California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project

Author: Amy R. TrawickProduced by the American Institutes for Research through a contract with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the U.S. Department of Education, May 2018.This 2018 report supplements the previously published Using the PIACC Literacy Framework to Guide Instruction: An Introduction for Adult Educators and provides literacy instructors ways to implement contextualized reading instruction to a population with varied needs and educational backgrounds. By connecting real-world reading tasks and standards-based instruction, this report provides resources for teachers to consider when planning a contextualized reading curriculum. The supplemental report is based on data originally released by the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIACC) in September 2016 and was produced by the American Institutes for Research through a contract with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the U.S. Department of Education.

In today's world, media literacy is an essential skill for adults to participate in academic, professional, and community activities. This webinar will explore the importance of media literacy in adult education, providing practical tools and strategies to help learners critically evaluate media sources, understand the impact of media on society, and navigate the digital landscape with confidence. Participants will gain insights into fostering critical thinking and media analysis skills among adult learners, empowering them to become informed and engaged community members.

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 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.

Hosted By the Sonoma County Adult Education ConsortiumTrauma-informed approaches in schools are grounded in the principles of learning and human development and are especially relevant in adult education. 60 percent of adults are reported to have experienced trauma; and “nontraditional” adult learners are more likely to be exposed to past or ongoing trauma risk factors. Schools can play a vital role in reducing the effects of trauma and promoting resilience for adult learners. Face-to-Face Session: Location: Petaluma, CADate: Friday, May 2Time: 12:30-2:30 PMRegistration Information:This tailored regional CoP is designed for the Sonoma County Adult Education Consortium staff and teachers.There is no registration fee to participate; CALPRO professional development opportunities are available to all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) agencies and employees.  

Facilitators:Kimberly Kendziora, American Institutes for ResearchSachiko Ozaki Oates, CALPRO/American institutes for ResearchSteven A. Casperite, Placer School for AdultsVeronica Tylor, Los Angeles Unified School District's Division of Adult and Career Education Supporting Student Success Through Social and Emotional LearningSocial and emotional learning (SEL) encompasses developing essential skills for self-awareness, self-management, responsive decision-making, social awareness, and relationship skills. Incorporating SEL principles in adult education programs holds great promise in empowering adult learners with the skills needed for personal growth, career success, and active participation in society. We will also discuss how educators can develop their own social-emotional skills not only to grow and model those skills but also to promote educator well-being. Join this webinar to explore related frameworks, best practices, and resources to implement SEL in your program.

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.