led the technical assistance component, which involved designing the project’s conceptual model, processes for policy development and testing, and a methodology for implementing state pilot tests of innovations in transition to postsecondary education and work.

Abt, through workshop facilitation and the provision of technical assistance, assisted state adult education leaders and interagency partners in their development of state adult basic education transition systems. Abt prepared a final report that analyzed states’ strategies to transform their ABE transition systems, and the Abt-Kratos project team published a policy toolkit that can be used by states to develop their ABE transition systems. This three-year study concluded in 2012.

Read more about this project:
State ABE Transitions Report: Transitioning Adults to Opportunity
Policy to Performance Toolkit: Transitioning Adults to Opportunity

Learn more about Abt’s work in Career Pathways.