Policy Framework for Adult Learners

With $500,000 in funding from Lumina Foundation for Education, the Council and its partners will work to create a policy framework that addresses both state- and institutional-level policies to support adult learners. The policy framework will be organized around the dimensions of access, persistence, and success.

This policy effort will be led by the CPE and Kentucky Adult Education but will be a partnership among multiple stakeholders, including postsecondary education institutions, both the legislative and executive branch of state government, and the private sector.  Its work will be guided by a statewide advisory board, and each institution has delegated an official liaison to work on institutional-level policies that affect adult learners.

This multi-year initiative will begin with a statewide summit in February 2008. The summit will feature national leaders with expertise in best practices in adult learning. After the summit, a policy work group consisting of postsecondary institutional representatives, legislators, state government agency representatives, business and industry representatives, and Council members will be established to draft policy recommendations to make postsecondary education in the state more adult-friendly and encourage more adults to pursue degrees.

This policy work group and its various subcommittees will work throughout 2008 to create a comprehensive policy framework.