The Quality Postsecondary Credential Policy Academy is an initiative aimed at helping states define quality non-degree credentials, developing a policy agenda to increase the number of residents with quality credentials, and developing the data policies to support such efforts. The state teams are led by a Governor’s education and/or workforce policy advisor, the state higher education agency leader, and the labor or workforce agency leader, with membership drawn from agency leaders representing economic development, human services, elementary and secondary education, and the state community and technical college system. Some states also include external stakeholders, including policy advocates from NSC’s SkillSPAN coalitions.
States who participated in NSC’s 2020-2021 cohort included Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana, New Jersey, Oregon, and Virginia.
States who are participating in the 2021-2022 cohort include Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, and Tennessee. Alabama, and Virginia will serve as peer mentor states.
States working to advance quality non-degree credentials attainment and racial equity
National Skills Coalition will be working with six state teams as part of the 2021-2022 Quality Postsecondary Credential Policy Academy: Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, and Tennessee. Through the Academy, state agency teams will work together to advance a high-quality postsecondary skills strategy so more residents can attain quality credentials.
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How Quality Assurance Criteria Serves the Unique Needs of Six States
During the summer of 2021, NSC concluded its first Quality Postsecondary Credential Policy Academy. Six states tailored quality assurance criteria, unique to their state, which helped them develop quality training programs.
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Creating an impact with Credential Quality and Transparency
Creating an impact with Credential Quality and Transparency is a state policy toolkit that provides a map for how states that want to improve credential quality and transparency can use the quality non-degree credential framework (outlined by NSC) and the linked, open-source data framework, common description language, and publishing platform created by Credential Engine.
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Report: Defining Quality Non-Degree Credentials for States
In Expanding Opportunities, NSC proposes a consensus definition of quality non-degree credentials and criteria developed in consultation with twelve leading states and national organizations, that states can adopt for their own quality assurance systems in order to make sensible budget and policy decisions and advance equity, putting students on a path to success.
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