Regional Professional Development
Communities of Practice
To provide opportunities for California adult educators to interact regularly and to engage in extended collective learning, CALPRO is offering regionally based professional learning opportunities using a Community of Practice (CoP) model across subject matter and topics essential to meeting the goals of the California adult basic education system. In the blended-learning CoPs, participants meet for two face-to-face (or synchronous online) sessions. As part of the CoP activities, participants access online resources via Moodle before, between, and after their face-to-face/synchronous training sessions to participate in activities designed to extend their learning and support their implementation of new practices with their students. Fully virtual or HyFlex CoPs may be offered on selected topics.
Tailored Regional Communities of Practice
Tailored Regional CoPs support the unique needs of educational agencies, districts, or consortia and offer a responsive, flexible, and engaging approach to professional development. The available topics are highly relevant to California adult education agencies, from instructional strategies to career pathway development. When tailored to the specific needs of an educational agency, school district, or regional adult education consortium, these CoPs offer targeted support that aligns directly with organizational objectives and encourages meaningful change and growth. Tailoring can be done by adjusting the overall training length, modality (e.g., in-person, online, or HyFlex), focus areas depending on the target audience, or by integrating multiple topics to address intersecting priorities. This tailored approach allows CALPRO to help educational agencies balance professional development with operational needs, ensuring minimal disruption while maintaining the quality of learning.
Regional Training
CALPRO also offers 1–2-day, 3+ hour on-site workshops on an available topics below.
If your consortium or agency would like to host a regional professional development event, please contact calpro@air.org.
What You Need to Know
Host a CALPRO Training
For more than a decade, CALPRO has trained California adult educators to deliver professional development on various topics.
CALPRO will:
- Identify and pay for the workshop facilitator’s travel and honorarium when your agency hosts a regional community of practice.
- List the workshop on the CALPRO Event Calendar.
- Advertise the workshop.
- Manage registration.
- Provide copies of the participant handout packet for the number of registered participants.
- Provide blank sign-in sheets and evaluation forms for facilitators to distribute and collect.
What are the responsibilities of the hosting agency/site?
- E-mail certificates of attendance to participants.
- Open registration to teachers and administrators from other eligible agencies.
- Register at a minimum 8 participants from your agency and/or other eligible agencies in your region prior to the start of the training.
Which training topics are available?
New!
- Fundamentals of Adult Education Instruction
General Instructional Strategies
- Universal Design for Learning: Developing Programs for Adults with Learning Disabilities
- Motivation and Persistence for Adult Learners
- Civic Engagement through Democratic Literacy
Adult Basic Education/Adult Secondary Education
- Using Questioning Strategies to Improve Instruction Adult Basic Education/Adult Secondary Education
- College and Career Readiness Standards: English Language Arts (ELA) Implementation and Application
- Evidence-Based Writing Instruction in the ABE Classroom
English as a Second Language
- Evidence-Based Writing Instruction in the ESL Classroom
- Managing the ESL Multilevel Class
- Mastering the English Language Proficiency Standards
- Optimizing ESL Instructional Planning: Management, Monitoring, and Reflection
- Supporting Immigrant Integration through Civics Education
Workforce Skills and Career Pathways
- Supporting Student Transitions to Postsecondary Education and the Workforce
- Accelerated Learning to Facilitate Career Pathways
- Collaborative Curriculum Alignment
- Integrated and Contextualized Workforce Skills in the ABE/ASE Classroom
- Integrated and Contextualized Workforce Skills in the ESL Classroom
- Integrated Education and Training (IET)
Community of Practice
Communities of Practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly (Wenger-Trayner, 2015).
Blended Instruction
In regional CoPs, participants meet for two face-to-face (or synchronous online) sessions. Before, between, and after their face-to-face/synchronous training sessions, CoP members access additional online resources via Moodle and participate in activities designed to extend their learning and support their implementation of new practices with their learners. Fully virtual or HyFlex CoPs may be offered on selected topics.
Time Commitment
CALPRO’s CoPs require an average total of 16-20 hours of professional learning.
Shift in Culture
Communities of Practice place a strong emphasis on supporting educators in implementing new skills. This greater emphasis on implementation may involve one or more shifts in culture.
Benefits of Participating in a CALPRO Regional CoP
- Opportunity to interact with other teachers or administrators and trainers online and in-person to share classroom experiences and problem solve
- Support and help to implement training in the classroom
- Ability to identify and serve the needs of students
- Ways to help students improve their skills and meet their personal goals
- Increase of professional knowledge in targeted topic
- Access to additional resources that extend the learning beyond the CoP
- Working together as a school team to make changes, identify challenges and solve problems
On-Site Regional Training
CALPRO also offers 1–2-day, 3+ hour workshops on an available topic below. CALPRO will send a trained facilitator to your agency/consortium site.
