Evidence to Action Brief: Supporting Adult Learner Transitions: Unlocking Postsecondary Opportunities
Successful postsecondary transitions can change the life trajectories of adult learners and their families. Providing effective support for adult learners’ transition to postsecondary education has become one of the critical missions for adult education. This evidence-to-action brief is designed to help California adult education programs strengthen their approaches to building coordinated pathways into postsecondary education. It explores the current data environment and its challenges, outlines relevant state legislation on postsecondary transitions, and synthesizes research on promising practices. The brief also features examples from four California adult education consortia that have adopted innovative, successful strategies, offering practical insights and adaptable lessons for the field.
Authors:
Sachiko Ozaki Oates (CALPRO/American Institutes for Research)
Kathleen Porter (Education to Career Network of North San Diego County)
Emma Diaz, Maria E. Lopez, & Pedro F. Gonzalez (Inland Adult Education Consortium)
Jenée Crayne (North Santa Clara County Consortium for Adult Education)
Pang Vangyi (State Center Adult Education Consortium)
When AI Helps You Write: Smarter Goals, Better Plans
Description: Generative AI is changing how educators plan, write, and communicate—and it can make your work easier and more effective. Whether you’re drafting SMART goals for your Continuous Improvement Plan or developing a strategic plan for your program, AI can provide powerful support when used thoughtfully.In this practical, demonstration-based webinar, you’ll learn:• How to create prompts that generate clear, relevant, and useful results• What to do when AI output doesn’t meet your needs—and how to refine it• How to assess AI-generated text for accuracy, appropriateness, and tone• Why human expertise and context remain essential in every AI-assisted taskYou’ll also hear from fellow adult education professionals who are already using AI to lighten their writing workload—discover what’s working for them, what to avoid, and how AI can free up more time for what matters most: supporting learners.Walk away with ready-to-use strategies and examples you can apply right away to make your planning, reporting, and writing tasks more efficient and impactful.Presenter: Steven Casperite, Principal, Placer School for AdultsTo register for this webinar: https://caadultedtraining.org/OTAN/383?Type=10
Admin Forum: Resilience in the Face of Destabilizing Change
Admin Forum: Resilience in the Face of Destabilizing Change
Webinar date: March 24, 2026
Presenter: Brigitte Marshall
Application Deadline CALPRO 2026 Training-of-Trainers Institute
CALPRO will conduct the Training-of-Trainers (ToT) Institute for the new community of practice (CoP) on Evidence-Based Reading Instruction at the CALPRO office in Sacramento on Monday and Tuesday, June 22-23, 2026. The online Moodle course for this ToT Institute opens on June 1, 2026. The purposes of the ToT Institute are:To develop a group of certified trainers to facilitate presentations of CALPRO professional learning modulesTo build professional development capacity and leadership in California adult education.The training includes asynchronous online work between June 1 and June 26, 2026, in addition to the following in-person sessions: Monday, June 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Location: 2150 River Plaza Drive, Suite 185 Sacramento, CA 95833-4130 WHO SHOULD ATTEND?The ToT is open to applicants from all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) funded agencies (see page 2). The ToT is for individuals who will commit to following up on the ToT by facilitating the CoP for CALPRO within a year of the ToT. WHAT ARE EXPECTATIONS OF PARTICIPANTS?Participants will be expected to complete pre-Institute assignments online. Participants are expected to attend the entire ToT Institute – no exceptions – and demonstrate facilitation skills in practice sessions during the ToT. After completing the ToT, participants are expected to be available to facilitate training at CDE- or CALPRO-organized events within a year of the ToT. WHAT IS THE COST?CALPRO will reimburse travel costs for all nominees accepted to attend the Training-of-Trainers Institute. CALPRO will cover in advance the cost of hotel rooms for the night of Sunday, June 21 and Monday, June 22 if travel is 50 miles or greater one-way between the individual’s home and the training location (2150 River Plaza Drive, Sacramento 95833). CALPRO will also provide working session morning refreshments and lunch each training day and will reimburse for dinner costs at the state rate. The only cost to your agency is your time to participate.Please submit this application by no later than 5 PM on Friday, May 8, 2026.Questions? Contact Sachiko Oates at soates@air.org.
