80_FR_8722 80 FR 8690 - Public Listening Session

80 FR 8690 - Public Listening Session

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 32 (February 18, 2015)

Page Range8690-8690
FR Document2015-03208

In preparation for launching the Online Skills Academy described in the Administration's ``Ready to Work: Job-Driving Training and American Opportunity'' report, the Department of Labor (Department), Employment and Training Administration is hosting a virtual listening session to solicit information and public input concerning the development of an Online Skills Academy. This listening session will be hosted in partnership with the Department of Education. The listening session will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to provide their comments and suggestions and engage in a national dialogue regarding the implementation of this priority funding. Instructions regarding registering for and attending the listening session are in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 8690]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03208]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Public Listening Session

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice of public listening session.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In preparation for launching the Online Skills Academy 
described in the Administration's ``Ready to Work: Job-Driving Training 
and American Opportunity'' report, the Department of Labor 
(Department), Employment and Training Administration is hosting a 
virtual listening session to solicit information and public input 
concerning the development of an Online Skills Academy. This listening 
session will be hosted in partnership with the Department of Education.
    The listening session will provide an opportunity for stakeholders 
to provide their comments and suggestions and engage in a national 
dialogue regarding the implementation of this priority funding.
    Instructions regarding registering for and attending the listening 
session are in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

DATES: 
    Listening Session: The virtual listening session will be on, 
Friday, February 20, 2015, and will begin at 2:00 p.m. and is scheduled 
to end by 4:00 p.m.
    Registration: You must register to attend this virtual listening 
session. ETA will post specific information on how to register and 
participate via the Internet on the Online Skills Academy Web site at 
www.doleta.gov/skillsacademy in advance of the listening session.
    Comments: A transcript of all public comments will be available. 
This transcript and any written comments submitted following the public 
listening session will be posted on the Online Skills Academy Web site 
at www.doleta.gov/skillsacademy by Friday, February 27, 2015. Written 
comments must be submitted electronically to skillsacademy@dol.gov. 
Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 25, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: The listening session will be conducted virtually via live 
webcast. ETA will post the agenda and logistical information on how to 
participate via Internet on the Online Skills Academy Web site at 
http://www.doleta.gov/skillsacademy in advance of the listening 
session. The session is open to the public and the entire proceedings 
will be webcast, recorded, and made publicly available. Interested 
parties may participate via webcast only. Capacity is not limited but 
registration is required. For information on how to register, go to 
http://www.doleta.gov/skillsacademy. Registration will be open until 
the listening session begins. In addition to attending joining the 
virtual session via webinar, ETA would like to solicit comments 
electronically to skillsacademy@dol.gov. Comments must be received by 
5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 25, 2015.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In July 2014, Vice President Joe Biden released a report on federal 
job-driven training programs, http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/skills_report_072014_2.pdf. Among other things, programs and 
initiatives identified in this report highlight the importance of 
strategies that are responsive to employer needs in order to 
effectively place ready-to-work Americans in jobs that are available 
now or train them in the skills needed for better jobs. The report also 
highlighted future initiatives that expand the tools for job seekers to 
find pathways to better jobs. One of these initiatives is the 
Department of Labor's Online Skills Academy, a competition to award up 
to $25 million for partnerships that will offer open, online courses of 
study, helping students earn credentials online through participating 
accredited institutions, and expanding access to curriculum designed to 
speed the time to credit and completion. Building off the burgeoning 
marketplace of free and openly-licensed learning resources, including 
the content developed through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community 
College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant program, this online skills 
academy will ensure that workers can get the education and training 
they need to advance their careers by developing skills in-demand by 
employers through courses that are free to access and provide a low 
cost means for earning credentials and degrees. This initiative will be 
administered in partnership with the Department of Education.
    To plan this competition, the Departments of Labor and Education 
will engage stakeholders in a national dialogue to learn and understand 
concerns and ideas related to the following topics:

     Technology-enabled and online learning, including use of 
open platforms
     Accelerated career pathways leading to industry-recognized 
credentials in in-demand fields
     Contextualized learning
     Online and technology enabled assessment tools, including 
competency-based and open access assessments
     Use of local labor market information and employer 
engagement in identification of in-demand skills and credentials

II. Instructions for Attending the Listening Session

    Space for attendance at this virtual listening session is not 
limited; however, you must register to attend. Information on how to 
register and participate will be posted on the Online Skills Academy 
Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/skillsacademy in advance of the 
listening session.