ABE/ASE
- College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS)
- CCRS 2: ELA Implementation and Application
- Evidence-Based Writing Instruction for ABE/ASE
- Math Instructional Strategies
ESL
- Mastering the English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards
- Optimizing ESL Instructional Planning: Management, Monitoring, and Reflection
- Managing the ESL Multilevel Class
Instructional Strategies
- Motivation and Persistence for Adult Learners
- Universal Design for Learning: Developing Programs for Adults with Learning Disabilities
- Using Questioning Strategies to Improve Instruction
Transitions
- Supporting Student Transitions to Postsecondary Education and the Workforce
Workforce
- Accelerated Learning to Facilitate Career Pathways
- Integrated and Contextualized Workforce Skills in the ABE/ASE Classroom
- Integrated and Contextualized Workforce Skills in the ESL Classroom
- Integrated Education and Training (IET)
Training Type
Training Type
Math Instructional Strategies (Self-Directed Online)
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.This course is intended to help teachers understand how to present concepts vital for: 1) mastering the College and Career Readiness Standards for Mathematics; 2) passing high school equivalency tests (i.e., GED, HiSET); and 3) helping students, through the CCRS Standards for Mathematical Practice, to conceptualize and utilize math concepts in and out of the classroom. The estimated course completion time is 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.
Introduction to College and Career Readiness Standards (Self-Directed Online)
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.Get an overview of the College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education. Learn about the three instructional shifts in math and in English Language Arts, and consider the implications for your classroom. 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.
Engaging and Motivating Today’s Adult Learners
Hosted by the San Joaquin Adult Education Consortium
Today’s adult education classrooms are welcoming a growing number of younger learners whose high‑school years were impacted by pandemic‑era disruptions. This two‑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 within the San Joaquin Adult Education Consortium. Registration through the consortium 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.
Application Deadline: CALPRO Professional Learning Community (PLC) Institute
CALPRO is pleased to announce the opening of the application to the 2026-2027 Professional Learning Communities (PLC) Institute. Participating teams and individual members can choose to attend the full-day sessions in November and May either virtually or in person. The Institute will consist of the following training schedule and topics:Webinar 1: October 2, 2026, 12:30-2:00 This kick-off and orientation webinar will focus on institute expectations and process. Homework 1: October 2, 2026 - November 12, 2026 Teams are expected to complete online assignments.Session 1: November 12-13, 2026 This two-day session in Sacramento, CA will focus on the framework and the training needed to craft plans and start a PLC process of school improvement focusing on student learning through ongoing professional development embedded in the agency’s school calendar. Homework 2 – 4: November 13, 2026 - May 6, 2027 Participating schools are expected to use the intervening time between the November and May sessions to take action on plans to lay the groundwork for PLC implementation for the 2023–24 school year and complete online assignments.Webinar 2: January 22, 2027, 12:30-3:30 This webinar will focus on PLC big ideas and essential questions.Webinar 3: March 5, 2027, 12:30-3:30 This webinar will focus on team assessment collaboration.Session 2: May 6-7, 2027 This two-day session in Sacramento, CA will focus on continuing training, feedback, evaluation, and problem-solving in support of implementation. Please note that you will meet with your implementation coach once per month during the Institute. The training, coaching, and online activities across the six months of training are approximately 50 hours. Applications must be received by September 18, 2026. To learn more about the Institute, please click on this link. Benefits Of Participating In The PLC Institute:Shift school culture to focus on learning results.Develop PLC processes of inquiry to achieve better results for the students you serve.Establish collaborative teams to identify essential student learning.Work collaboratively to develop common formative assessments for learning.Work collaboratively to analyze evidence of student learning and use that evidence to learn from one another.Embed professional development that fosters the ongoing processes of collective inquiry and action research.Eighteen months of PLC implementation coaching supportWho Is Eligible To Apply?Any California Department of Education, Adult Education Office WIA Title II, or California Adult Education Program (CAEP) funded agency may apply. The Agency Director/Principal and a nominated lead teacher or PD staff member will participate as a team in the CALPRO Professional Learning Community Institute. To access the application, please click on this link.For More InformationFor more information, contact coordinator Sudie Whalen.
Multilevel and Differentiated Instruction to Support All Learners
Hosted by Hacienda La Puente Adult Education
Adult learners bring a wealth of cultural knowledge and varied lived experiences to the classroom and have distinct motivations, learning needs, and expectations that require different instructional approaches. It can be challenging for instructors to provide level-appropriate, engaging instruction for all students in a multilevel class. Through this 3-hour workshop, participants will gain evidence-based strategies students with various goals and learning needs.
Participate in this engaging workshop to explore key aspects of effective instruction in adult education, including leveraging adult learners’ strengths, and designing differentiated instruction to enhance learning outcomes. Whether you are an experienced teacher or new to adult education, this engaging workshop offers valuable opportunities for professional growth and networking.
