The mission of Kentucky Adult Education is to prepare our students for college and career readiness by delivering a world-class education. KYAE is committed to a quality adult education system that is accountable, efficient and meets the needs of students. Across the Commonwealth, KYAE programs help adult students gain the academic skills and credentials they need to transition to postsecondary education, function productively in the workforce and support their families.
For Kentucky to be successful, the nearly 367,000 Kentuckians age 18-64 (13 percent of the working-age population) without a high school credential must have the opportunity to prepare themselves for college and careers, an opportunity that KYAE programs provide (2010-14 American Community Survey). Consider the following:
· The Kentucky Office of Employment and Training estimates that by 2020, some form of postsecondary education will be required for 29 percent of all jobs and 62 percent of all jobs in Kentucky.
· A person with a GED® or a high school credential earns an average of $9,620 more per year than a non-graduate. The potential increased earnings for GED® graduates in 2015-16 alone will be more than $1 billion over a 30-year career.
· Parents are powerful educational role models. For Kentucky’s schools to be successful, we must help adults achieve their educational goals.
· Individuals without a high school credential are two times more likely to be unemployed, three times as likely to be in poverty and eight times as likely to be incarcerated.
· Increased education has a positive effect on health status.
· Human capital infrastructure reflected as an educated and trained workforce plays a significant role in economic development efforts.
According to a recent policy paper, “The Return on Investment from Adult Education and Training,” McGraw-Hill Research Foundation, May 2011:
“A preemptive focus on adult education actually saves governments money by reducing societal healthcare, public assistance and incarceration costs. Adult education also improves and expands the nation’s available pool of human capital by helping motivated but under educated people achieve gainful employment in today’s increasingly high-tech and global job market, and at a far lower cost per learner when compared to either K-12 or higher education.”
Click here to find the most up-to-date information regarding the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
