WIOA State Plan Common Elements

The Governor’s Roadmap for Kansas 2.0 provides direction for the state workforce development system.

GOVERNOR’S ROADMAP FOR KANSAS 2.0

All Kansans deserve opportunities for success, the ability to earn a family–sustaining wage and to enjoy a good quality of life. Kansans must recognize and embrace the ever–changing economic realities of the nation and lead the way to economic prosperity.

Goal One: Grow the Kansas Economy

• Make Kansas the top location for companies considering reshoring activity – particularly in manufacturing, services, and information technology.
• Create urban opportunity zones to revitalize high poverty areas.
• Expand the use of short–term employer–designed training programs to deliver a skilled and certified workforce to Kansas companies.
• Focus workforce and training programs on assisting veterans’ entry into the private sector job market.
• Expand the workforce necessary to recruit more advanced manufacturing to Kansas.

Continue to strongly support the Wichita Aerospace Cluster by:

• Focusing on innovation and workforce development through ongoing investments in the National Institute for Aviation Research.
• Fostering growth opportunities for Kansas original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s) and supply chain companies.
• Leveraging our competitive advantages of a highly trained workforce, robust research & development capabilities, expertise in composites and aerospace structures, and a vibrant supplier base to spur growth in jobs and opportunities.

Continuing efforts to maximize opportunities from our regional economic drivers:

• Continue the build–out of the National Bio and Agro–Defense Facility, National Cancer Center, Midwest Stem Cell Center, and Animal Health Corridor.
• Continue to support efforts to develop the Great Plains Industrial Park in Parsons.
• Continue to support the Technology Transfer program at Wichita State University to increase collaboration between higher education and the private sector.
• Continue construction of the Johnson County Gateway to improve our transportation infrastructure and increase access to economic development hubs such as the BNSF Intermodal and Logistics Park–a key facility for maximizing our central location to expand markets for exporting agricultural and other goods from Kansas.

Kansas has seen a dramatic increase in career/college readiness in recent years. Yet we still have a growing demand for skills and knowledge that our current workforce is unable to meet. We can and must do better.

Goal Two: 85% of high school graduates will successfully earn an industry recognized technical certification, been accepted into a higher education institution without remediation and/or joined the military.

• Improve Kindergarten Readiness:
• Promote safe, stable, and nurturing relationships to ensure children have strong healthy starts.
• Promote high quality community–based, school–based, and faith–based early learning experiences through public–private partnerships.
• Support effective transitions into school for at–risk populations, including voluntary, full–day kindergarten.

Excellence in K–12 Achievement and Innovation:

• Implement an innovation grant program to increase student participation and achievement on AP and ACT exams.
• Form a STEM Advisory Council to increase communication and collaboration, between K–12 and businesses that rely heavily on employees with expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math with a focus on expanding internship opportunities for students.
• Incentivize participation in the Kansas Academy of Math and Science for high achieving students.
• Continue investing in rural districts.
• Increase the percentage of state funding that goes to the classroom.

Goal Three: 60% of the adults in Kansas will obtain either a degree or technical certification from a world–class postsecondary institution.

• Increasing the number of certificates and degrees awarded.
• Improve economic alignment by responding to business and industry expectations for graduates and technical program quality; reducing workforce shortages in high demand fields; and enhancing the role of university research in supporting the economy.
• Continue to provide stable funding for our universities, community, and technology colleges.

The key to lifting people out of poverty is independence; the path to independence is a job, an education, and a strong family. When you apply for government assistance in Kansas we also encourage you take advantage of services that will help you find work or receive training that makes you more employable.

Goal Four: Stop the increase in the rate of children living in poverty.

• Continue implementing the recommendations of the Child Poverty Task Force.
• Expand the Jobs for America’s Graduates Program by another 25 districts.
• Partner with programs that assist residents of high–poverty neighborhoods with the specific challenges of their communities through training, support, and grassroots leadership development.
• Identify innovative, evidence–based mentoring programs to assist struggling families escape poverty.
• Provide childcare coverage to single parents furthering their education.

Considering the Governor’s Roadmap 2.0 and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the KANSASWORKS State Board revised its strategic plan to formalize its understanding of WIOA and to guide Core Partners as they implement the new workforce system:

KANSASWORKS STATE BOARD STRATEGIC PLAN

VISIONSTATEMENT

• Deliver a qualified workforce through a statewide workforce system that is accessible to all, including those with significant barriers to employment, to support Kansas businesses, grow jobs and improve the prosperity of jobseekers and workers and workers

MISSIONSTATEMENT

• Maximize the value of the Kansas Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Workforce System by delivering a skilled workforce to Kansas companies as we strive to achieve excellence in service delivery to all customers, promote best practices and establish our integrated workforce system as a national leader.