Editor’s note: This post is from Carol Padovan, Region 6 Federal Project Officer for ETA. It is a report of the workshop session “Pell Plus – Educational Opportunities for the Unemployed“at the Region 6 Reemployment Forum.

On Thursday, June 11, I attended a session on use of Pell grants for providing training to UI recipients. Jamie Bachinski, Division Chief for the Region 6 Division of Workforce Security of the US Dept of Labor, discussed the new guidance permitting UI recipients to attend training without jeopardizing their eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits, which meant they could apply for and receive Pell grants and other financial aid; Priscilla Leadon, Dean at Contra Costa Community College, California, described "low unit training programs" they had developed for which students could receive Pell grants and other financial aid to attend; and Barbara Rance of Contra Costa Community College reviewed financial aid application procedures, factors that determine eligibility and amounts and types of Financial Aid that can be received.

 Some best practices included ongoing training by CCCC to One Stop staff regarding the career track courses they offer and financial aid available and processes to get it;  "low unit certificate programs" that provide shorter term skills training with college credit that students can apply financial aid towards; and the importance and success that can be achieved for both partners - LWIBs and Colleges - by working closely together, understanding each other's languages and needs. As Priscilla Leadon observed, the resources to achieve success are there, but we must leave our sandboxes to reach them. What experiences has your college or LWIB had in partnering together? What were the factors that lead to success? What were the toughest challenges?