Principles. . .  In his April 22, 2002 Letter of Endorsement of the Statewide 18-24 Year Old Credential Initiative, Nevada Governor Kenny C. Guinn stated, “I wholeheartedly endorse this Initiative as a means of enabling Nevada to effectively compete in the world marketplace with a strong, educated and trained workforce.”  The Initiative is governed by six guiding principles that Nevada values: an educated workforce; the power of its communities to meet challenges; collaboration among its state and local agencies; support of business/industry and labor; support of its media and public relations industries; and its decision makers for their support on issues that impact the stability of Nevada’s economy.

Supporting Evidence. . .  In the last decades of the 20^th century, as the Industrial Age gave away to the Information Age, employers began to seek those with postsecondary education and degrees with high school diplomas and GEDs (General Educational Development) becoming a minimum requirement for most job opportunities.  The major challenge to the U. S. economy in the 21^st century is the shortage of skilled workers.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2020 there will be a 22% increase in the number of jobs requiring some postsecondary education.  Our nation must compete and win on the basis of high-value products rich in knowledge and innovation.  This requires a workforce that is adaptive, skilled, and educated. 

Working adults, who must balance work and family responsibilities, are likely to increase their skills incrementally over time by participating in formal and informal learning experiences.  Credentials recognizing learning gains that are not tied to specific course completion or degree attainment can motivate adults to seek other forms of training and career advancement.  If the certifications are benchmarked to employer requirements and industry standards, they can serve as a gateway to career advancement and wage increases.

Nevadans must intensify their efforts to support the Statewide18-24 Year Old Credential Initiative and provide information concerning corresponding risk factors to improve the completion rate of 18-24 year olds statewide.  Several risk factors are associated with lack of high school completion: on average, 18-24 year olds that have not completed high school are more likely to be unemployed than those with high school diplomas or GEDs; high school completion has become a requirement for accessing additional education, training, or the labor force; the economic consequences of leaving high school without a diploma are severe; voter data reflects that 18-24 year olds that have not completed high school are less likely to participate in our nation’s political process; and individual stresses and frustrations associated with dropping out have social implications as well.  Self-reported statistics by Nevada’s inmate population for FY02 reflect that 57% lack a high school diploma or GED equivalent.

In school year 2002 about 5 percent of all high school students in Nevada dropped out of school.  Research studies suggest that relatively favorable employment opportunities for high school dropouts appear to increase the likelihood that students will drop out of school.  This appears to be a more significant reason in Nevada, as many industries accept non-credentialed employees in entry-level positions.  These employment opportunities also attract dropouts from other states, swelling Nevada’s 18-24 year old population without high school completion. As a result, one of the most challenging educational issues facing Nevada is understanding and solving the high school dropout problem.  Many studies have found communities can indeed influence dropout rates by implementing collaborative strategies to retrieve dropouts and provide them with additional resources and support to help them complete their requirements for a diploma or GED.

Historical Perspective. . .  Community input and review of existing research and programs indicate that Nevada would achieve the greatest success in reaching this population through community-based strategies and building partnerships among state and local government leadership, business/industry and labor, and educational institutions.

In Spring 2002, Jack McLaughlin, State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Nevada, initiated a Nevada Department of Education priority that targets 18-to-24 year olds who have not completed high school.  McLaughlin established a “work group” to address the issue through development of an initial implementation and marketing plan.  Governor Kenny Guinn demonstrated his support of the Initiative with a Letter of Endorsement, April 22, 2002.  Implementation of the Initiative began on May 30, 2002 as the Nevada Department of Education, the Attorney General and Initiative partner, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, hosted the formal launching event.

Attendees at the launching event were introduced to the Initiative’s three-prong approach to achieving success in reaching the target population – building on existing local infrastructure; coordinating at State level with other agencies and partnering with business/industry and labor in a joint collaborative.  The local infrastructure includes, but is not limited to, service providers in Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language, GED preparation and Adult High School Diploma programs through school districts, community colleges, and community-based organizations; and the University and Community College System of Nevada.  Included in the educational plans for this population will be referrals to service providers that provide opportunities for training programs with skill certificates awarded upon completion.

