Community Partnerships for Adult Learning
Building Partnerships Partnership Profiles Self-assessment Tool Business Guide About Us Search Home
The ToolBoxCreating CommunitiesCurriculum and InstructionProfessional DevelopmentWorkforce DevelopmentTechnologyProgram ManagementMore Resources
Supported by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education
of the U.S. Department of Education
Nine Star Enterprises
Highlights
Introduction
Background
Nine Star and Its Partners
Callenges and Plans for the Future
Conclusion
Complete Profile (PDF, 270kb)
Return to Summary

CALLENGES AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Serving the complex needs of a large region with many clients located in remote and nearly inaccessible areas is not easy. Logistical problems are a daily challenge for Nine Star and its partners. Technology problems occur regularly, and finding adequate classroom space is difficult. Sustaining classes in many locations is expensive. Despite these difficulties, Nine Star’s director, David Alexander, emphasizes the importance of a long-term commitment. “You have to be flexible,” he says. “You have to go where the students are and have the patience to allow good programs to mature.”

Access to educational opportunities is limited in Alaska. Although technology potentially offers access from remote areas, many residents do not have Internet access or television, or they cannot reach a classroom. Nine Star and its partners are addressing this issue by expanding their PLATO project to increase program access for those able to use the Internet. PLATO is an adult education learning system, available in web-based and CD-ROM formats, with curricula in reading and writing, math, social studies, science, English literacy, work skills, and life skills. Nine Star offers the program at several sites in Anchorage, with the computer labs supported by AmeriCorps members. An AmeriCorps VISTA member is currently developing a distance education program, so that PLATO materials can be accessed from home or a public facility.

Nine Star wants more employers in the area to see themselves as partners in workforce development and adult education. Around Anchorage, some of the larger hotels and other industries support adult education, but they are a small sample of the employers in the region. Nine Star has worked to involve the business community by creating a staff position dedicated to that purpose. Caroline Gill-McLemore, Nine Star’s business liaison and job developer, works closely with local business leaders and employers’ human resource departments to place Nine Star clients. She emphasizes the importance of knowing the culture of a company, being candid about whether prospective employees need a sheltered work environment (due to low levels of English literacy, for example), and following up once a client has a job. Follow-up can include visiting clients at the work site, providing special on-the-job training, developing a special curriculum to support a client’s employment goals, or offering work-site literacy courses.

Nine Star aims to continue improving the quality of services for communities with the fewest educational opportunities by expanding its work in the following areas:

  • Family literacy. In response to both new federal legislation (the No Child Left Behind act) and the growing need in its region, Nine Star plans to develop new family literacy programs with its partners and to expand partnerships with faith-based and community-based organizations.

  • Case management. Nine Star currently provides case management services for the Division of Public Assistance. Staff would like to expand this work with DPA and other social service agencies because it will help them integrate services more effectively.

  • Healthcare partnerships. Nine Star hopes to build a relationship with local healthcare providers, such as Providence Hospital in Anchorage, to establish new workplace literacy programs. This effort will help Nine Star meet its goal of integrating adult basic education and workforce development.