Achieving Equity in IET

Equity-Minded IET Policies and Practices

Integrating equity-minded policies and practices within IET programs is crucial for providing all learners with equal opportunities to succeed. Some strategies to promote equity in IET include:

  • Inclusive Recruitment Strategies. Develop recruitment materials that are multilingual based on languages common to the area and multimodal e.g., radio, paper, social media, website, etc. Engage existing IET learners to understand why they participated in IET, what recruitment modes are most effective, and what messages might resonate to encourage participation among prospective learners.
  • Foster Community Partnerships. Collaborate with community organizations, WIOA partners, and employers to pool resources for supporting existing IET students and reach new populations who may benefit from IET programming.
  • Connections to Stackable Credentials. Stackable credentials provide flexibility to learners through their multiple entry and exit points. IET connected to stackable credentials allow learners to build their skills along a career pathway, acquire various industry recognized credentials, and enter the labor force to seek a job at each credential milestone.
  • Responsive Learner Supports. Integrate academic and non-academic learner supports, such as transportation assistance and case management activities aligned with each learner’s personal education plan, to enhance the feasibility of learner participation and success in IET programs.
  • Inclusive Curriculum Design. Develop a curriculum that is accessible to learners from diverse backgrounds, including those with different learning styles and needs. Approaches might include Universal Design for learning.
  • Center Student Voice. Engage existing Adult Education learners to understand their career interests and develop responsive IET programming. Further, engage existing IET learners to generate insight into how IET programming could be improved and what is working well.
  • Data-Informed Decision Making. Use data to identify disparities related to IET participation and outcomes across student groups and IET program attributes such as delivery method, time-of-day instruction is delivered, and occupational focus. Develop strategies to address and rectify disparities in IET participation and outcomes.
  • Foster Faculty Skills to Effectively and Efficiently Deliver Instruction. Invest in faculty delivering IET instruction so they understand the defining components of IET, have the necessary skills to deliver IET programming, and know how to execute IET instruction in an efficient way that benefits students.
Graduate hugging their family member in celebration.

Madison College drive through graduation for GED/HSED students. To see more photos of this event, check out the Flickr webpage.

Funding Models to Help Pay for the Cost of Instruction

Costs associated with IET participation may be a barrier to IET access among populations who could benefit from enrollment. There are multiple opportunities to support IET funding for prospective learners including:

  • WIOA funding (such as Title I) can pay for the training component for IET programs if the training organization is listed on the state’s list of Eligible Training Providers. To find eligible training providers, visit the Job Center Program Search website.
  • AEFLA funding can be used to help cover the cost of instruction.
  • College foundation or other similar funding could provide scholarships for IET students.
  • State and federal financial aid funding can support the postsecondary portion of IET. Ability to Benefit provides financial aid options for students who do not yet have a high school diploma and are enrolled in an ATB eligible Career Pathway Program.
  • Employer-sponsored IET models can cover the cost of tuition. Some examples Wisconsin examples include Mid-State Technical College’s (MSTC) Sand Valley Culinary Training program and the Central Wisconsin Manufacturers Alliance sponsors the tuition for students in the MSTC Metal Mania IET program.