Spurred by changing economies, the five states in the Shifting Gears initiative are designing policy solutions aimed at expanding access to and completion of postsecondary credentials that lead to family-supporting careers. These solutions include:

• Breaking down the walls separating basic skills and English language services from postsecondary education and training and offering these options together;
• Supporting access to and success in postsecondary education with more readily available financial aid and other supports;
• Connecting education and work through career pathways programs that help adults gain employment and advance in specific industry sectors; and
• Using data to guide policy change at the state level.

The Shifting Gears states are working on two tracks.  They are supporting local innovation with grants to test promising educational and workforce strategies.  At the same time, they are re-engineering state policies on adult education, workforce development and postsecondary education.

State Partners

Find out what each Shifting Gears state is doing to increase the number of low-skilled adults with a postsecondary credential.

Illinois
Indiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Ohio
Wisconsin