Publications
Washington State's Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program (I-BEST): New Evidence of Effectiveness
CCRC examined educational and labor market outcomes of participants in I-BEST, which aims to help adult basic skills students succeed in postsecondary occupational education and training.
Using State Data to Promote Continuous Improvement of Workforce Programs: Guidance for States Preparing Applications to the U.S. DOL Workforce Data Quality Initiative
This brief describes how state workforce agencies can link education and workforce data to monitor how well their education and workforce development investments are meeting labor market needs.
Human Resource Development and Career and Technical Education in American Community Colleges
Prepared for a Human Resources Development Group Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), this paper discusses a range of issues relevant to the community college mission of helping prepare a skilled workforce for jobs offering reasonable wages.
Counting the Hidden Assets: First Steps in Assessing the Impact of Community College Noncredit Education Programs on the Workforce and Local Economies
This paper makes the case for the training hour as the basic unit of measurement for noncredit workforce education programs and proposes a taxonomy of community college noncredit activities.
The Outlook for Noncredit Workforce Education
Drawing on a national review of state policies and case studies of 20 community colleges, this article examines trends in noncredit courses connected with workforce instruction and contract training.
American Community Colleges in the Downturn
This article elaborates on the increased importance of community colleges in training, retraining, and providing higher education in the recent economic downturn.
Educational Outcomes of I-BEST, Washington State Community and Technical College System's Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program: Findings From a Multivariate Analysis
This paper presents findings from a study on the outcomes of students participating in Washington State's I-BEST program, which combines basic skills instruction with career-technical instruction.
The Landscape of Noncredit Workforce Education: State Policies and Community College Practices
This report provides detailed findings on state policies and community college practice from CCRC's study of community college noncredit workforce education.
Bridges to Opportunity for Underprepared Adults: A State Policy Guide for Community College Leaders
This guide offers strategies for providing adults with education and training to help them access opportunities for social mobility and secure jobs that pay wages sufficient to support a family.
A Typology of Community College-Based Partnership Activities
This paper presents a typology of the institutional partnerships in which community colleges engage so that policymakers can develop fiscal and regulatory policy to support such activities.
From Compliance to Capacity Building: Community Colleges and Federal Workforce Education Policy
In this paper, the author argues for a new paradigm in federal workforce education policy, one that privileges capacity-building over compliance.
CCRC Research Tools No. 3: A Short Guide to "Tipping Point" Analyses of Community College Student Labor Market Outcomes
This guide aims to help community colleges and state agencies analyze the labor market outcomes of their programs and identify opportunities for improving students' employment outcomes.
Beyond Traditional College: The Role of Community Colleges, Career and Technical Postsecondary Education in Preparing a Globally Competitive Work Force
This essay describes the characteristics of community college students and discusses the role of the community college in increasing access to higher education by traditionally underserved students.
ATE Regional Centers: CCRC Final Report
This paper analyzes how effective ATE regional centers, which work with community colleges and businesses in a single region to improve technical education, have been in meeting their goals.
The Uncertain Future of the Community College Workforce Development Mission
This article explores the evolution of the workforce development role of the community college, its interactions with other missions of the college, and the current crisis facing workforce development.
Income Equity and Workforce Development: Balancing the Earnings Scale
This article calls for community colleges, on behalf of their students, to join the national discussion of how income and wealth are created.
The Community College as a Nexus for Workforce Transitions: A Critical Essay
This article examines horizontal and vertical workforce transitions and how a global economy and the need to train new subpopulations of future workers will cause community colleges to approach their roles in workforce training differently.
Academic Progress of Community College Nursing Aspirants: An Institutional Research Profile
This article reports on a study that tracked the academic progress of a cohort of nursing aspirants over a three-year period.
Strengthening Transitions by Encouraging Career Pathways: A Look at State Policies and Practices
This report identifies ways in which state policies can support students’ academic and labor market success by creating coherent systems of preparation for students entering technical fields.
Implications of Educational Inequality for the Future Workforce
This paper discusses how economic, political, social, and demographic factors are changing in ways that will likely increase educational inequality in the United States and hamper productivity growth.