This memo estimates the main economic benefits of tuition-free college in Illinois. These economic benefits are compared with the costs of making tuition free. In addition, the authors consider possible fiscal benefits of tuition-free college and whether these fiscal benefits for Illinois will offset the fiscal costs of making tuition free. This…

To enhance state-level adult education and employment policy, in 2007 the Joyce Foundation began the Shifting Gears (SG) initiative to assist six states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin) to integrate adult education, workforce development and postsecondary education policies and improve job opportunities for low-skilled…

A workplace literacy survey was developed and distributed to 4,104 private-sector businesses throughout Illinois to gain a complete and statistically reliable profile of workforce literacy programs. Employers returned 1,340 usable responses. Findings indicated that 53 percent of Illinois firms reported a need to upgrade employees basic skills, yet…

The Illinois Workforce Preparation Action Plan was developed to set workforce preparation policy directions and improve coordination of programs and services in the state. This report provides information on the goals, objectives, activities, and implementation of the Plan. Following a preamble and list of the Action Plan Task Force membership,…

The proposals for work force training put forth by the Clinton Administration offer unprecedented opportunities as well as risks for community colleges, particularly for community colleges in Illinois. These proposals are grounded in a world view that recognizes the need for public investment in employment and training, although this agenda for…

The following presentations are included in this document: "A Nation of Students" (Lamar Alexander); "Businesses Are Clamoring for Skilled Workers" (Betsy Brand); "We Need to Be Partners in Reality" (Roberts Jones); "The Value of a Working Parent as a Role Model" (JoAnne Barnhart); "Human Capital Is…

This report, presented in three parts, deals with the adequacy of the vocational education system in Illinois and the effectiveness of the state's initiatives. The first part of the report addresses the adequacy of the Illinois system in meeting the purpose of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984. The system's adequacy is reviewed…

A 2-day sumposium, attended by Illinois businessmen, labor leaders, educators, and government personnel, was held to: (1) define the major problems and opportunities that will challenge the State over the next 10 to 15 years, (2) clarify the State's purposes and objectives that must direct the meeting of the challenges, and (3) develop a framework…

The Law Offender's Planning Task Force of the Governor's Advisory Council on Manpower was established to develop a comprehensive manpower services plan for law offenders in Illinois. The report discusses what is needed in effective criminal justice manpower services and the problems peculiar to delivery of manpower services within the constraints…

Because their fiscal health depends on having a large base of high-wage taxpayers, states have an economic interest in increasing their citizens' skill levels. In today's global economy, high wages are increasingly tied to the high skills required to function successfully in high performance work organizations. Employer-provided skill upgrading…

Because of a perceived lack in the development and use of evaluation procedures for vocational education in Illinois, a new evaluation system was begun in 1984. It required that at least 20 percent of funded vocational programs be evaluated annually, in compliance with requirements of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act. The evaluation…

The Illinois Council on Vocational Education (ICOVE) has tried to influence educational policy in recent years. Members of the council met with the chief executive officers of the three educational boards in Illinois to discuss issues and pending policies paramount within the educational arena. ICOVE also met with members of the various education…

A study was conducted in Illinois to determine how effectively the vocational education system was meeting its responsibilities to serve persons in economically depressed areas under the terms of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984. State records showed that during fiscal year 1987, Illinois expended $982,956 of the $1,336,238…

The Illinois Council on Vocational Education (ICOVE) has recommended six needed actions for private-sector involvement in vocational education, as well as in the total educational process. The recommendations are a result of several efforts during the past 4 years. The council has monitored private-sector involvement in education both formally and…

This report summarizes staff recommendations of the Illinois Board of Higher Education concerning budget recommendations for higher education operations and grants for fiscal year 1998. The report also includes recommendations for state appropriated revolving funds, locally held university income funds, and other appropriated funds. Specific…