California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project

The “IET At‑a‑Glance Guide” provides a clear, streamlined overview of how agencies should classify and document Workforce Preparation and Workforce Training within Integrated Education and Training (IET) programs. It outlines which courses qualify as workforce preparation (e.g., digital literacy, vocational ESL, financial literacy, and career readiness skills) and distinguishes these from workforce training options, including CTE pathway courses and industry‑recognized credential programs. This guide serves as a quick reference to help programs correctly categorize offerings and ensure alignment with state guidance for IET implementation.

Hosted by EPIC de Cesar Chavez High School, A Division of FIELD: Farmworker Institute of Education and Leadership DevelopmentIt can be challenging for instructors to provide level-appropriate, engaging instruction for all students in an ESL Multilevel class. Through this 4-hour workshop, participants will be able to facilitate level-appropriate and engaging instruction for students at various proficiency levels.Registration Information:This tailored regional CoP is designed for the teachers at EPIC de Cesar Chavez High School, A Division of FIELD: Farmworker Institute of Education and Leadership Development.There is no registration fee to participate; CALPRO professional development opportunities are available to all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) agencies and employees. 

This course is underway and no longer available for registration. Course Description:Plan and deliver effective lessons! This course takes participants step by step through the process of lesson design and provides an opportunity to create a lesson plan using the OTAN Online Lesson Plan Builder. Participants will learn up-to-date strategies for planning lessons using a combination of the WIPPEA stages and “backward design.” Using the information and skills taught in this course, participants will find that lesson planning becomes a quick, easy process. This 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; webinar dates and times will be announced and posted. Participants who successfully complete this course will receive a certificate of participation (14 hours); they are also eligible to apply to CSU Sacramento for 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) if they wish.Goals:The goal of this CALPRO course is to provide teachers with a model for designing effective lesson plans.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.Registered participants will receive final confirmation and details by Friday, March 13, 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.

This course is underway and no longer available for registration.Course Description:This course will introduce participants to a wide variety of strategies for both program and classroom that move students towards their career goals in the most efficient way possible. Agencies are encouraged to register as a team of at least two members but may include up to four members. An assumption behind this team approach is that that program changes have to be implemented and led by administrators but cannot be successful without the understanding and support from teachers. This 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; webinar dates and times will be announced and posted. Participants who successfully complete this course will receive a certificate of participation (14 hours); they are also eligible to apply to CSU Sacramento for 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) if they wish.Goals:Define the concepts of career pathways and accelerated learning Identify the role of adult education in the career pathway process and ways in which accelerated learning can help students overcome barriers to success Describe a variety of accelerated learning strategies Initiate planning for the implementation of one or two selected accelerated learning strategies Develop problem-solving approaches to address implementation challenges Select continuous improvement strategiesRegistration Information:There is no registration fee to participate; CALPRO professional development opportunities are available to all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) agencies and employees.Registered participants will receive final confirmation and details by Friday, March 6, 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.

This course is underway and no longer available for registration.Course Description:This course will examine nine strategies that help learners persist and offer adult educators the opportunity to practice and internalize them. The course focuses on motivation and persistence and is relevant for teachers and instructional leaders from all content areas within adult education. This 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; webinar dates and times will be announced and posted. Participants who successfully complete this course will receive a certificate of participation (14 hours); they are also eligible to apply to CSU Sacramento for 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) if they wish.Goals:There are a number of research-based strategies for helping adults persist in reaching their education goals. The goal of this course is to expose teachers to nine of these strategies, provide opportunities for practice, and encourage the incorporation of these strategies into instructional practice.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.Registered participants will receive final confirmation and details by Friday, February 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.

Panel DiscussionSuccessful postsecondary transitions can change the life trajectories of adult learners and their families. According to the statewide data, only 6.5% of adults 25-40 are currently enrolled in higher education while over 25% intend to enroll. Providing effective support for adult learners’ transition to postsecondary education has become one of the critical missions for adult education. This research forum webinar will feature four California Adult Education Consortia that are implementing innovative, learner‑centered approaches to improve transitions into postsecondary programs. Panelists will share practical insights, lessons learned, and replicable models that other regions can adapt.Featured Implementation Examples:Education to Career Network of North San Diego County: Sustainable Structures and Collaborative Culture Inland Adult Education Consortium: Successful Transition CounselingNorth Santa Clara County Consortium for Adult Education: Dual Enrollment for All CAEP StudentsState Center Adult Education Consortium: Student Ambassador Model

Literacy is a fundamental skill that enables adults to live productive lives, participate in the workforce, make informed health decisions, support children's education, and engage with their community and government. However, about 130 million or 54% of U.S. adults read below the sixth-grade equivalent level, and the number of adults ranked at the lowest levels of literacy (PIAAC Level 1 or lower), who are “at risk for difficulties using or comprehending print material” are growing. It is critical that we address literacy skills in adult education. Reading ability develops through the interaction of cognitive, linguistic, and contextual factors, and research in the learning sciences shows that literacy is not a “natural” outcome of exposure alone but is supported by explicit instruction and systematic learning experiences that build phonological awareness, decoding, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Join this webinar to explore evidence-based strategies and how to apply them in adult education contexts. 

This research forum webinar introduces the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework as well as the accommodations and modifications that support learning, self-determination, and success for adult learners, including learners with learning disabilities. We will discuss the challenges adult education professionals face while supporting adults with learning disabilities and share strategies and tools that work.Date: 2/17/2026Presenter: Marie Doerner

Webinar Description:Big, unsettling change can feel like a physical threat, triggering fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses. Today’s fast-moving world brings challenges for organizations, communities, relationships, and our personal lives. Yet even in uncertainty, there are real opportunities to imagine and create a better future. This webinar explores practical ways to manage the psychological impact of change, strengthen hope, and build resilience, so we can adapt, recover, and move forward with greater confidence.Presenter: Brigitte Marshall, Consultant and Former Director, Oakland Adult SchoolDate: March 24, 2026, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Course Description:This course explores how the types of questions educators use in the classroom, and the ways in which they use them, can enhance learning by promoting deeper thinking. Participants will discuss the importance and relevance of questioning in the adult learning classroom; the purposes of different question types; sequencing questions to promote deeper thinking; and strategies to address challenges in classroom questioning. 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 will be scheduled during the course; the time will be announced and posted. Participants who successfully complete this course will receive a certificate of participation (4.5 hours).Goals:This course aims to highlight the power of questioning as a tool for building thinking skills, and to support educators in making strategic choices about how they employ questions in instruction.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. Registered participants will receive final confirmation and details by Friday, April 17. Waitlisted participants will also receive an update regarding their enrollment status by that date. This course is currently at capacity, by registering you will be added to a waitlist. Contact Information:Please contact calpro@air.org with any questions.