ADVANCE Integrated Education and Training (IET)

ADVANCE IET: Integrated Education and Training logo The ADVANCE IET project (2022–2025) provides new training opportunities and resources to assist state adult education offices, professional development providers, and local program staff in enhancing and expanding IET programs for adult education participants.

Building upon the inaugural Increasing IET Opportunities for Adults project (2019 – 2022), which resulted in an IET Design Toolkit and Train-the-Trainer resources to support the design and development of IET programs for adults, ADVANCE IET  will provide:

  • Two Basic IET Design Camp cohorts in spring and summer 2023
  • Five Advanced Design Camp cohorts in winter and spring 2024
  • Deployment of a National IET Coaching Cadre to provide customized and targeted state technical  assistance
  • Curation and distribution of IET program and instructional resources
  • A new IET video series documenting implementation strategies, promising program design, and specialized models that serve diverse learners in a variety of settings
  • Three new online self-paced IET courses

IET QUALITY INDICATORS ARE NOW AVAILABLE! The indicators can be used by states and programs to review existing IET programs and plan new ones, identify priority areas for improvement over time, develop action plans to incorporate best practice strategies and promote shared learning.

The ADVANCE IET project is being conducted by the American Institutes for Research in partnership with World Education, Inc. and funded by the U.S. Department of Education under contract number GS-00F-347CA. The project started in September 2022. For more information, please email Amy Dalsimer, the Project Director, at adalsimer@air.org, or contact IETDesignCampInfo@air.org.

IET Advanced Design Camp Application Opening on September 25, 2023!

To increase the number of states and local programs delivering high-quality IET programs, OCTAE is offering state teams the opportunity to participate in IET Advanced Design Camp (ADC) training. The ADC is designed to help state leaders and current IET program practitioners improve and grow their IET programming.

Time Frame: Five cohorts of IET Advanced Design Camp will be offered in the winter and spring of 2024. Each Design Camp cohort consists of a one-hour orientation and three-day-long online synchronous training sessions held over four weeks. See the ADC Frequently Asked Questions for dates and more information.

Location: All sessions will be held virtually via Zoom.

Target Audience: The ADCs are designed for state teams of up to six people. Each state team must have at least one state-level representative or state PD provider (and no more than two) and two local program teams, each composed of two adult education practitioners looking to strengthen and grow their existing IET programs. The local program teams may include IET administrators, directors, coordinators, instructors, navigators, and wraparound service providers that address student barriers, among others. Details on eligibility are available here: ADC Frequently Asked Questions.

Steps To Apply: The Advanced Design Camp application will open on September 25, 2023.         
Please note that only state directors (or their designee) should complete these steps.

  1. Review the ADC Frequently Asked Questions.
  2. Submit a notification of interest by October 13, 2023.
  3. Use the ADC Application Support Document as a guide to prepare and gather the information that you will need to submit your online application on behalf of your state team.
  4. Submit your application for the ADC via the online application form by November 15, 2023. You can indicate your cohort schedule preference via the application.

The application for all Advanced Design Camp cohorts will close on November 15, 2023.

Questions? Please check out our Frequently Asked Questions or contact us at ietdesigncampinfo@air.org.

About Integrated Education and Training

Our nation’s economy and global competitiveness depend on an educated, skilled workforce that can quickly adapt to changes in technology and business processes. Adult educators understand that adult learners need opportunities to obtain workplace and career management skills through work-based learning experiences that prepare them for the complex future they face. 

The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) has changed the landscape of adult education by focusing the field on workforce development outcomes and programming that support the integration of education and training and career pathways. Integrated Education and Training (IET) is an educational practice grounded in adult learning theory. IET programs help adults who lack basic skills, relevant occupational skills, and essential workplace skills to attain the competencies and credentials needed for in-demand careers. 

The Increasing Integrated Education and Training Opportunities for Adults project (2019–2022) developed resources to assist state adult education offices, professional development providers, and local program staff in enhancing and expanding IET programs for adult education participants.  The project built on prior OCTAE investments in developing career pathways for adults, including the Policy to Performance Toolkit (OCTAE, 2012), the Career Pathways Planner (OCTAE, 2016), and the Career Pathways Checklist (OCTAE, 2017).

The Increasing Integrated Education and Training Opportunities for Adults project was conducted by the American Institutes for Research in partnership with Safal Partners and funded by the U.S. Department of Education under contract number GS10F0240U/ED-ESE-15-A-0009. The project concluded in September 2022. For more information, please email Amanda Ahlstrand, the Project Director, at aahlstrand@air.org, or contact IETDesignCampInfo@air.org.