Academy Overview: Academy Overview: Strengthening State Data Strengthening State Data Systems to Improve Systems to Improve Outcomes for Low-Income Outcomes for Low-Income AdultsAdults

Laura Dresser, COWSJennifer Phillips, JLP ConsultingJune 30, 2010WPFP Conference, Joyce Foundation, Chicago

But we already use data!But we already use data!

One out of four working families with children—a total of 42 million people—are low-income

Adults in low-income working families worked the equivalent of nearly one and a quarter full-time workers per family

Source: Working Poor Families Project

Economic success hinges on Economic success hinges on educated adult workforceeducated adult workforceNearly half of all job openings will

require more than a high school education

Nearly 90 million adult workers are not prepared for these positions (no HS diploma or college or low English language skills)

Almost half of our workforce in 2030 will be comprised of today’s working adults

Sources: BLS, NCAL, NSC

What today is aboutWhat today is aboutBetter understanding state data

systems and how to strengthen and link them (which systems? adult education, postsecondary, ‘workforce’)

Improving analysis and use of state data systems to answer the questions that motivate our work

Begin with the end in Begin with the end in mindmindTypes of data and purposesData that is collected to point out a

problem or to analyze the situationData that is collected to evaluate

past performance and guide future program, policy or budget decisions

State data systems must begin with the end in mind and zero in on PURPOSE

Workforce-related State Data Workforce-related State Data Systems: What systems are Systems: What systems are we talking about?we talking about?

Workforce developmentPostsecondary education programsAdult basic educationK-12 (in some places)ANDUI wage data (to track employment

and earnings outcomes)

Why should we integrate Why should we integrate data from multiple systems?data from multiple systems?

Do we really know how these systems are performing?

Questions that we can’t answer:◦ To what extent do high school dropouts

who earn a GED go on to obtain a postsecondary credential?

◦ What are the educational and labor market outcomes for unemployed workers who use federal and state resources to obtain training at community colleges?

◦ What value do noncredit community college certificates have in the workplace?

What can a statewide data What can a statewide data system do? system do? Follow the educational progress

and labor market outcomes of all adult students and workers

Track and measure the educational and skills development progress, completions, and outcomes

Track and measure the labor market outcomes

Source: Recommendations for Incorporating Postsecondary and Workforce Data into Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems

Washington’s Tipping Point Washington’s Tipping Point ExampleExampleApplying data not as a supporting

tool but as a strategic weaponCollecting and analyzing data to

change policy, make investment decisions, evaluate performance, and improve customer service

Snowball effect from data findings – a powerful motivator for change

Why isn’t this more Why isn’t this more commonplace? commonplace? Leadership and managementPrivacy laws and data sharing agreements

Missing data on low-skilled, low-income populations

Linkages to wage record dataCreating a culture of using data for continuous improvement

Imperative for ChangeImperative for ChangePresident Obama’s 2020 goal for 5

million more degree and certificate holders

Administration’s strong interest in using data to determine performance outcomes

USDOL funding to support these systemsOther privately funded multi-state

initiativesGrowing interest in creating “a culture of

evidence”

How to get involved: What How to get involved: What role can policy advocates role can policy advocates play?play?Know the state of play in your stateHelp state leaders define the data

sets neededFind innovative ways to tackle

privacy and data sharing issues drawing upon other state’s success

Find ways to become a valued partner in the process or spearhead a coalition to help initiate and guide state leaders

How to get involved How to get involved (Con’t.)(Con’t.)Find ways to foster and cultivate state

leadership that supports data collection

Highlight the big research questions that can’t be answered to policy makers and demonstrate how data collection can provide answers

Identify performance goals and create a storyline and compelling message about what will happen if XX people succeed

Using Data to Make Policy Using Data to Make Policy Change: WHY?Change: WHY?General statistics on their own

don’t often make change (e.g. 42 million low-income)

To know how these systems are performing

Not enough resources or time to guess at how we are doing or what to do

The Mighty StatisticThe Mighty StatisticIf you want to change people’s minds

with data, the data will need drama and depth by being put into a real-life context.

That’s the fundamental strategy needed to make numbers stick: To drag them within the grasp of our intuition.

Source: Switch: Making Change When Change is Hard, Dan and Chip Heath, http://www.fastcompany.com/video/made-to-stick-the-mighty-statistic?partner=rss

A State Data System is Only A State Data System is Only as Strong as the Questions it as Strong as the Questions it Seeks to AnswerSeeks to AnswerWhat are the employment and

earnings outcomes for various education and training paths?

Where are low-income adults falling out of the educational pipeline?

Which workforce programs are most effectively channeling adults towards further education and higher earnings?

Answers to Questions Should Answers to Questions Should Inform State Policy ChangeInform State Policy Change

Should more ABE funds be re-directed towards transitions to postsecondary?

Are enough WIA funds going towards training, and is this training effective?

How are community colleges working for working adults? What changes could help improve success for this group?

Data Analysis is Only Data Analysis is Only Effective if It’s AccessibleEffective if It’s Accessible

Focus must be on how to tell an accessible story with the data that moves policy

Keep it simple, focused, and precise, but also keep it flexible (and don’t spend too much time on it)

Today’s Data DayToday’s Data Day

Infrastructure

Analysis and engagement

Roles for advocates

We Hope You’ll Come Away We Hope You’ll Come Away With…With…A better understanding of state

data systems and how they can be strengthened to improve outcomes for low-income adults

Action steps to help ensure that the development and use of state data systems be geared towards state policy and systems change

Laura DresserCenter on Wisconsin Strategyldresser@cows.org

Jennifer PhillipsJLP Consultingjennifer-phillips@comcast.net