The LiLA Link
January 22, 2008

LiLAs continue to generate press coverage. For example, Senator Williams, Majority Leader of the Montana Senate, voiced her support of the federal Lifelong Learning Accounts Act of 2007 in a recent op ed featured in several Montana publications.
See article in the Billings Gazette.

We also invite you to review the latest articles on LiLAs, this one published in the Community College Times:
"A new tool to finance a college education", November 23, 2007, by Amy Sherman and Rebecca Klein-Collins

In addition, LiLAs are recommended in the recently released Good Policy, Good Practice, Improving Outcomes and Productivity in Higher Education: A Guide for Policymakers," a joint report from The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education & The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.
Download pdf

Finally, in its well-received April report entitled From Poverty to Prosperity: A National Strategy to Cut Poverty in Half, the Center for American Progress featured LiLAs as one of the strategies state leaders are employing to increase access to higher education for nontraditional students and working adults. Download pdf

Washington Receives “Taking It to the States”
Funding Award

"The health and strength of our economy and our quality of life in Washington is dependent on a workforce that is educated and highly skilled. Lifelong Learning Accounts offer a great way for employers and their employees to ensure that people who want to grow in their jobs and careers can have the financial means to do so."

CAEL has selected the state of Washington as the recipient of Taking It to the States: A State-Based Lifelong Learning Account (LiLA) Demonstration Initiative Funding Award. This matching grant, in the amount of $75, 000, will be used to design a new LiLA demonstration in the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Area, and to develop an integrated statewide roll-out strategy. The Washington LiLA demonstration is being led by the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board in collaboration with an impressive team of state leaders in workforce development, economic development, education, business and labor. Washington’s Senator Maria Cantwell is a strong champion of LiLAs and co-sponsor of the Lifelong Learning Accounts Act of 2007. Click here for Press Release.

LiLAs on the Move in New York City and Michigan
CAEL was recently awarded three new grants to develop LiLA programs in the New York City area and the State of Michigan. With the generous support of the Ford Foundation and the New York Community Trust, CAEL is working with SEEDCO in New York City to create a LiLA program in target industries. CAEL also recently received the great news that the Kellogg Foundation has awarded a grant to support planning efforts to design a regional LiLA program in Michigan that will explore links to the State’s Career Advancement Accounts demonstration, a project of the U.S. Department of Labor. CAEL is partnering with the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce on the Michigan initiative.

Johnson named as new LiLA State Policy Director
The LiLA Link is pleased to announce that Randall K. Johnson has joined CAEL as LiLA State Policy Director. Randall gained extensive policy experience as a Congressional Fellow and Foreign Affairs Analyst in the U.S. Congress as well as Legislative Director for a member of the New York City Council. At CAEL, he will work with state legislators and other leaders across the country to promote LiLAs. Please join us in welcoming Randall to the LiLA policy team.

For more information about LiLAs, contact Amy Sherman, Associate VP for Policy and Strategic Alliances
www.cael.org