III. Draft Agenda for the February 20, 2015 Listening Session

Welcome and Introductions--2:00 p.m. ET to 2:20 p.m. ET
Overview of Online Skills Academy Vision and Required Components--2:20 
p.m. ET to 2:30 p.m. ET
Open Comment Period--2:30 p.m. ET to 4:00 p.m. ET
     Topic #1--Online Education and Learning
     Topic #2--Open Educational Resources and Open Platforms
     Topic #3--Training Unemployed Workers and Non-traditional 
Learners
     Topic #4--Developing Career Pathways in High-Demand 
Sectors
     Topic #5--Developing Assessments

    The agenda will be strictly followed; participants may attend all 
or part of the listening session as relevant. The updated agenda will 
be posted on the Online Skills Academy Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/skillsacademy in advance of the listening session.

Portia Wu,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2015-03208 Filed 2-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FN-P



                                                8690                      Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 18, 2015 / Notices

                                                  Signed at Washington, DC, this 9th day of             p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 25,                    will be administered in partnership
                                                February, 2015.                                         2015.                                                 with the Department of Education.
                                                Lyssa Hall,                                                                                                     To plan this competition, the
                                                Director of Exemption Determinations,                   ADDRESSES:    The listening session will              Departments of Labor and Education
                                                Employee Benefits Security Administration,              be conducted virtually via live webcast.              will engage stakeholders in a national
                                                U.S. Department of Labor.                               ETA will post the agenda and logistical               dialogue to learn and understand
                                                [FR Doc. 2015–03014 Filed 2–17–15; 8:45 am]             information on how to participate via                 concerns and ideas related to the
                                                BILLING CODE 4510–29–P                                  Internet on the Online Skills Academy                 following topics:
                                                                                                        Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/
                                                                                                        skillsacademy in advance of the                         • Technology-enabled and online
                                                DEPARTMENT OF LABOR                                     listening session. The session is open to             learning, including use of open
                                                                                                        the public and the entire proceedings                 platforms
                                                Employment and Training                                 will be webcast, recorded, and made                     • Accelerated career pathways
                                                Administration                                          publicly available. Interested parties                leading to industry-recognized
                                                                                                        may participate via webcast only.                     credentials in in-demand fields
                                                Public Listening Session                                Capacity is not limited but registration                • Contextualized learning
                                                AGENCY:  Employment and Training                        is required. For information on how to                  • Online and technology enabled
                                                Administration (ETA), Labor.                            register, go to http://www.doleta.gov/                assessment tools, including
                                                ACTION: Notice of public listening                      skillsacademy. Registration will be open              competency-based and open access
                                                session.                                                until the listening session begins. In                assessments
                                                                                                        addition to attending joining the virtual               • Use of local labor market
                                                SUMMARY:    In preparation for launching                session via webinar, ETA would like to                information and employer engagement
                                                the Online Skills Academy described in                  solicit comments electronically to                    in identification of in-demand skills and
                                                the Administration’s ‘‘Ready to Work:                   skillsacademy@dol.gov. Comments must                  credentials
                                                Job-Driving Training and American                       be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on
                                                Opportunity’’ report, the Department of                 Wednesday, February 25, 2015.                         II. Instructions for Attending the
                                                Labor (Department), Employment and                                                                            Listening Session
                                                                                                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                Training Administration is hosting a                                                                             Space for attendance at this virtual
                                                virtual listening session to solicit                    I. Background                                         listening session is not limited;
                                                information and public input                                                                                  however, you must register to attend.
                                                concerning the development of an                           In July 2014, Vice President Joe Biden
                                                                                                                                                              Information on how to register and
                                                Online Skills Academy. This listening                   released a report on federal job-driven
                                                                                                                                                              participate will be posted on the Online
                                                session will be hosted in partnership                   training programs, http://
                                                                                                                                                              Skills Academy Web site at http://
                                                with the Department of Education.                       www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/
                                                                                                                                                              www.doleta.gov/skillsacademy in
