West Virginia Department of Education



Needs Assessment

2.1 Individuals Most in Need

Today’s adults need more than just a high school diploma to compete in the workforce and become productive citizens. The problem facing West Virginia is not an illiteracy problem but a literacy gap – a shortage of skills among a very large number of adults who are expected to provide the incomes to support families, live healthier lives, raise the next generation of productive citizens, and participate in a culturally rich and fulfilling life. Many adults are in transition between the only job they ever had and the unemployment line. With this realization comes the fact that they have no marketable skills in which to enter or re-enter the workforce. The process for determining adults most in need and those hardest to serve is included in the compilation of statistics with the target populations described in this section

2.2 Populations

2.2.1 Low income adult learners who are educationally disadvantaged

According to data collected from the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), A First Look at the Literacy of America’s Adults in the 21st Century and the Census Bureau, statistics indicate that 24.8 percent of the adult population in West Virginia over the age of 25 lacks a high school diploma. According to the Census data released in December 2005, the number of individuals in West Virginia over the age of 16 that had not earned a high school diploma was 328,993. In 2006 the median household income was $35,059. This ranked West Virginia 50th in the nation for median income among states, with only Mississippi ranking lower. The State’s unemployment rate in August 2007 was 4.7%. (WV Economic Summary). Census Bureau statistics for 2004 reveal that 17.3 percent of families in the state live at or below poverty level which places West Virginia fifth in the nation. West Virginia also ranks 31st in the nation on the number of households receiving public assistance.

2.2.2 Individuals with disabilities

The American Community Survey also indicated that 21.9 percent of non-institutionalized people 21-64 years of age have a disability. This places West Virginia first in the nation in the category of persons with a physical, mental, and emotional disability. Of the adult population in West Virginia ages 21-64, approximately 247,260 have been identified as having a health condition lasting six months or longer which limits the amount of work they can do, and their job choice. Of this number, 59.6 percent are unemployed.

2.2.3 Single parents

According to statistics updated in August 2007 (2006 Kids Count census data online), West Virginia ranks 3rd in the nation in single-parent families with related children who live below the federal poverty level. The American Community Survey revealed that 59,839 single parent West Virginia families were living below the poverty level. Only 22,455 of single parent families had a parent in the labor force.

2.2.4 Displaced Workers

The Dislocated Worker Survey (DWS) conducted for Appalachian states for the period 1993-2003 and published by the Appalachian Regional Commission shows that workers with different levels of educational attainment within Appalachia, particularly those less educated, were worse off in terms of displacement than their more educated counterparts. Earlier DWS studies also found that as education was attained, displacement rates fell for workers. During that same time, 94,722 workers in West Virginia were displaced. Manufacturing and chemical processing jobs continue to decline in West Virginia as service oriented and information processing jobs are becoming more dominant creating the need for retraining so workers have the necessary skills for these ‘new’ jobs.

2.2.5 Individuals with limited English proficiency

Due to a struggling economy, West Virginia has little history of attracting workers from other states and immigrants from other countries. According to the 2000 Census, 45,895 persons five and older speak a language other than English in their homes. Of that number, 13,550 adults within West Virginia were identified as having limited proficiency in English.

Although these numbers may be relatively small, there has recently been an influx of international businesses into West Virginia including Toyota Motor Manufacturing and NGK Spark Plug Manufacturing that have a high proportion of limited English proficient employees. Further growth of this target population is anticipated as these businesses grow and expand.

2.2.6 Criminal offenders in correctional institutions

In the West Virginia correctional system, there are currently 4,276 inmates over the age of 18 who are serving time within regional jails and state correctional facilities. Data collected from the West Virginia Division of Corrections states that 1,699 (40 percent) of these inmates do not possess a high school credential. We currently have adult basic education (ABE) programs in 17 correctional institutions, but with the growing number of inmates and with additional federal facilities being built in the state, this growing population creates a need for specialized teacher training.

The Day Report Program for those with minor offenses is in place statewide to offer these offenders a choice between incarceration and going to an ABE class to obtain a GED. These programs are growing very rapidly and creating the need for more classes.

2.2.7 Individuals without high school diplomas within specific age groups

The largest growing population requiring ABE services is the 16-18 year old dropout students. The increasing high academic requirements mandated in West Virginia public schools through West Virginia Department of Education State Board Policy 2510, 126CSR42, have had a sudden impact on ABE programs statewide. GED classes have seen an influx of these student drop-outs and this population is projected to continue to increase.

2.2.8 Undereducated workforce

In 2005, West Virginia ranked 36th among the 50 states in the percentage of its adults aged 25-64 with at least a high school diploma. (86.0%) West Virginia ranked 50th in the percentage of adults aged 25-64 with a bachelor’s degree or higher (18.7%) and 44th in the percentage of those with a graduate or professional degree (7.3%). Relative to the U. S. average, West Virginia has a larger percentage of adults who have less than a high school diploma, and smaller percentages with college degrees (see below). [pic]

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005 American Community Survey

2.2.9 Transportation and daycare needs

Inspection of transportation and daycare needs revealed that only 30 of the 55 West Virginia counties have public transit systems and only 33 counties have taxi service according to a 2006 West Virginia Transportation Providers Directory prepared by West Virginia Department of Transportation. This lack of access to transportation limits those living in rural areas from accessing services such as education, health care, and social services. There are only a total of 352 licensed daycare facilities currently operating within the state. A limited choice of daycare for children is one of the main reasons that keep single parents from attending school or obtaining a job.

2.3 Analyses of the findings

Analyses of the needs assessment findings indicate the following key factors:

• Multiple and flexible learning opportunities must be available for unemployed adults that

provide contextualized, work-based instruction that allow the learners to see the immediate transfer of basic skills to the workplace.

• Coordination of support services, particularly transportation and child care, is necessary to assist adult learners in maintaining regular attendance.

• Increased options for distance learning need to be made available to permit adults otherwise unable to attend traditional classes an opportunity to participate.

• The Workplace Education Program needs to continue services to existing businesses to assist employers in having trained and adaptable employees who are equipped with skills needed for global competition.

• Professional Staff Development programs must continue to provide training on serving adults with special learning needs and with physical limitations in order to enable programs to recognize and make appropriate, reasonable accommodations when necessary.

• Specialized programs for the state’s aging population need to be developed that cater to their unique needs, i.e. health and safety issues.

• Specialized programs that integrate social, parenting, and academic skills, for the state’s single parent population need to be expanded.

• Programs must address the unique needs of out-of-school youth through coordination with Title I of the Workforce Investment Act.

• Correctional education programs must continue to address the basic skills needs of the incarcerated to reduce recidivism.

• Intense marketing efforts must be continued to increase awareness and availability of services.

• Family literacy programs need to be expanded to provide greater opportunities for parents to become active partners with their children in the educational process.

• The state must be ready to respond to the likely demand for English literacy classes for limited English proficient adults by providing trained instructors and appropriate resources.

• Collaborative programming must continue with State agencies, literacy programs, and community-based organizations to provide the most efficient and convenient resources for the customers.

To address these needs, adult educators within West Virginia have created a process for developing a more concise, unified, and effective educational system for adult learners. Through coordinated efforts with, the West Virginia Workforce Investment Board, the Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Families, Even Start, Head Start, public libraries, WV Development Office, Department of Health and Human Resources, Workforce West Virginia, and multiple State partners, ABE is committed to “Building Skills for Success”. The remaining sections of this plan will illustrate the process, programs, and activities through which ABE will endeavor to achieve this goal.

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