Resources

Credentials

Building Ohio’s Workforce Through Stackable Credentials

June 10, 2021

Ohio is a leader in scaling stackable credential programs. The state passed initial legislation on stackable credentials nearly 15 years ago, and it has since rolled out a series of initiatives that expand opportunities for individuals to stack credentials. Have institutions changed the programs that they offer? Are students stacking credentials, and, when they do, are they…

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Credentials

Strategies for Improving Postsecondary Credential Attainment Among Black, Hispanic, and Native American Adults

Aligning Short-Term Credentials with Community College Degree Programs

May 25, 2021

This set of three studies from the Community College Research Center examines what states and community colleges can do to address the needs of Black, Hispanic, and Native American adult learners who are pursuing postsecondary education and training as a path to re-employment, better jobs, and higher incomes.

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Credentials

Making Information About Credentials More Actionable

Through Increased Transparency and Quality Assurance

May 21, 2021

Seven state leadership organizations and five workforce, education, and data advocacy/technical assistance experts have come together to build awareness, understanding, and demand for how policy can integrate credential transparency into education and workforce development state strategies. This brief from Credential Engine explores the ways that credential transparency can be supported, integrated, and leveraged within states.

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Credentials

The Short-term Credentials Landscape

What We See and What Remains Unseen

May 5, 2021

Given the rapid growth in short-term programs, and policymakers’ fast-growing interest to invest federal higher education dollars into very-short-term credentials, we explore what the research does—and does not— show us about such credentials’ utility in the labor market. With concerns about equity, our review of the literature guides us towards caution, as a strong push…

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Credentials

Innovative Strategies to Close Postsecondary Attainment Gaps

Reclaiming Earned Degrees Through Reverse Transfer

Feb. 23, 2021

Across the country, students are unwittingly leaving postsecondary credentials on the table without institutions awarding the associate degrees they have earned. Many of these students are from populations that have been historically excluded from or overlooked in higher education, including Black, Latino, Indigenous students, and students from low-income backgrounds. This report from the Institute for…

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Credentials

Counting U.S. Postsecondary and Secondary Credentials

Advances Since First Credential Count Estimate

Feb. 19, 2021

The credential landscape is vast—and it continues to grow. A recent report from Credential Engine shows 967,734 unique credentials in the United States. As in previous reports, the research demonstrates a need to dramatically improve transparency in the credential marketplace to promote economic growth and individual mobility.

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Credentials

Counting U.S. Postsecondary and Secondary Credentials

Credential Count Approaches 1 Million

Feb. 11, 2021

The credential landscape is vast—and it continues to grow. A new report from Credential Engine shows 967,734 unique credentials in the United States. As in previous reports, the new research demonstrates the need to dramatically improve transparency in the credential marketplace to promote economic growth and individual mobility.

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Credentials

Invest in Career-Readiness Training for College Students

The status quo pushes the American dream further out of reach for many Americans.

Feb. 2, 2021

Only 25 percent of the country’s 1.2 million first-generation or low-income college students are predicted to earn their degree and land a strong job or attend graduate school, according to this report from the American Enterprise Institute. The status quo exacerbates inequality and pushes the American dream further out of reach for many Americans. The…

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Credentials

Credential Transparency & P-20W Data Systems

Aligning Education and Employment Information to Meet State Goals

Jan. 25, 2021

Over the next decade, employers will need to fill millions of jobs that require higher-order thinking skills, specialized knowledge, and education or training beyond high school. This report from Credential Engine explores how states can align education and employment information to meet their talent goals.

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Credentials

Badge Count 2020

Detailed findings on the remarkable growth in the use of Open Badges—the world's leading format for digital badges.

Dec. 28, 2020

A new report from IMS Global and Credential Engine details the growth of Open Badges, which are verifiable, shareable, and contain information about achievements and what recipients did to earn the badge. According to the report, there are 475,000 total badges around the world that individuals can earn, 381,561 of which are available from issuers in the U.S. To date, there…