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Promising Practices for Building Stackable Credential Infrastructure
Nine promising practices can help educational institutions and states design and implement stackable credentials—a short-term credential that builds toward a higher-level qualification.
Feb 4, 2026

Research and Commentary

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Research

Agricultural Security Considerations for the U.S. Corn Belt

The U.S. Corn Belt is the backbone of the United States' food, feed, and biofuel industries. By identifying key threat categories and potential impacts on the Corn Belt's agricultural industries, the authors aim to support risk mitigation, preparedness, and response across the sector.

Tyler Hoard, Adeline E. Williams, David Luckey
Commentary

Getting 'Rural' Right: How a Better Definition Can Drive Better Policy

Improving rural policy begins with measuring rural realities more precisely. Until we define “rural” by the challenges people face rather than the land they occupy, we risk designing policies that look good on paper but ultimately fail rural Americans.

David Luckey
Expert Insights

Promising Practices for Building Stackable Credential Infrastructure

Nine promising practices can help educational institutions and states design and implement stackable credentials—a short-term credential that builds toward a higher-level qualification.

Jonah Kushner, Elaine W. Leigh, Phoebe Rose Levine, Melanie A. Zaber
Research

Analysis of West Virginia’s State School Aid Funding Formula

To promote improved learning in West Virginia’s schools, researchers assessed the state's school aid funding formula and identified opportunities for improvements.

Benjamin K. Master, Brian Phillips, Ben Senator, Nathan Remillard, Luke Muggy, Srikant Kumar Sahoo
Commentary

Un-Retiring: How Older Workers Could Solve Rural America's Labor Crisis

Rural states have thousands of jobs they can't fill. Yet they've often overlooked one resource they tend to have in abundance. With the right opportunities and working conditions, older people could fill a lot of those jobs and provide a much-needed boost to rural economies.

David Luckey
Research

Identifying Priorities to Improve Health Care Access and Quality in Rural West Virginia

What are the key health challenges facing rural West Virginia and how can research and community partnerships guide those improvements and promote a community-engaged approach?

Julia Rollison, Zara Fatima Abdurahaman, Lisa H. Jaycox, Viviana Mercado
Research Summary

Strengthening Partnerships Among Colleges, Workforce Development Boards, and Employers to Meet Regional Needs

Effective regional collaboration is essential to address interconnected challenges across education, workforce development, and economic growth. Collaboration is especially vital in rural areas, where geographic isolation, smaller populations, and limited resources can hinder independent efforts.

Rita T. Karam, Marwa AlFakhri, Melanie A. Zaber, Elaine W. Leigh
Research

How Rural Partnerships Can Advance Student and Workforce Development Success

The TEAM Consortium—covering 45 counties across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia—connects community colleges and workforce boards to serve a largely rural region. Researchers examine its growth and highlight how regional partnerships can tackle persistent workforce and economic development challenges in rural regions.

Rita T. Karam, Marwa AlFakhri, Melanie A. Zaber, Elaine W. Leigh
Research

Aligning Career Training and Workforce Development in West Virginia

West Virginia has the lowest labor-force participation rate in the United States. Researchers examine if career technical education participation in West Virginia aligns with local jobs and identify areas and strategies for growth.

Christine Mulhern, Brian Phillips, Fernando Esteves, Jonah Kushner
Video

Strengthening Apprenticeship in West Virginia: Insights and Strategies for Workforce Development

This webinar explores RAND’s analysis of West Virginia apprenticeships, including trends, challenges, and participant demographics. Researchers discuss recommendations to strengthen programs and advance workforce development goals across the state.

Marwa AlFakhri, Melanie A. Zaber