California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project

Hosted by Vallejo Adult School

This four‑hour workshop equips educators with practical, evidence‑based strategies for engaging today's adult learners. Drawing on CALPRO’s motivation and persistence for adult learners training, participants will explore how to set clear and high expectations, build trust through social‑emotional learning, support goal setting and self‑management, and design student-centered learning experiences that engage all students.

The session also highlights active learning approaches—such as collaborative learning and contextualized instruction—that resonate strongly with today’s learners with varied needs. Educators will leave with ready‑to‑use strategies to motivate, connect with, and support all students in their classrooms.

Registration Information:
This tailored regional CoP is designed for the staff and teachers at Vallejo Adult School. Registration through the school is required. 

There is no registration fee to participate; CALPRO professional development opportunities are available to all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) agencies and employees.  

Workshop Description: 
Discover innovative strategies to transform math instruction in this one-week CALPRO math course designed for adult educators. Participants will explore the Standards of Mathematical Practice (SMPs) and their practical application in fostering student success, delving into the science of brain-based learning to address math anxiety and promote long-term retention. They will learn how to create lessons that encourage productive struggle, persistence, and confidence in tackling challenging concepts. Additionally, the course provides tools to integrate technology and evidence-based instructional routines that enhance engagement and align with the SMPs.

This course takes place entirely online and runs for one week. Daily participation is required, though participants may log in whenever they wish. A live webinar will be scheduled during the course, with a makeup option offered to accommodate time conflicts. Participants who successfully complete this course will receive a certificate of participation (4.5 hours).

Goals: 
The goal of this course is to equip educators with effective strategies and tools to enhance math instruction by fostering student engagement, promoting mathematical proficiency, addressing math anxiety, and integrating technology and evidence-based practices aligned with the Standards of Mathematical Practice (SMPs).

Registration Information: 
There is no registration fee to participate; CALPRO professional development opportunities are available to all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) agencies and employees; agency/work email address required at registration to confirm eligibility. 

Registered participants will receive final confirmation and details by Friday, October 30, 2026. Waitlisted participants will also receive an update regarding their enrollment status by that date.

Contact Information:
Please contact calpro@air.org with any questions.

Join the more than 600 California adult education administrators who have participated in this program since its inception in 1985. The Institute covers topics and skills that new and aspiring adult education administrators need to perform their jobs effectively including Collaborations and Partnerships, Career Pathways, Data Analysis and Data-Based Decision Making, Fiscal and Human Resources Management, Public Relations and Program Marketing, Strategic Planning, Instructional Leadership, and The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
Apply online by Friday, November 13, 2026.

Goals:

The California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project (CALPRO) in conjunction with the California Department of Education (CDE) is seeking nominations and applications for the 2027 California Adult Education Leadership Institute (the Institute). We are seeking aspiring and new administrators (defined as three or fewer years) for the Institute. This is an opportunity for your organization to nominate an aspiring or new administrator from your adult education program to attend. For the 2027 year we will accept up to 24 nominations for participation in the Institute. Priority registration will be given to nominees with the most recent appointment date to their administrative position.

Please contact Cherise Moore at cmoore@air.org.

The Institute is open to all California funded adult education programs. The application deadline is Friday, November 13, 2026.

Hosted by College of Marin

Description:

How can we facilitate the two-way process of immigrant integration through adult immigrant students’ participation in civic and community activities? Our community benefits from the cultural, social, and economic contributions of immigrants. As well, adult students’ engagement in their community supports their sense of belonging and the development of practical skills. 

Sign up for the upcoming Community of Practice (CoP) on Supporting Immigrant Integration through Civics Education at College of Marin.

The CoP is designed for instructors teaching adult immigrant learners (learners may be in ABE, ASE, ESL, CTE, etc.) and will help educators support immigrants through civics education as understood within the lens of the California Immigrant Integration Initiative and aligned to the EL Civics metrics. Participants will examine the Immigrant Integration Framework, explore the resources from the Teaching Skills That Matter in Adult Education (TSTM) project, and gain skills to better support their immigrant students in their classrooms and programs.

This CoP takes place in person at College of Marin on Fridays, October 9 and November 13th, 2026, from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm with a 30 min lunch break. Participation in both sessions is strongly recommended, and there will be asynchronous job-embedded work (i.e., lesson planning and reflection) in between the two face-to-face sessions. 

Goals:

The goal of this community of practice is to enable instructors to 1) understand the California immigrant integration context, and 2) plan instruction that supports immigrant integration by aligning to the objectives of the Participation in Civics and Community Life Goal area of the Immigrant Integration Framework, using the Teaching Skills That Matter (TSTM) lessons and tools, and pre-approved COAAPS.

