CSG Launches New Initiative to Expand Civic Sector Apprenticeship Programs in the States

By: Mary Wurtz

The Council of State Governments (CSG) and the Urban Institute have earned funding from Ascendium Education Group to expand civic sector apprenticeship programs focused on low-income rural learners in Idaho and Maine. CSG and Urban will provide resources, guidance, technical assistance and incentive funding to support state and local agencies in developing apprenticeships to meet their workforce needs, and in recruiting, enrolling and supporting low-income rural apprentices.

CSG will support these states in developing apprenticeships to address growing workforce shortages in the civic sector. State and local governments are struggling to fill open positions and retain employees long-term. The sharpest monthly decline on record in state and local government employment took place in early 2020. This decline was a continuation of existing trends in the public sector.

The “silver tsunami,” or the increasing percentage of state workers reaching retirement age, has led to a massive wave of departures from the public sector, including 28.6 million workers alone in the third quarter of 2020. Civic sector apprenticeships will continue to be a key strategy for state and local governments to address these workforce gaps because apprenticeship opportunities lead to increased retention of employees, ensure workers have the right skills and reduce liability costs through appropriate training of workers.

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction to prepare workers for highly skilled careers in a variety of occupations in addition to the traditional trades. State and local governments are beginning to use apprenticeships to fill civic sector positions in health care, information technology and human resources in addition to construction and electrical technician roles. Federal, state and local government agencies can administer these programs as apprenticeship sponsors, taking responsibility for the recruitment and on-the-job training of apprentices. Sponsors then partner with local community colleges and other education centers to offer coursework to supplement on-the-job apprentice learning.

Apprenticeships can be a useful tool for government agencies to hire members of historically underserved populations. This is especially true for low-income individuals with fewer avenues to economic mobility since apprentices pay little or nothing for training and earn wages throughout the apprenticeship. This project focuses on low-income learners in Idaho and Maine living in rural areas where state and local governments report high workforce needs.

In 2021, CSG and Urban convened the Public Sector Apprenticeship Consortium with California, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan and Virginia to equip and empower policymakers to develop and implement apprenticeships in their state agencies. The initiative brought together legislators and executive branch officials to discuss existing apprenticeship efforts in their states and create an action plan for developing public sector apprenticeships. Through this civic sector apprenticeship expansion, CSG will extend its consortium efforts to include workforces in Idaho and Maine to support states’ initiatives to use apprenticeships to fill public sector positions.

Over the next three years, CSG and Urban will collaborate with apprenticeship stakeholders in Idaho and Maine to:

  • Assemble state teams focused on developing new civic sector apprenticeships. Teams will consist of sponsor agencies and organizations providing related instruction and support to apprentices.
  • Train and guide state team members in overcoming key challenges in developing and operating apprenticeships, including aligning registered apprenticeship and civil service requirements.
  • Identify localities and positions for apprenticeships, including locations with high concentrations of low-income rural learners and high-quality jobs
  • Develop and register 3-4 new civic sector apprenticeship programs in each state.
  • Enroll and support 20-25 low-income rural apprentices in newly created programs in each state.

For more information, please contact Elise Gurney ([email protected]), Dina Klimkina ([email protected]) or Mary Wurtz ([email protected]).

About Our Partners

Founded in 1933, The Council of State Governments (CSG) is the nation’s largest nonpartisan organization serving state elected and appointed officials in all three branches. The mission of CSG is to champion excellence in state government and the organization executes that mission through four major platforms: the CSG National Office, CSG Regional Offices, the CSG Justice Center and affiliated organizations.

The Urban Institute is a nonprofit research organization that provides data and evidence to help advance upward mobility and equity. Urban is a trusted source for changemakers who seek to strengthen decision-making, create inclusive economic growth and improve the well-being of families and communities. For more than 50 years, Urban has delivered facts that inspire solutions.

Ascendium Education Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to helping people reach the education and career goals that matter to them. Ascendium invests in initiatives designed to increase the number of students from low-income backgrounds who complete postsecondary degrees, certificates and workforce training programs, with an emphasis on first-generation students, incarcerated adults, rural community members, students of color and veterans. Ascendium’s work identifies, validates and expands best practices to promote large-scale change at the institutional, system and state levels, with the intention of elevating opportunity for all.

Increasing Early Childhood Education Training and Credentialing

By Andrew Johnson

Research shows that “investments in quality preschool programs bolster student success.” Preschool programs prepare students for success in elementary grades, specifically in areas such as literacy and math. A 2020 policy brief further outlines the impact of quality preschool programs, including positive generational gains, enhanced social and emotional learning skills and spillover effects to students who did not participate.

