Applications Open for State Policy Assistance Through CAEL, RAND Partnership

Stipend, technical assistance available for enhancing credit for prior learning public policies

INDIANAPOLIS – CAEL is partnering with RAND to offer technical assistance to states or statewide systems of higher education for enhancing credit for prior learning (CPL) public policies. During the two-year initiative, which is made possible by funding from ECMC Foundation and Strada Education Foundation, each participating team will receive a stipend and continual access to CAEL subject matter experts. CPL refers to various methods that postsecondary institutions use to evaluate and award credit for college-level learning completed in nonacademic settings, such as civilian and military occupational experiences.

CAEL specialists will develop a customized approach for implementing or expanding public policies that address challenges and capture opportunities related to CPL. RAND will develop a state policy framework to help guide the technical assistance and data collection efforts to learn from states’ experiences, ultimately refining a framework and rubric for scaling CPL policies statewide.

CAEL research has demonstrated CPL's profound impact on student and institutional success factors. Receiving CPL boosts completion rates among adult learners by 17% while saving them time and money. Additionally, a 2024 study conducted by CAEL and the American Council on Education documented more than 360 policies and regulations governing CPL across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. While many states have adopted basic assessment policies, those focusing on affordability or data tracking and evaluation were present in fewer than 30, indicating that enhancing policies is an opportunity to generate improved outcomes for learners, institutions, and communities.

Following a competitive selection process, CAEL will announce the three states or statewide systems selected for participation in the initiative, which will run from January 2026 through December 2027. More details can be found in the request for applications, which can be reviewed and submitted through Nov. 21, 2025, at the project page on CAEL’s website. 

About CAEL
Recognizing that adult learners are the backbone of the U.S. economy, CAEL helps forge a clear, viable connection between education and career success, providing solutions that promote sustainable and equitable economic growth. CAEL opens doors to opportunity in collaboration with workforce and economic developers, postsecondary educators, employers and industry groups, and foundations and other mission-aligned organizations. By engaging with these stakeholders, CAEL fosters a culture of innovative, lifelong learning that helps individuals and their communities thrive. A national membership organization established in 1974, CAEL is a part of Strada Collaborative, a mission-driven nonprofit. Learn more at cael.org.