California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project

Authors: Martha Bigelow and Robin Lovrien Schwarz, September 2010Produced by Literacy Information and Communication System/National Institute for LiteracyThis paper reviews a variety of research, including that on language acquisition, literacy development in adults and children, cognition and brain functioning, adult education, and professional development.

Course Description:This course is for adult educators and explores evidence-based instructional practices for supporting adult readers across levels, from beginning alphabetics through advanced comprehension. 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. A kick-off Webinar will take place in the first week. An additional webinar will take place during the third week of 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 CSUS for 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs), if they wish.Goals:Through this course, participants will learn about a range of topics to support their adult learners including, diagnostic assessment, alphabetics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension for learners at varying levels of reading proficiency.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.Contact Information:Please contact calpro@air.org with any questions.

Effective reading and writing skills are fundamental to personal and professional success. This webinar will focus on effective strategies for teaching reading and writing to adult learners. Participants will explore evidence-based practices, engaging instructional techniques, and resources that can be used to enhance literacy skills. The session will cover approaches to address diverse learning needs, promote lifelong learning, and support adults in achieving their literacy goals.

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.

Effective reading and writing skills are fundamental to personal and professional success. This webinar focuses on effective strategies for teaching reading and writing to adult learners. Participants explore evidence-based practices, engaging instructional techniques, and resources that can be used to enhance literacy skills. The session covers approaches to address diverse learning needs, promote lifelong learning, and support adults in achieving their literacy goals.Session date: April 8, 2025Facilitator: Kristi Reyes

Course Description:This course is for adult educators and explores evidence-based instructional practices for supporting adult readers across levels, from beginning alphabetics through advanced comprehension. 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; 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 CSUS for 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs), if they wish.Goals:Through this course, participants will learn about a range of topics to support their adult learners, including diagnostic assessment, alphabetics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension for learners at varying levels of reading proficiency.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 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.

CALPRO Pilot in the San Diego RegionThe California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project (CALPRO) are pleased to offer a regional Community of Practice (CoP) pilot on Evidence-Based Reading Instruction to participants from the San Diego area, including MiraCosta College, Escondido Adult School, Poway Adult School, Vista Adult School, and other neighboring districts and adult education consortia.  In-Person Session Dates: Fridays, March 27 & April 17, 2026, 10am-1pm Location: MiraCosta College Community Learning Center at 1831 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CAAsynchronous Online Dates: March 16 - April 26, 2026 (Moodle) This practical hands-on CoP is designed to support adult education instructors in implementing evidence-based literacy instruction, informed by the Science of Reading and responsive to the needs of students and educators in California. It aims to help educators deliver explicit instruction in the four essential components of reading—alphabetics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.The application deadline is Friday, March 6, 2026, at 5 pm. Notification of acceptance will occur by Wednesday, March 11, 2026.Light snacks will be providedAll Participants agree to:-    Complete online assignments before, between, and after the face-to-face meetings-    Attend both face-to-face meetings-    Provide collegial support and feedback to fellow training participants-    Be able to use technology for learning (e.g., using a learning management system [Moodle], typing text in online discussion forums, opening and attaching documents, clicking to view videos, and emailing to ask for help.) In-depth training on using the internet and other basic tools will not be provided.What are the goals and objectives of the Evidence-Based Reading Instruction CoP?This practical hands-on CoP is designed help educators deliver explicit instruction in the four essential components of reading—alphabetics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The training integrates research-based practices, ongoing assessment, and strategies for adult learners.Objectives:Describe the four essential reading instruction components: alphabetics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.Apply explicit instructional strategies for teaching at least one of the reading components to adult learners.Use diagnostic and ongoing assessment tools to inform instructional planning.Integrate background knowledge, language development, and writing into reading instruction to support comprehension and engagement.Who is the intended audience?This module is designed for literacy instructors (i.e., English Language Arts and English as a Second/Additional Language) in adult education programs (ABE, ASE, HSE, and ESL). It will have a practical instructional focus, so participants should have access to a classroom in which they are able to implement what they learn. What are “Communities of Practice”?Communities of Practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and strive to learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.[1] To provide opportunities for California adult educators to interact regularly and to engage in sustained professional development, CALPRO is offering professional development in a Community of Practice format that includes online interaction along with two face-to-face sessions.What is a pilot?This Community of Practice is complete and ready for participants, but before offering it statewide, we are field-testing the content, design, and online activities as a pilot. Throughout the pilot, participants will be asked to provide feedback. This feedback will be used to improve the delivery of future CoPs.What are the benefits of participating in this CoP Pilot?In-depth engagement with training content;Opportunity for “early adoption” of best practices;Opportunity to interact with fellow educators and the trained facilitator to share practical experiences and solve instructional challenges;Collegial support for thinking about changes in instructional strategies and approaches;Contribution to the development of an enriched statewide professional development experience for adult educators in California. Participant Commitment and ExpectationsComplete Online Activities Attend Both Face-to-Face SessionsParticipants must access Pre-Session, Interim and Post-Session assignments via Moodle, CALPRO’s learning management system (LMS). The online assignments are essential to the training, and participants must complete the assignments prior to attending the face-to-face sessions. The face-to-face sessions will not repeat information that participants have received online.Eligibility: Employees from all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) and WIOA Title II-funded agencies are eligible to apply.Cost: There is no registration fee to participate. All expenses for educators’ release time are the responsibility of the agency/participants, as is any travel or meal. Administrator approval: Administrator approval is required for participation.Certificates: Certificates of completion will be issued to those who complete all online activities on time and participate in both face-to-face sessions.                                                                                                                             Questions: For additional information, contact Sachiko Oates, soates@air.org  

CALPRO Pilot in the San Diego RegionThe California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project (CALPRO) are pleased to offer a regional Community of Practice (CoP) pilot on Evidence-Based Reading Instruction to participants from the San Diego area, including MiraCosta College, Escondido Adult School, Poway Adult School, Vista Adult School, and other neighboring districts and adult education consortia.  In-Person Session Dates: Fridays, March 27 & April 17, 2026, 10am-1pm Location: MiraCosta College Community Learning Center Asynchronous Online Dates: March 16 - April 26, 2026 (Moodle) Participants will engage in a blend of asynchronous online and in-person sessions, focusing on evidence-based explicit reading instruction in the four essential components of reading—alphabetics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This is a unique opportunity for educators to participate in job-embedded professional development. The application deadline is Friday, March 6, 2026.  

CALPRO Pilot in the San Diego RegionThe California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project (CALPRO) are pleased to offer a regional Community of Practice (CoP) pilot on Evidence-Based Reading Instruction to participants from the San Diego area, including MiraCosta College, Escondido Adult School, Poway Adult School, Vista Adult School, and other neighboring districts and adult education consortia.  In-Person Session Dates: Fridays, March 27 & April 17, 2026, 10am-1pm Location: MiraCosta College Community Learning Center Asynchronous Online Dates: March 16 - April 26, 2026 (Moodle) Participants will engage in a blend of asynchronous online and in-person sessions, focusing on evidence-based explicit reading instruction in the four essential components of reading—alphabetics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This is a unique opportunity for educators to participate in job-embedded professional development. The application deadline is Friday, March 6, 2026.  

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.