The control group was comprised of 910 participants who were provided alternative services (GED or adult education programs, alternative education programs, job placement assistance, and support services) available through each WIB or community college. The treatment group consisted of 1,258 participants who were enrolled in the ACE program and received training services. Eligible individuals were randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. Some sites also required background checks and immunization records in order to determine eligibility to gain employment for a specific field of training. Basic eligibility criteria were the same across all sites and included whether participants had (1) basic skills to benefit from training, (2) basic language proficiency to participate in training, and (3) no other significant factors that would affect the potential benefits of training. After recruitment, individuals received information about the ACE program and other available services and were given assessments to determine their eligibility. Participants were recruited by either the community college, the One-Stop center, or both. The authors used a randomized controlled trial to compare the outcomes of the treatment group to the control group across the nine sites. Participants in the ACE program received integrated basic skills and vocational training, co-teaching, career navigation, job development, and support services. The ACE model was comprised of several components which included dual instruction, contextualized learning, community engagements, credentials, campus involvement, student support services, and career navigation. ACE combined evidence-based education and training services within the workforce system to help low-skilled individuals build their career paths. The sites represented a mix of urban, rural and suburban communities. The program was implemented at nine sites across four states (Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland and Texas) from 2012 to 2016. The ACE program created a formal partnership between Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) and community colleges designed to improve employment and employment-related outcomes for low-skilled workers. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). The initiative was funded by a $12 million Workforce Innovation Fund grant awarded to the Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce Development by the U.S.
The Accelerating Connections to Employment (ACE) program was an initiative that sought to address workforce demands and the challenges of inadequate training and career paths for low-skilled job seekers.
This means we are somewhat confident that estimated effects on these outcomes would be attributable to the ACE program, but other factors might have also contributed. However, the quality of causal evidence is moderate for the remaining education, earnings, and employment outcomes because sample attrition for these outcomes was high, but the authors controlled for key differences between the treatment and control groups at baseline. This means we are confident that the estimated effects are attributable to the ACE program, and not to other factors. The quality of causal evidence presented in this report is high for the education outcome measure "enrolled in additional training or education program" because it was based on a randomized controlled trial with low attrition.However, individuals in the control group were significantly more likely to enroll in other training or education programs than ACE participants. The study found that the ACE program had a significant, positive impact on employment rates, earnings, and rates of occupational credential attainment when compared to the control group.The primary data sources were administrative enrollment and tracking records, one- and two-year follow-up surveys, and state unemployment insurance (UI) records. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to either the treatment group, which received ACE training services, or the control group, which received business-as-usual services. The authors used a randomized controlled trial.The study’s objective was to examine the impact of the Accelerating Connections to Employment (ACE) program on education, earnings, and employment outcomes.