A recent study also shows that additional training for educators and caregivers further strengthens the impact of those learning experiences. State policymakers across the country are working to implement policies that expand and enhance training and credentialing opportunities for in-service and pre-service early childhood educators in a variety of ways. The study argues for sufficient funding for services and training for teachers and mentors.

Specific, Relevant Professional Development Training

Many state policies focus on specific instruction. For policymakers and educators, there is a major emphasis on improving literacy outcomes. Early childhood education is especially important, as it provides the foundation for future literacy development. As a result, policymakers are working to better equip early childhood education and child care practitioners in establishing a foundation of literacy.

  • Arizona and Delaware require specific literacy instruction in line with the science of reading.  
  • Connecticut directs the Department of Education Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success to develop a plan to improve reading, including research-based literacy training for providers of early child care and other instructors working with children under five.

Other states are adding specific literacy instruction to pre-service courses and programs for early childhood educators.

  • Kentucky requires pre-service early childhood teachers to receive training in reading instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency and vocabulary. The state further requires that pre-service teachers complete an assessment on reading instruction knowledge and skills. 
  • Minnesota and Oregon require pre-service teachers to receive instruction on dyslexia and reading difficulties generally.  

While most research does not specify the time requirements necessary to ensure high-quality professional development, some states are striving to ensure in-depth literacy training for early childhood educators.

  • Arizona requires either 45 classroom hours or three college credit hours of literacy training within three years of obtaining a teaching certificate.
  • Florida requires in-service pre-kindergarten teachers complete three emergent literacy training courses, then complete one course every five years.  

Numeracy—the practice of applying mathematic skills and ability—is a topic not commonly observed in pre-K training policies. However, Alabama established a task force to provide guidance for higher education institutions in training early childhood educators, based on current research in mathematics.

Another topic of emphasis is social-emotional learning. This is used to teach and practice interpersonal skills and self-awareness/regulation. Several states have enacted policies to support professional development training in social-emotional learning.

  • Colorado created the early childhood mental health consultation initiative to expand and enhance practices throughout the state.
  • Florida requires training in social-emotional behavior intervention models.
  • Maine makes available a voluntary early childhood consultation program to provide support, guidance and training to early childhood educators in social and emotional learning strategies.
  • Oklahoma provides trauma-informed care training to child care providers.

Funding Opportunities for Training

Many states are funding various opportunities to expand and enhance the training for early childhood educators. Some policies provide opportunities for professional development and credentialing training for early childhood educators.

  • Minnesota uses grant funds to provide economically disadvantaged individuals job skills training and other career assistance to help them obtain a Child Development Associate credential.
  • Utah uses available appropriations to provide scholarships to early childhood education teachers seeking a Child Development Associate credential.
  • Washington provides scholarships to underqualified staff to earn credentials or stackable certificates from state community and technical colleges.  

Other policies fund scholarship opportunities for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education. For example, Washington established a pipeline for paraeducators conditional scholarship program for non-certified teaching assistants without a college degree and recently expanded eligibility from requiring three years of experience to one, while giving more time to complete the degree.

States are also funding financial and career incentives for early childhood educators and child care workers who pursue further education and credentials.

  • California requires preschool/child development programs to have a career ladder that allows employees to increase their salary as they earn additional education.
  • Texas provides stipends for early childhood professionals seeking additional education. 
  • Washington’s child care collaborative task force incentivizes advancements in higher education credentials and other equivalencies (as well as experience and training) through increased compensation. The state’s Department of Education provides support for implementing trauma-informed training, including additional compensation for staff who have an infant and early childhood mental health or other specialty credential.

Coaching and Mentoring Provisions

Some states focus on teacher coaching/mentorship.

  • Colorado provides payments to child care providers to promote teachers to coaching and mentorship roles. 
  • Connecticut provides scholarships for early childhood educator training, including the training of mentor teachers. 
  • Washington, D.C. requires child development centers/homes to partner with child development hubs to create and implement a quality improvement plan, including aligning program policies and procedures to support on-site coaching and professional development.

While state policymakers are working to expand and enhance training and credentialing opportunities for early childhood educators, states are also implementing a variety of other policy measures to support early child care beyond supporting educators. As states continue to look for ways to support early childhood education, policymakers can compare methods across the states to support their own education workforce improvement policies. 