The launching event lead to the establishment of the Initiative Collaborative Oversight Committee, promoted statewide collaboration and proposed recommendations for actions to be taken during the next five years.  The recommendations were divided into six categories: State Leadership, Community Action, State Agency Collaborations, Business/industry and Labor Partnerships, Media and Public Information and Legislative Action. At its September 24, 2002 meeting, the Oversight Committee made the following recommendations:

·         State agencies should be encouraged to collaborate with the Initiative by identifying resources and client referral methods that could assist in meeting the Initiative’s purpose.

·         A Hotline and Website for the Initiative be developed and maintained at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

·         A 5-year plan be developed for the Initiative to include budget and funding projections and an implementation timeline.

·         A Statewide Director for the Initiative be appointed by the Governor to direct the Initiative in cooperation with the Initiative Coordinator and ESL Consultant retained as part of the initial work group.

·         The draft-marketing plan be extended to reflect the term of the Initiative in relation to the 5-year plan.

Through leveraging of existing Adult Basic Education funds, a Statewide Director for the Initiative, Vicki D. Newell, was named on January 1, 2003.  As Director, Newell will provide administrative and coordination oversight, develop and implement the 5-year plan, collect and track data, and seek grants and private donations to fund the Initiative for the 5-year period.  Coordination oversight will include directing the coordination of state and local agencies, education institutions, business/industry and labor involvement in the Initiative as indicated in the 5-year Plan.  Newell will be headquartered at the Northern Nevada Literacy Council, 680 Greenbrae Drive, Suite 222, Sparks, Nevada; and may be reached at the following: email director@nnlc.org; phone (775) 356-1007; or fax (775) 356-1009.

Action Steps for Implementation. . . 

The Initiative is a three-pronged approach that establishes collaborations among Nevada’s adult education providers and its communities, state and local agencies, and business/industry and labor to achieve success by significantly increasing Nevada’s 18-24 year olds who have obtained a High School Diploma, GED, and/or skill certificates.  The following essential action steps will be implemented:

·        Nevada’s communities will be mobilized to support the statewide Initiative through local community involvement and support.

·        Adult education programs will be encouraged to conduct program and community assessments focusing on reducing the rate of 18-24 year olds that have not completed high school, including comprehensive outreach strategies and an evaluation component.  They will also be encouraged to identify local alternatives that will assist them in building program capacity. 

·        All of Nevada’s state and local agencies will be made knowledgeable of the Statewide 18-24 Year Old Credential Initiative and encouraged to support the Initiative by identifying resources that can be utilized to encourage 18-24 year olds to continue their education. 

·        The Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR) will be encouraged to increase collaboration with adult education programs.

·        Business/industry and labor in Nevada will be made knowledgeable of the Statewide 18-24 Year Old Credential Initiative and encouraged to take appropriate action to make their employees knowledgeable of adult education opportunities. 

·        Labor will be encouraged to develop partnerships with Nevada’s University and Community College System (UCCSN) and adult education programs to provide a continuum of services for the Initiative’s target population.  Services will provide the opportunity to increase literacy proficiency, obtain an Adult High School Diploma or GED, and begin establishing college credits in unison with obtaining technical skill certificates, thus encouraging life-long learning.

·        Business/industry and labor will be encouraged to advocate for support of adult education programs.

·        Many of the tasks and activities conducted during the Initiative’s 5-year period will be at the “grassroots” level.  Local business/industry owners and managers and labor representatives will be strongly encouraged to lend their support to the Initiative’s efforts by providing input as to local needs, participating in awareness campaigns, providing resources and/or incentives to employees participating in adult education programs, and/or serving as mentors or role models.

As Nevada’s former Attorney General and collaborative Oversight committee Chair, Frankie sue Del Papa, once said, “…solving crisis in Nevada takes the 3 C’s – Cooperation, Collaboration, and Communication.”  Success of the Statewide 18-24 Year Old Credential Initiative will require all Nevadan’s working together for the common goal.