Increasing Engagement and Student Persistence Through Distance - and Blended-Learning Models; What the Research Says and Which Practice Work
Authors: Anthony Burik, Mariann Fedele-McLeod, Debalina Ganguli, Martin D. Griffin, Hilary Iserman, Nicole Jordan, Stephanie Kriebel, Yecsenia Lorenzo, Courtney McMahon, Katie Callahan Neginskiy, Penny Pearson, Theresa Petersen, Kristi Reyes, Thoibi N. Rublaitus, Shannon Swain, Lila Young, Carolyn Zachry
This evidence to action brief presents recent research on distance learning in adult education and provides an important contemporaneous account of how California adult education rose to meet the challenge of continuing to serve adult learners during the pandemic. This brief captures a snapshot of the current state of practice and evidence, including identified challenges and corresponding best practices. Additionally, it looks towards the future as adult education continues to address the identified challenges of distance learning in innovative ways, as well as to harness the ample benefits and potential for students.
Partnering with Employers to Promote Job Advancement for Low-Skill Individuals
Author: Karin Martinson, Abt Associates, Inc., September 2010
This paper explores the importance of employer-program partnerships for improving economic outcomes for both low-skill workers and businesses. It identifies the fac¬tors that have hindered the growth of these partnerships as well as promising approaches to building further partnerships.
Adult Education Credentialing and Fundamentals of Adult Education Instruction
Description:Calling all aspiring adult education teachers and administrators who are hiring teachers! Join us for an informative webinar designed to guide you through the Adult Education Credentialing process. Discover the new, free credentialing program for statewide teacher candidates offered by Santa Clara Unified School District in collaboration with Evergreen Community College. This session will also introduce key instructional strategies from CALPRO's new community of practice topic, "Fundamentals of Adult Education Instruction" as well as the opportunity to be a CALPRO trainer on this topic.
Admin Forum: Practical Approaches for Leadership Success in Times of Change
Title: Practical Approaches for Leadership Success In Times of ChangeDate: Wednesday, November 19, 2025Time: 2:00 - 3:00 pm Presenter: Dr. Cherise Moore, CALPRO Senior Administrative Leadership Trainer/AdvisorElevate your leadership with practical strategies to navigate change. As the adult education landscape evolves, administrators need actionable tools to effectively manage changes that occur at a rapid and often challenging pace. This administrator's forum webinar will provide proven approaches for adult education leaders to foster genuine resilience, manage complex transitions effectively, and consistently drive success for programs and students, amidst any uncertainty.
Planning for Student Success: Barrier Busters and Support Strengtheners
This worksheet is designed to support students in Integrated Education and Training (IET) programs, but it is also suitable for use with all adult education learners during orientation. It helps students identify potential obstacles to educational success and document both personal support systems and wraparound services available through the program or its partners.
Admin Forum: From Reports to Results: Using Data to Drive Program Growth
Webinar date: 1/21/2026, 1-2pmCoordinator: Cherise MoorePresenters: Dr. Carolyn Zachry, Kathleen Porter, and Carlos RodriguezView this one-hour webinar designed to strengthen your use of data in shaping and advancing your Continuous Improvement Plan. You’ll hear professional perspectives from the California Department of Education, CASAS, and the field on how to effectively analyze and apply data for program improvement. Together, we’ll explore specific reports you can generate to guide decision-making and provide hands-on practice in developing clear, actionable SMART goals.
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 AdultsDate: March 27, 2026
Admin Forum: Forecast: Unknown. Strategy: Strong. Budget Planning When Answers Are TBD
Description:
This practical webinar to explore strategies for budgeting when the path ahead is anything but certain. We’ll talk through real‑world decision‑making approaches, ways to stay flexible without losing your footing, and how to plan with confidence even when the numbers are still in flux. If you want tools that help you stay calm, strategic, and maybe even a little inspired during budget season—this session is for you.
Presenter: Steve Curiel