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What's Kentucky's Brightest Star in the Fight Against Illiteracy?
One in four Kentuckians
age 25 or older have not obtained a high school  diploma
or GED. It's a staggering number that can dramatically reduce a person's
ability to find a good paying job, expose them and their family to poverty
and increase their health risks. It's also a problem that affects Kentucky
as a whole, making it more difficult to attract new business and industry,
compete in the New Economy, and raise the standard of living for all
of its citizens.
Now for the good news. The Kentucky Virtual Adult Education Web Portal
has grown from 190 students in 2001 to over 3,400 today. Online learners
represent a diverse range of ages and backgrounds, with learning needs
every bit as diverse. Many are preparing for a GED, while others are
upgrading specific workplace skills. And as more students log on, the
cost of maintaining this valuable online learning portal has gone down
from over $3600 per user in 2001 to just $250 per user today. This is
already $132 less per year than the traditional adult learning center
facility where the average cost is $382 per student.
When you talk to
the people behind the portal over at the Council on Post Secondary Education,
it's clear they have high expectations for this fast-growing Kentucky
resource. Cheryl King, Associate Vice President and Commissioner of
Kentucky Adult Education, sums up Kentucky's technological innovations
best: "From the hills to the hollows and from the cities, towns,
and farms, the KYVAE is providing convenient, 24-hour-a-day access to
quality learning opportunities, no matter where you live in Kentucky."
A Little History
In 2000, the Kentucky General Assembly enacted measures to reform the
state's system of adult education. The Kentucky Virtual Adult Education
Portal grew out of the need to reach more undereducated adults with
improved access to basic reading, writing, math, and employability skills.
Often, adults who need education the most are least able to pursue it-difficulty
obtaining child care, transportation, or time off from work can get
in the way of an education. KYVAE is dedicated to helping adult learners
achieve their personal learning goals in a convenient, easy-to-use,
and motivational format. The site also gives adult education instructors
the option of completing professional development training and graduate
coursework online, as well as opportunities to share best practices
and access adult education resources from across the globe.
Filling A Need
In less than two years, KYVAE has revolutionized the way services are
delivered to citizens, and thousands more are enrolling as a result.
Without a template to follow, two state agencies, the Council on Postsecondary
Education (including the Kentucky Virtual University) and the Department
for Adult Education and Literacy, charted an innovative course to meet
the needs of citizens using leading-edge technology. KYVAE offers these
free services and benefits:
- "Anytime,
anywhere" access to quality curriculum, resources and instructional
support through the KYVU help desk (1-877-740-HELP) and 24 x 7 technical
support.
- Career
planning with access to over 9,000 job profiles and tools to bridge
the gap between an individual's skills and the job requirements.
- Increased
familiarity and confidence with computers, which can enhance adult
learners' employment prospects.
- A more
seamless transition from adult to postsecondary education, as learners
can use KYVAE as a portal to online college courses.
- Increased
cost-savings through economies of scale.
KYVAE is improving
the lives of thousands of undereducated adults in Kentucky and has already
captured the attention of the national media. The "American Business
Review," a national television series hosted by CBS News Correspondent
Morley Safer, will feature KYVAE in a segment airing in late summer.
To find out more,
visit the site at www.kyvae.org
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