                                                   The listening session will provide an                skills_report_072014_2.pdf. Among
                                                                                                                                                              advance of the listening session.
                                                opportunity for stakeholders to provide                 other things, programs and initiatives
                                                their comments and suggestions and                      identified in this report highlight the               III. Draft Agenda for the February 20,
                                                engage in a national dialogue regarding                 importance of strategies that are                     2015 Listening Session
                                                the implementation of this priority                     responsive to employer needs in order
                                                                                                                                                              Welcome and Introductions—2:00 p.m.
                                                funding.                                                to effectively place ready-to-work
                                                                                                                                                                   ET to 2:20 p.m. ET
                                                   Instructions regarding registering for               Americans in jobs that are available now
                                                                                                                                                              Overview of Online Skills Academy
                                                and attending the listening session are                 or train them in the skills needed for
                                                                                                                                                                   Vision and Required Components—
                                                in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION                        better jobs. The report also highlighted
                                                                                                                                                                   2:20 p.m. ET to 2:30 p.m. ET
                                                section of this notice.                                 future initiatives that expand the tools
                                                                                                        for job seekers to find pathways to better            Open Comment Period—2:30 p.m. ET to
                                                DATES:
                                                                                                        jobs. One of these initiatives is the                      4:00 p.m. ET
                                                   Listening Session: The virtual
                                                                                                        Department of Labor’s Online Skills                      • Topic #1—Online Education and
                                                listening session will be on, Friday,
                                                                                                        Academy, a competition to award up to                      Learning
                                                February 20, 2015, and will begin at
                                                2:00 p.m. and is scheduled to end by                    $25 million for partnerships that will                   • Topic #2—Open Educational
                                                4:00 p.m.                                               offer open, online courses of study,                       Resources and Open Platforms
                                                   Registration: You must register to                   helping students earn credentials online                 • Topic #3—Training Unemployed
                                                attend this virtual listening session.                  through participating accredited                           Workers and Non-traditional
                                                ETA will post specific information on                   institutions, and expanding access to                      Learners
                                                how to register and participate via the                 curriculum designed to speed the time                    • Topic #4—Developing Career
                                                Internet on the Online Skills Academy                   to credit and completion. Building off                     Pathways in High-Demand Sectors
                                                Web site at www.doleta.gov/                             the burgeoning marketplace of free and                   • Topic #5—Developing Assessments
                                                skillsacademy in advance of the                         openly-licensed learning resources,                      The agenda will be strictly followed;
                                                listening session.                                      including the content developed                       participants may attend all or part of the
                                                   Comments: A transcript of all public                 through the Trade Adjustment                          listening session as relevant. The
                                                comments will be available. This                        Assistance Community College and                      updated agenda will be posted on the
                                                transcript and any written comments                     Career Training (TAACCCT) grant                       Online Skills Academy Web site at
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                submitted following the public listening                program, this online skills academy will              http://www.doleta.gov/skillsacademy in
                                                session will be posted on the Online                    ensure that workers can get the                       advance of the listening session.
                                                Skills Academy Web site at                              education and training they need to
                                                www.doleta.gov/skillsacademy by                         advance their careers by developing                   Portia Wu,
                                                Friday, February 27, 2015. Written                      skills in-demand by employers through                 Assistant Secretary for Employment and
                                                comments must be submitted                              courses that are free to access and                   Training, Labor.
                                                electronically to skillsacademy@dol.gov.                provide a low cost means for earning                  [FR Doc. 2015–03208 Filed 2–17–15; 8:45 am]
                                                Comments must be received by 5:00                       credentials and degrees. This initiative              BILLING CODE 4510–FN–P




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Document Created: 2018-02-16 11:10:48
Document Modified: 2018-02-16 11:10:48
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of public listening session.
DatesListening Session: The virtual listening session will be on, Friday, February 20, 2015, and will begin at 2:00 p.m. and is scheduled to end by 4:00 p.m.
FR Citation80 FR 8690 

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