CAEL Announces State Higher Ed Systems Joining Grant-Funded Credit for Prior Learning Public Policy Community of Practice

Two-year project will provide continual support to participants while informing development of national CPL policy framework 

PITTSBURGH – CAEL (the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning) today announced that, after a competitive selection process, it has selected the community college systems of Alabama, Colorado, and North Carolina for participation in an evidence-based community of practice dedicated to enhancing credit for prior learning (CPL) public policies. The systems’ 95 institutions enroll approximately 900,000 students.

“Awareness is growing about the profound impact CPL can have in postsecondary education, especially its critical role in workforce and talent development, so it’s no surprise that we received an overwhelming response to this opportunity,” said Earl Buford, CAEL president. “We look forward to partnering with RAND and our community of practice participants as well as to the framework that will emerge from this work as a blueprint any state or system can use to develop or improve CPL policies.”

CPL is an umbrella term for various approaches to awarding college credit for learning experiences that take place outside of a formal academic setting, such as military service, on-the-job training, and other experience. CPL boosts graduation rates, accelerates completion, and saves students money, delivering direct institutional benefits.

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 and state systems have adopted basic assessment policies, those focusing on affordability or data tracking and evaluation were present in fewer than 30. The selected state systems plan to focus in many of those key areas:

Alabama Community College System seeks to strengthen CPL data collection and reporting, revise the ACCS Prior Learning Assessment Guide, and establish a statewide repository of skills/competencies mappings and industry credential crosswalks.

Colorado Community College System, in a tri-party partnership with the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC), aims to strengthen, scale, and systemize CPL practices and digital credentials across all 13 colleges to accelerate completion, lower costs, advance equity, and align talent development with Colorado employers' needs.

North Carolina Community College System seeks to evaluate and modernize their statewide Credit for Prior Learning infrastructure. This work will prioritize support for adult and military-affiliated learners by aligning CPL across curriculum and continuing education programs, tying it to workforce needs, and improving systems, policies, and data analytics.

Each team will receive a stipend and technical assistance during the two-year program, a partnership with RAND that is made possible by funding from ECMC Foundation and Strada Education Foundation. CAEL subject matter experts will provide the technical assistance and tailor it to the needs each team outlined in its application to the community of practice.

RAND’s role during the community of practice will be to document and assess each team’s progress. It will use this insight to provide real-time, data-driven guidance and continual improvement to the community of practice and, ultimately, to develop a refined framework and rubric for scaling CPL policies in any state system.

About CAEL
Recognizing that adult learners are the backbone of the U.S. economy, CAEL, a national nonprofit membership organization established in 1974, 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 and trainers; employers and industry groups; and foundations and other mission-aligned organizations, engaging with these stakeholders to foster a culture of innovative, lifelong learning that helps individuals, and their communities, thrive. Learn more at cael.org.