Registration Information:

There is no registration fee to participate; CALPRO professional development opportunities are available to all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) agencies and employees. This training is hosted by College of Marin. Participants from neighboring districts or regions may be admitted on a space-available basis. 

The registration deadline is Monday, October 5, 2026. 

Contact Information:
Please contact Sachiko Oates at soates@air.org.

Course Description:
This course looks at formative assessment as a way to monitor learning and address student needs effectively as they work toward intended targets or outcomes. The course highlights strategies for gathering data on learning in progress, as well as approaches to responsive, data-informed instructional planning.

The course takes place entirely online and runs for one week. Daily participation is required, though participants may log in whenever they wish. A live webinar is scheduled during the course, with a makeup option offered to accommodate time conflicts. Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a certificate of participation (4.5 hours).

Goals:
This course aims to highlight the importance of frequent, formative assessment as a tool for collecting data to support thoughtful instructional planning.

Registration Information: 
There is no registration fee to participate; CALPRO professional development opportunities are available to all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) agencies and employees; agency/work email address required at registration to confirm eligibility. 

Registered participants will receive final confirmation and details by Friday, November 27, 2026. Waitlisted participants will also receive an update regarding their enrollment status by that date.

Contact Information:
Please contact calpro@air.org with any questions.

Course Description:
This self-directed course supports independent professional development; there is no facilitator nor other participants. Sign up now and access the class for 3 months. There is no official start or end date to worry about.

The purpose of this course is to identify how research-based learning strategies can increase engagement and access for all learners. Through this learning module, adult educators are introduced to the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines, which provide a framework to help educators create learning spaces which work better for all students. Additionally, the course presents straightforward strategies that educators can use to start implementing UDL immediately. The estimated course completion time is 1.5 hours.

Enrollment verification with Moodle login information will be sent to registrants within one business day of registration.

Registration Information:
This course is free of charge to all California adult education programs.

Contact Information:
Please contact CALPRO at calprohelp@air.org or at 916-286-8803 for more information.

Course Description:
This self-paced course supports independent professional development; there is no facilitator nor other participants. Sign up now and access the class for 3 months. There is no official start or end date to worry about.

It is often the teacher to whom the adult learner first turns for advice on issues ranging from educational and vocational options to employment, family, health, emotional, and legal issues. Do you know when to provide guidance and advice and when to refer learners to professional counselors and other available community services? In this course, you will explore the advantages and limitations of the teacher’s role as an adviser, learn about community resources, and identify strategies for listening and responding to student needs. The estimated course completion time is 12 hours.

Enrollment verification with Moodle login information will be sent to registrants within one business day of registration.

Goals:
The goal of this course is to help adult education teachers understand the nature of student advisement and enhance their knowledge and skills to be effective student advisers.

Registration Information:
This course is free of charge to all California adult education programs.

Contact Information:
Please contact CALPRO at calprohelp@air.org or at 916-286-8803 for more information.

Course Description:
This self-directed course supports independent professional development; there is no facilitator nor other participants. Sign up now and access the class for 3 months. There is no official start or end date to worry about. 

The task of teaching basic literacy skills can seem overwhelming to the new Adult Basic Education (ABE) teacher. This course orients new teachers to the most immediate and important aspects of teaching ABE learners in California. In some cases, individual agencies have procedures and practices that address these issues; in other cases, the California Department of Education (CDE) has specific requirements and provides documents to guide you. The estimated course completion time is 4 hours.

Enrollment verification with Moodle login information will be sent to registrants within one business day of registration.

Registration Information:
This course is free of charge to all California adult education programs.

Contact Information:
Please contact CALPRO at calprohelp@air.org or at 916-286-8803 for more information.

Course Description:
This self-directed course supports independent professional development; there is no facilitator nor other participants. Sign up now and access the class for 3 months. There is no official start or end date to worry about. 

What’s all the excitement surrounding the topic of learner persistence, how does it differ from student retention and motivation, and how do you encourage your students to persist in their learning? Based on research on factors that promote learner persistence, this self-directed professional development course examines implications for changing practice in the four areas of intake, orientation, instruction, and program activities. The estimated course completion time is 12 hours.

Enrollment verification with Moodle login information will be sent to registrants within one business day of registration.

Registration Information:
This course is free of charge to all California adult education programs.

Contact Information:
Please contact CALPRO at calprohelp@air.org or at 916-286-8803 for more information.