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From Compliance to Capacity Building: Community Colleges and Federal Workforce Education Policy

By James Jacobs
Today, much workforce preparation occurs at community colleges, and so the federal role in workforce development is likely to include interaction with these colleges. Moreover, as the policy, political, and financial landscape changes, it is again time to update the way that the federal government is involved in workforce education. In this paper, the author describes the policy levers used by the Department of Education in recent years and argues for a new paradigm, one that privileges capacity-building over compliance. This new direction in federal activities can serve as a mechanism for promoting a more cohesive workforce education system.
Download paper
June 2008
  • 2008 National Community College Symposium

Related Publications

June 2008

Towards a Community College Research Agenda: Summary of the National Community College Symposium

June 2008

A Typology of Community College-Based Partnership Activities

Additional Resources

For more policy briefs and fact sheets, visit CCRC’s Policy Resources page.

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