BETHESDA, MD — Abt Associates recently won a $7 million contract with the U.S. Department of Labor to evaluate the effectiveness of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training (TAACCCT) grants program designed to prepare workers for high-wage, high-skilled employment while meeting the needs of employers for skilled workers. The Department of Labor is implementing the TAACCCT program in partnership with the Department of Education.
There have been four rounds of TAACCCT grants which are awarded to community colleges and other eligible institutions of higher education to develop and expand innovative and evidence-based training approaches designed to reach this goal. This new evaluation focuses on Round 4 grants, awarded in September 2014.
Abt is pleased to work with its partners, the Urban Institute, George Washington University and Relyon Media, to conduct the study, which involves (1) an impact study of a set of grantees to determine effects on training and employment outcomes; (2) an implementation study; and (3) technical assistance and peer learning opportunities to grantee third-party evaluators to help improve the rigor of their evaluations.
“We look forward to bringing the best available evidence to help inform the Administration about the best ways to prepare U.S. workers for employment in high-wage, high-skill occupations,” said Mary Joel Holin, vice president of Abt’s Social and Economic Policy division.
Abt Principal Associate Karen Gardiner will serve as project director.
About Abt Associates
Abt Associates is a mission-driven, global leader in research and program implementation in the fields of health, social and environmental policy, and international development. Known for its rigorous approach to solving complex challenges, Abt Associates is regularly ranked as one of the top 20 global research firms and one of the top 40 international development innovators. The company has multiple offices in the U.S. and program offices in more than 40 countries.
www.abtassociates.com.
Contact:
Caroline Broder
(301) 347-5792
Caroline_broder@abtassoc.com
