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Demonstrating Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of Work-based Learning Programs - West Virginia Adult Basic Education
Key Concepts
- Take a macro-level view of your programs to truly appreciate impacts
- Gather key data that allows you to do this
- Use these figures to make your case for your program
Background
Although the focus of the Work-basedLearning.org website is on making the business case for work-based learning programs at the company level (micro view), a case can also be made for the cost effectiveness of these programs on a state-wide (macro view) level. The Adult Basic Education Program (ABE) of the West Virginia Department of Education has made such macro-level calculations, and given the millions of public dollars that can be invested in ABE programs on a state-wide basis, this is a helpful practice for highlighting the efficacy of such programs.
West Virginia has devised a fairly simple formula for calculated the cost-effectiveness of ABE programs in the state, a formula that could be easily adapted in other jurisdictions.
Here is one example of their calculations, for one fiscal year.
ABE Program Impact
During the year, 23,751 adults were served through state and federal adult education funding. The following statistics illustrate some of the ways ABE impacts on the cycles of illiteracy, poverty, and dependence on pubic assistance. AREA OF IMPACT # ADULTS
| Occupational/Employment: |
|
Obtained employment
Changed to or were upgraded to a better job
Removed from public assistance |
1,623
473
216 |
| Educational: |
|
Pursued additional training or education
Passed the GED test and obtained a diploma
Obtained computer skills
Learned the English language |
1,971
2,057
7,374
359 |
| Personal: |
|
Improved ability to help children in school
Registered to vote or voted for the first time |
2,265
121 |
The 23,751 adult learners served through ABE funding received approximately 900,000 hours of instruction. As an economic investment, ABE more than pays for itself. The balance sheet for the year indicates the following:
Cost Effectiveness
| Dollars Spent: |
|
Federal
State |
$ 4,023,090
$ 2,705,032 |
| TOTAL |
$ 6,728,122 |
| |
|
| Estimated Dollars Saved or Earned: |
|
Public Assistance Savings
New Income
Increased Income
New Taxes Generated |
$ 886,680
$ 17,385,576
$ 245,960
$ 3,526,307 |
| TOTAL |
$ 22,044,523 |
Total Saved or Earned - Total Spent = Total Savings
$22,044.523 - $6,728,122 = $15,316,401
Public assistance savings is based on the number of individuals removed from public assistance and the resultant savings from the annual benefits which would have been paid (216 removed X $4,105 estimated annual benefits from cash and food stamps). Medicaid figures were not available.
New income estimates are based on 1,623 ABE students obtaining jobs at $5.15/hour X 40 hours/week X 52 weeks. Increased income estimates are based on 473 ABE students obtaining a salary increase X $.25 additional hourly wage X 40 hours/week X 52 weeks.
New taxes are generated based on 20% of new income and increased income.
Website
http://wvabe.org
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