Basic skills integrated with employability skills training in a Central Texas adult basic education (ABE)--general education development (GED) program that serves welfare-to-work clients
Date
2000-08
Authors
Brown, Shawanda Joy
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Abstract
The enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act (PRWRA) has created a greater need for Adult Basic Education (ABE)/General Educational Development (GED} programs integrated with employability skills. The new welfare reform emphasizes "work first" and places strict time limits on TANF clients as an incentive to work. Unfortunately, a majority of TANF clients have low literacy levels and employment skills and lack their General Educational Development (GED) certificate or high school diploma. More and more, programs are seeking to address the needs of TANF clients who participate in their ABE/GED programs. As this happens there is a need for programs that are equipping students with the skills and knowledge to become self-sufficient. Thus, this exploratory qualitative case study examined students', teachers', and administrators' perceptions of basic skills integrated with employability training offered in a Central Texas urban community college ABE/GED program that serves welfare-to-work clients who have not yet earned a GED or high school diploma.
The central research question was, "In what ways is a Central Texas urban community college Adult Basic Education (ABE)/General Educational Development (GED) program integrated with employability skills preparing welfare recipients for self-sufficient employment?" To answer this question, six students, five instructors, and five administrators each completed a questionnaire and interview. The questionnaire and interview items were based on the standards of exemplary programs as outlined in What Works: Integrating Basic Skills Training into Welfare-to-Work.
The research revealed that the Central Texas urban community college ABE/GED program is assisting in preparing welfare-to-work clients for self-sufficient employment.
Description
Keywords
adult education, employees, welfare, general educational development, workforce
Citation
Brown, S. J. (2000). Basic skills integrated with employability skills training in a Central Texas adult basic education (ABE)--general education development (GED) program that serves welfare-to-work clients (Unpublished thesis). Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.