CALPRO 2026 Training-of-Trainers Institute
CALPRO will conduct the Training-of-Trainers (ToT) Institute for the new community of practice (CoP) on Evidence-Based Reading Instruction at the CALPRO office in Sacramento on Monday and Tuesday, June 22-23, 2026. The online Moodle course for this ToT Institute opens on June 1, 2026. The purposes of the ToT Institute are:To develop a group of certified trainers to facilitate presentations of CALPRO professional learning modulesTo build professional development capacity and leadership in California adult education.The training includes asynchronous online work between June 1 and June 26, 2026, in addition to the following in-person sessions: Monday, June 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Location: 2150 River Plaza Drive, Suite 185 Sacramento, CA 95833-4130 WHO SHOULD ATTEND?The ToT is open to applicants from all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) funded agencies (see page 2). The ToT is for individuals who will commit to following up on the ToT by facilitating the CoP for CALPRO within a year of the ToT. WHAT ARE EXPECTATIONS OF PARTICIPANTS?Participants will be expected to complete pre-Institute assignments online. Participants are expected to attend the entire ToT Institute – no exceptions – and demonstrate facilitation skills in practice sessions during the ToT. After completing the ToT, participants are expected to be available to facilitate training at CDE- or CALPRO-organized events within a year of the ToT. WHAT IS THE COST?CALPRO will reimburse travel costs for all nominees accepted to attend the Training-of-Trainers Institute. CALPRO will cover in advance the cost of hotel rooms for the night of Sunday, June 21 and Monday, June 22 if travel is 50 miles or greater one-way between the individual’s home and the training location (2150 River Plaza Drive, Sacramento 95833). CALPRO will also provide working session morning refreshments and lunch each training day and will reimburse for dinner costs at the state rate. The only cost to your agency is your time to participate.Please submit this application by no later than 5 PM on Friday, May 8, 2026.For More Information:Review the ToT Institute Information Document Questions? Contact Sachiko Oates at soates@air.org.
When AI Helps You Write: Smarter Goals, Better Plans
Description:
Generative AI is changing how educators plan, write, and communicate—and it can make your work easier and more effective. Whether you’re drafting SMART goals for your Continuous Improvement Plan or developing a strategic plan for your program, AI can provide powerful support when used thoughtfully.
In this practical, demonstration-based webinar, you’ll learn:
• How to create prompts that generate clear, relevant, and useful results
• What to do when AI output doesn’t meet your needs—and how to refine it
• How to assess AI-generated text for accuracy, appropriateness, and tone
• Why human expertise and context remain essential in every AI-assisted task
You’ll also hear from fellow adult education professionals who are already using AI to lighten their writing workload—discover what’s working for them, what to avoid, and how AI can free up more time for what matters most: supporting learners.
Walk away with ready-to-use strategies and examples you can apply right away to make your planning, reporting, and writing tasks more efficient and impactful.
Presenter: Steven Casperite, Principal, Placer School for Adults
Date: March 27, 2026
Research Forum: Evidence-Based Reading Instruction
CALPRO's Research Forum Webinar:
Evidence-Based Reading Instruction
Presenter: Kristi Reyes
Research Forum: Universal Design for Learning in Action: Applying UDL in Adult Education Classrooms
Description:
This webinar focuses on turning UDL concepts into everyday teaching routines to improve engagement, accessibility, and learner persistence, with examples tailored to adult‑education contexts. Let's explore concrete instructional strategies, lesson design choices, and learner support.
Presenter: Marie Doerner
Research Forum: Supporting Adult Learner Transitions: Unlocking Postsecondary Opportunities
Description:
Successful 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 session 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 Counseling
- North Santa Clara County Consortium for Adult Education: Dual Enrollment for All CAEP Students
- State Center Adult Education Consortium: Student Ambassador Model
Presenters: Kathleen Porter, Emma Diaz, Jenee Crayne, Pang Vangyi