The Second Year of Accelerating Opportunity: Implementation Findings from the States and Colleges

Launched in 2011, the Accelerating Opportunity (AO) initiative aims to help students who have low basic skills improve their ability to earn valued occupational credentials, obtain well-paying jobs, and sustain rewarding careers. The model focuses on students who score between the 6th- and 12th-grade level in basic skill areas but who are interested in earning technical credentials. In particular, AO is designed for adult education students who lack high school diplomas or their equivalents. This report from the Urban Institute and the Aspen Institute covers findings from the first two years of the initiative and provides helpful information for programs working with adults who have low basic skills.