STATE OF CONNECTICUT

      BY HER EXCELLENCY

M. JODI RELL

                                                              GOVERNOR

                                                   EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 35

WHEREAS, Connecticut’s future growth and prosperity relies on the state’s ability to produce and sustain a highly educated workforce with the skills to compete effectively in the 21^st century global economy; and

WHEREAS, Two-thirds of the individuals who will be in Connecticut’s 2020 workforce are already working adults today, an essential talent pool for state economic development; and

WHEREAS, Significant numbers of Connecticut’s adult workers and young people just entering the state workforce lack the educational proficiency and skills to succeed as productive workers in occupations in the innovation economy critical to state economic expansion; and

WHEREAS, All Connecticut adults should possess the 21^st century skills to participate productively in the state’s workforce, compete effectively in the global economy, support their families financially, and contribute positively to the larger Connecticut community; and

WHEREAS, Connecticut’s adult literacy “system” comprises a mix of resources, programs and services administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education, the Connecticut Community College System and the Connecticut Department of Labor, respectively, also involving numerous local and regional stakeholders, including school districts, regional workforce investment boards, community-based organizations, community foundations and volunteers; and

WHEREAS, These adult literacy resources, programs and services are an integral component of the state’s 21^st century talent pipeline continuum of lifelong learning and development, playing a critical role in maintaining an educated and skilled adult workforce; and

WHEREAS, Recommendations in the adult literacy Strategic Plan developed by the Adult Literacy Leadership Board and endorsed by the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission (CETC) warrant serious attention, addressing improvement opportunities in coordination and planning, performance accountability, system pathways, resources, and advocacy and leadership; and

WHEREAS, CETC is Connecticut’s state workforce investment board, with statutory responsibility to coordinate state efforts in workforce development policy, planning and performance, under the aegis of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA); and

WHEREAS, The key state entities that share broad responsibility for the state’s adult literacy efforts – the Connecticut State Department of Education, the Connecticut Community College System and the Connecticut Department Labor Department – are all represented on CETC;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, M. Jodi Rell, Governor of the State of Connecticut, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1.    The Connecticut Employment and Training Commission (CETC) to guide and monitor preparation of Connecticut’s State Plan for Adult Education and Family Literacy required under Title II of the federal Workforce Investment Act, and advise the Governor on endorsing the plan for formal submission to the United States Department of Education. CETC will coordinate its efforts with the Connecticut State Department of Education, with lead responsibility for producing a proposed state plan, to assure CETC review and approval, in collaboration with other relevant state agencies and stakeholders. The plan will align with the Governor’s workforce development priorities, the talent pipeline framework and the adult literacy Strategic Plan.

2.    CETC to coordinate development of regional-level adult literacy plans in each of the state’s five workforce investment areas, in collaboration with the respective regional workforce investment boards (WIB). Regional adult literacy plans will be developed by each WIB through a collaborative process, aligned with regional and state workforce priorities, integrated with the regional workforce development strategic plans submitted to CETC for endorsement. 

3.    CETC to monitor and report regularly on progress in implementing recommendations of the adult literacy Strategic Plan. Affected state agencies will cooperate with and support CETC’s monitoring and reporting efforts.

4.    CETC to include relevant adult literacy-related performance information in its annual report card on employment and training programs, consistent with recommendations in the adult literacy Strategic Plan. Affected state agencies will cooperate with CETC’s data collection and analysis efforts.

5.    The Office for Workforce Competitiveness (OWC), as authorized under Section 4-124w of the Connecticut General Statutes, to provide direction and coordination to facilitate CETC’s implementation of this Executive Order, with authority to work with all state agencies and entities bearing responsibility for relevant adult literacy efforts, including (but not limited to): the Connecticut State Department of Education, the Connecticut Community College System and the Connecticut Department of Labor.

6.    That the OWC may contract with outside entities to support CETC’s efforts and draw upon other state agencies as per statute.

This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon the date hereof.

Dated at Hartford, Connecticut, this 25 day of  November, 2009

____________________________________

M. Jodi Rell

By Her Excellency’s Command

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Susan Bysiewicz, Secretary of the State