October 3-5, 2018 | Raleigh, North Carolina
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted the second policy academy cross-state meeting focused on assisting state workforce and education leaders to scale high-quality work-based learning opportunities for youth and young adults. The NGA Center hosted its first cross-state meeting for this policy academy in January 2018 and hosted a learning lab for one cohort of states in May 2018. Teams from 17 states and territories attended the October meeting, where they discussed leading practices from peer states and resource providers, refined their action plans and incorporated new activities into those plans. Sessions at the cross-state meeting helped states develop strategies to use data to influence policy and program change, market existing programs, and embed work-based learning into existing systems to help ensure long-term sustainability.
Wednesday, October 3
Work-Based Learning in the U.S.: A National Overview
Moderator:
- Crystal Bridgeman, senior director, Workforce Development Programs, Siemens Foundation
Speakers:
- Tony Marshall, president, Innovative Systems Group
- Morgan Wilson, senior legislative associate, NGA Advocacy
- Brent Parton, deputy director, Center on Education and Skills, New America
Thursday, October 4
Defining and Serving Rural Communities
Moderator:
- Dana Westgren, policy analyst, NGA Center
Speakers:
- Mark Haggarty, economist, Headwaters Economics
- Baker Allen, economic policy advisor, Office of the Governor of Alabama
Understanding Outcomes and Using Evidence to Make Decisions (Concurrent Sessions)
Concurrent Session I: Defining High-Quality Work-Based Learning
Speakers:
- Lauren Eyster, senior fellow, The Urban Institute
- Dwayne Hobbs, work-based learning specialist, Georgia Department of Education
Concurrent Session II: Strategies for Linking K-12 and Workforce Data Systems
Speakers:
- Elizabeth Dabney, director, Research and Policy Analysis, Data Quality Campaign
- Jenna Leventoff, senior policy analyst, Workforce Data Quality Campaign
- Ross Goldstein, executive director, Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center
- David Seith, researcher, Workforce Data Quality Initiative, Rutgers John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development
Concurrent Session III: Using Data to Influence Policy Change
Moderator:
- Meghan Wills, program director, Economic Opportunity, NGA Center
Speakers:
- Manny Lamarre, executive director, Nevada Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation (OWINN)
- Shaun Engstrom, apprenticeship program liaison, Oregon Employment Department
Host State Highlight: North Carolina
Moderator:
- Geoff Coltrane, senior education advisor, Office of North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper
Speakers:
- Ashlie Bucy, deputy director, North Carolina Business Committee for Education (live demonstration)
- Caroline Sullivan, executive director, North Carolina Business Committee for Education
- Jackie Keener, assistant secretary for policy, research & strategy, North Carolina Department of Commerce
- Kimberly Williamson, assistant dean, Counseling and Student Services, Pitt Community College
- Crystal Folger-Hawks, career coach, Surry County Schools/Surry Community College
Communicating and Marketing Your Vision
Moderator:
- John Guerriero, policy analyst, Economic Opportunity, NGA Center
Speaker:
- Kimberlee Carlile, director of industry and talent initiatives, Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Friday, October 5
Policy Change and Sustaining the Work through Transitions
Moderators:
- Geoff King, senior policy analyst, NGA Center
- Amanda Winters, senior policy analyst, NGA Center
Speakers:
- Catherine Moga Bryant, executive director, NCWorks Commission
- Siri Smillie, education and public safety policy advisor, Montana Governor Steve Bullock
- Caroline Sullivan, executive director, North Carolina Business Committee for Education
