INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Department of Workforce Development received the State Innovation Award for its Adult Education “Programs of Excellence” initiative. The award is bestowed annually by the Coalition on Adult Basic Education, the leading national organization dedicated to advancing adult literacy.
Innovation Award from COBAE CEO Sharon Bonney (second from left) and Shaketta D. Thomas (right) during the 2024 COBAE National Awards on March 19, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
DWD led the “Programs of Excellence” initiative, which was created to promote the success of adult education programs across Indiana and encourage statewide program administrators to align with existing standards and goals.
“DWD’s Adult Education team is committed to raising standards that benefit providers and adult learners,” said DWD Commissioner Richard Paulk. The Programs of Excellence designation specifically spotlights model providers who support Hoosiers as they move to the next level in education, training, and careers. These efforts lead to a stronger workforce that is more prepared and capable of advancing careers.”
In October 2023, DWD named 17 providers as the inaugural Indiana Adult Education Programs of Excellence. For more information on those recipients, click here.
“When DWD announced the Program of Excellence criteria, the Impact Institute staff embraced the goals and strived to meet them,” said Caroline Foster, the adult education manager at Impact Institute in northeast Indiana. “We focused on these goals throughout the year and often talked about changes we could make to achieve them. We shared best practices and worked together as a team.
“We focused on the success of our students. Recognition for the hard work and dedication of our staff has been great. Impact Institute’s entire team felt proud of this accomplishment. We will continue to strive to achieve this again.”
For the past five years, Indiana has led all 50 states in the percentage of students achieving outcomes. The state is also a national leader in high school equivalencies earned, integrated education and career training, and employer partnerships.
“Indiana Adult Education is recognized as a national leader due to our evidence-based approach to program management,” said Associate Chief Workforce Strategy and Design Marilyn Pitzulo. Programs of Excellence is an evolution of this strategy, driving it down to the local program level. The model measures strategic outcomes, promoting the use of data-informed program management. As a result, funders and stakeholders can see how their investment benefits the workforce and community.”
More than 250 adult education class locations – in-person or online – in the state offer students opportunities to increase their skills, learn English, access training, obtain industry-recognized credentials, and earn a higher-paying job.
“I have been the program director of Washington Township Adult Education for nearly 17 years,” said Todd DeLey of Indianapolis. “It has been difficult to communicate to our school board and district leadership the success of our program because our metrics differ from K-12. The Program of Excellence award helped district leadership understand how our program performs about state goals and demonstrates the value of what adult education brings to the district and the community.”
To learn more about the 2024 COABE National Awards, please visit coabe.org/awardsandgrants.
COABE’s mission is to inspire educators so adults succeed and communities thrive. The Coalition on Adult Basic Education provides leadership, professional development, and advocacy for our 79,000+ members in adult education. We provide various services, including annual national conferences, a peer-reviewed journal, advocacy tools, and over 50 new instructional webinars each year. COABE highlights excellence in adult education by presenting yearly scholarships, incentive grants and prestigious national awards to feature best practices in the field. Learn more at coabe.org or contact awards@coabe.org.
About the Indiana Department of Workforce Development: The Indiana Department of Workforce Development strengthens Indiana by understanding workforce needs, aligning resources, and providing access to services that empower Hoosiers to thrive in a changing economy. With the goal of economic security and better employment outcomes for all, DWD prides itself on acting with integrity, accountability, and respectfulness. To learn more or contact DWD, please visit dwd.in.gov.