Colorado River Basin States and Tribal Leaders Begin Historic Negotiations

For the first time, the four Upper Colorado River Basin states of Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico recently began formal meetings with six tribes to jointly negotiate water management of the Colorado River.

The thirty federally recognized tribes along the Basin hold rights to roughly 25% of its water supply. Historically, the river’s water management decisions have been led by federal and state governments without formal input from tribal leaders.

State and tribal negotiations will seek to establish a framework for future river operations, which are currently shaped by the 2007 Interim Guidelines set to expire in 2026. This becomes increasingly relevant as significant conservation measures have been implemented to combat the region’s drought crisis, which tribal leaders assert they have not been adequately consulted.

Click below to learn more about the historic negotiations and their potential impact on water policy in the Basin.

Learn More

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The Time is Now to Address the Broadband Gap

The COVID pandemic changed the way we work, and states have been exploring ways to ensure their residents can keep up. 

This “tech new deal” affecting the U.S. includes one of the biggest investments in broadband since 2008. “We have not seen the amount of healthy investment in broadband since the American Recovery Act,” said Nicol Turner Lee, PhD, director for the Center for Technology Innovation at The Brookings Institution. “It’s important to take advantage of this time.” 

Dr. Turner Lee was a panelist for Tuesday’s luncheon session, “The Age of Transformation: Workforce Development and Education in a Post-COVID Economy.” 

The ability to work remotely grew during the early days of the pandemic, but some people fell through the cracks. Dr. Turner Lee’s forthcoming book – “Digitally Invisible: How the Internet is Creating a New Underclass” – explores the gap and how it impacts those without adequate access. 

“Let’s be smart,” she said. “It’s about closing the divide, preparing people for the next generation.” 

The post The Time is Now to Address the Broadband Gap appeared first on CSG ERC.

CSG Justice Center Celebrates 20th Anniversary

This year the CSG Justice Center celebrates its 20th anniversary, a significant milestone for an organization that has become a go-to resource for state officials that helps foster research-driven strategies to increase public safety and strengthen communities. CSG West applauds the Justice Center’s contributions in the public safety space and their engagement with officials across the country, and at all levels of government, in this important work.

In the past year alone, the Justice Center has successfully launched the Reentry 2030 and Justice Counts initiatives, in addition to comprehensive toolkits associated with the juvenile probation system and community responder programs. Most recently, the Justice Center welcomed five new leaders to its Advisory Board leveraging extensive backgrounds in justice, behavioral health, and state legislation. 

We invite you to view the following stories from the recent issue of CSG Current State, featuring key moments from the Justice Center across 20 years.

20 in 20: 20 Significant Moments in the 20-Year History of the CSG Justice Center

Asked & Answered with Megan Quattlebaum, director of the CSG Justice Center

The post CSG Justice Center Celebrates 20th Anniversary appeared first on CSG West.

Southern Pulse Newsletter, September 2022

It’s been a busy month of traveling and preparation here at CSG South, and our small but mighty team is excited to roll out all the programming, training, and publications planned for the final 3 months of the year.

We would like to thank everyone who attended our first Policy Masterclass, Growing Prosperity: Agriculture, Technology and The Future of Farming. Attendees gathered in Atlanta to learn from industry experts, toured top research laboratory Georgia Center of Innovation at Georgia Tech, as well as the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and enjoyed closing remarks and dinner with Former Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue. Our next Policy Masterclass, The Future State: Cybersecurity, Technology, and Innovation in Government Operations will take place next week in Birmingham, AL, September 27-29.  Our third and final Policy Masterclass, Anchors Aweigh: Navigating the Policy of Ports, will be a deep dive into shipping logistics and post-Covid challenges, the local and regional economic impact of ports, and the incredible technology that supports port operation. Held in none other than Savannah, Georgia, we hope you join us at the Port of Savannah this October 4-6. To submit your interest form click here.

I am so excited to welcome and congratulate the Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills (CALS) class of 2022! Twenty-six legislators and state agency directors from across the region were selected out of an overwhelming response from our member states. CALS is an intensive, four-day, application-based leadership development program held from October 15-19 at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute in LIttle Rock, Arkansas. We can’t wait to see greet this incredible cohort next month! To see CALS alumni, and to learn more about this unique opportunity for top Southern legislators and upper management executive and judicial leaders, click here.

As fall is yet another busy time at CSG South, always stay connected through this newsletter, website, and social media for updates and new publications. We don’t want you to miss a second of the action!

As always, thank you for all your hard work in your communities and states, and know that our staff is always here to assist you.

Click here to read Southern Pulse- September 2022

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