The Joyce Foundation’s Shifting Gears initiative was launched in 2007 as a state policy change effort in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The goal is to strengthen state postsecondary, adult basic education, and skills-development systems so that more low-skilled workers gain the education, skills, and credentials needed to advance and succeed in our changing economy.

A recent report addresses the Shifting Gears approach to systems change with a particular focus on the logic model, policy agenda, and action plan—tools used to guide and support states’ efforts to pursue systemic change throughout the postsecondary, adult basic education, and skills-development systems.