Bridging the Gap: Implementing RPL Frameworks in Rural Communities
By Ashley Cooks, Instructional Designer & RPL Advocate
 
Unlock the hidden potential in your community with Bridging the Gap, a hands-on workbook designed to help workforce leaders, educators, and rural changemakers implement Recognized Prior Learning (RPL) strategies tailored to their local contexts.
Drawing from real-world experience across U.S. industries, this resource provides step-by-step guidance for creating culturally responsive RPL frameworks that reflect the unique skills, values, and realities of rural communities. Whether you're just getting started or refining existing practices, this workbook offers practical tools, insightful case stories, and customizable templates to support sustainable employment and economic growth.
 
What You’ll Find Inside:
Clear explanations of RPL concepts and benefits
Strategies for engaging stakeholders and building local partnerships
Actionable steps to design assessments that honor informal skills
Interactive worksheets to apply RPL in your own organization
Stories and examples from rural and cross-generational workplaces
 
Empower your community. Recognize real skills. Build a stronger rural workforce.