Registration Information:
This tailored regional CoP is designed for the staff and teachers at Hacienda La Puente Adult Education. 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.
Application Deadline: Integrated Education and Training (IET) Implementation Clinic, Fall 2026
Apply now for CALPRO's Fall 2026 Integrated Education and Training (IET) Implementation Clinic. IET Clinic is designed for program staff who seek more support in meeting the IET implementation challenges they face and are interested in learning from other IET practitioners. Clinic overview:Each participating agency team includes three members: an IET program administrator, an English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor, and a Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructor.The innovative format of this fully online clinic includes the following elements:Two day-long virtual training sessionsThree live, interactive webinars (75–90 minutes each), with topics tailored to the needs and interests of the participating teamsOngoing discussions in an online community of practiceTeam capstone projectCoaching (following completion of the clinic)Link to application and additional details:CALPRO Application: Online Integrated Education and Training (IET) Implementation Clinic, Fall 2026To apply, each member of the agency team must complete the application by September 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Notifications of acceptance will occur by October 2, 2026. [Please note that each member of your three-person agency team is required to submit an application.]Clinic topics:Topics will be tailored to the needs of the participating practitioners and identified through the application process. Sample topics includeStarting Strong: Developing the Team-Teaching PartnershipBuilding an Integrated SyllabusPromising Intake & Onboarding Strategies for IETand moreEligibility to apply:Membership and participation are free of charge and open to all California adult education funded programs. Preference will be given to IET program team staff working in an Integrated EL Civics IET program that is funded through Section 243 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (WIOA, Title II: AEFLA) grant. Not sure if you’re eligible? Let CALPRO help—email calpro@air.org or call 1-916-286-8803.Key dates:September 25, 2026 — Applications due; each member of your team must submit a separate application; access the application hereOctober 7, 2026, 1–2:15 p.m. — Webinar 1: Kickoff and orientation sessionOctober 23, 2026, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. — Virtual Session 1November 18, 2026, 1–2:30 p.m. — Webinar 2December 9, 2026, 1–2:15 p.m. — Webinar 3January 15, 2027, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. — Virtual Session 2Contact information:Contact CALPRO at calpro@air.org or (916) 286-8803.
Effective Teaching for Adult Educators (Online)
Course Description:This course provides a framework for teachers to reflect on their own teaching and to identify areas on which they would like to focus and where they would like to improve their practice. The focus is on building an understanding of the purpose, structure, and use of the Adult Education Teacher Competencies so that participants can reflect on and refine their practice across four domains: using data to inform instruction, using evidence-based instruction, communicating effectively with students, and planning for professional growth.The course takes place entirely online and runs for four consecutive weeks. Weekly participation is required, though participants may, during a given week, log in whenever they wish. Two live webinars 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 (14 hours); they are also eligible to apply to CSUS for 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) if they wish. Goals:The goal of this course is to build teachers’ capacity to identify the skills and knowledge required for excellent teaching and to evaluate in which areas they are strong and in which areas professional development could support improvement.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, September 25, 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.
Supporting Immigrant Integration Through Civics Education (Online)
Course Description:Adult education plays a significant role in the lives of immigrants; it is often the first door through which a new immigrant encounters the world of services and supports available to them as they seek to increase their skills to reach their life goals. This course will help educators support immigrants through civics education as understood within the lens of the California Immigrant Integration Initiative and aligned to approved EL Civics metrics. The course takes place entirely online and runs for four consecutive weeks. Weekly participation is required, though participants may, during a given week, log in whenever they wish. Two live webinars 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 (15 hours); they are also eligible to apply to CSUS for 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) if they wish.Goal:Participants will be able to locate and adapt Teaching Skills That Matter lesson materials on Civics Education topics in order to support immigrant students at all levels of ESL to become successful members of their communities.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 2, 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.
Using Questioning Strategies to Improve Instruction (Online)
Course Description:Are you frustrated at not getting the right answers from your students? Maybe it's because you're not asking the right questions! This course offers questioning strategies that foster higher-order thinking skills while developing responses beyond the level of recall. Help students connect the dots as they process new information to answer questions designed with a purpose.The course takes place entirely online and runs for four consecutive weeks. Weekly participation is required, though participants may, during a given week, log in whenever they wish. Two live webinars 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 (14 hours); they are also eligible to apply to CSUS for 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) if they wish.Goals:This online professional learning opportunity is intended to encourage instructors to ask questions that promote learners’ thinking beyond the level of recall of information and that allow learners to adequately process information and respond to the instructors’ requests.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 23, 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.
Engaging and Motivating Today’s Adult Learners
Hosted by Hacienda La Puente Adult Education
Today’s adult education classrooms are welcoming a growing number of younger learners whose high‑school years were impacted by pandemic‑era disruptions. This three‑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 providing autonomy, 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 Hacienda La Puente Adult Education. 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.