California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project

Session 2 at Fremont Adult and Continuing Education 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 the online activities as a pilot. Throughout the pilot, participants will be asked for feedback. This feedback will be used to improve the delivery of future trainings.What are the benefits of participating in this CoP Pilot?More in-depth engagement with training content;Opportunity for “early adoption” of best practices;Opportunity to interact with fellow educators and the trained facilitator synchronously and asynchronously to share practical experiences and problem solve;Collegial support for thinking about program and curriculum changes;Contribution to the development of an enriched statewide professional development experience for adult educators in California.

WHAT, WHERE, and WHEN?CALPRO will conduct the Training-of-Trainers (ToT) Institute for the new community of practice (CoP) on Fundamentals of Adult Education Instruction in June 2025.The asynchronous online Moodle course for this ToT Institute is from June 9 to June 30, 2025.  The Face-to-Face sessions are at the CALPRO office in Sacramento on Monday and Tuesday, June 23-24, 2025. 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 CoP on Fundamentals of Adult Education Instruction aims to equip instructors in adult education programs with the practical tools and strategies needed to implement evidence-based instruction that meets the varied needs of adult learners. The objectives include: (1) using various data to design instruction that leverages adult learner’s strengths and motivations, (2) developing and using formative assessments effectively, (3) designing learner-centered differentiated classroom activities, and (4) planning lessons to meet instructional goals.WHAT IS CALPRO’S COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE INITIATIVE AND HOW DOES IT IMPACT THE ToT?Communities of Practice are formed by groups of professionals who engage in a process of collective learning in a shared domain (Wenger, 2002). CALPRO’s Communities of Practice (CoP) Initiative aims to increase the field’s focus on supported implementation of skills, strategies and action plans that participants develop in CALPRO trainings and institutes.For each CoP training, an online community is established. Participants meet each other and begin learning together online; they continue to build community, knowledge and skills in the face-to-face training sessions; and they have the option of continuing to support each other’s efforts to apply new learning after the conclusion of the face-to-face sessions. CALPRO CoP trainers facilitate the entire process, including online and face-to-face sessions.WHO SHOULD ATTEND?The ToT is open to applicants from all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) funded agencies. The ToT is for individuals who will commit to following up on the ToT by facilitating the CoP for CALPRO at least once 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 their agency, at other agencies, or at CDE- or CALPRO-organized events within a year of the ToT. Trainers will receive an honorarium for training conducted.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 22 and Monday, June 23 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 as applicable at the state rate. The only cost to your agency is your time to participate.WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE OF TRAINING SESSIONS?Dates:Moodle (Asynchronous): Monday, June 9- Monday, June 30Face-to-Face Session 1: Monday, June 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Face-to-Face Session 2: Tuesday, June 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Face-to-Face Session Location:2150 River Plaza Drive, Suite 185Sacramento, CA 95833Please Note: Persons who arrive late or leave early will not be certified as trainers and, therefore, CALPRO will not be able to reimburse their costs.Please complete the online application below.Submission Deadline: 5 PM on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.Questions? Contact Sachiko Oates, soates@air.org.

WHAT, WHERE, and WHEN?CALPRO will conduct the Training-of-Trainers (ToT) Institute for the new community of practice (CoP) on Fundamentals of Adult Education Instruction in June 2025.The asynchronous online Moodle course for this ToT Institute is from June 9 to June 30, 2025.  The Face-to-Face sessions are at the CALPRO office in Sacramento on Monday and Tuesday, June 23-24, 2025. 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 CoP on Fundamentals of Adult Education Instruction aims to equip instructors in adult education programs with the practical tools and strategies needed to implement evidence-based instruction that meets the varied needs of adult learners. The objectives include: (1) using various data to design instruction that leverages adult learner’s strengths and motivations, (2) developing and using formative assessments effectively, (3) designing learner-centered differentiated classroom activities, and (4) planning lessons to meet instructional goals.Dates:Face-to-Face Session 1: Monday, June 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Face-to-Face Session 2: Tuesday, June 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.Face-to-Face Session Location:2150 River Plaza Drive, Suite 185Sacramento, CA 95833Please Note: Persons who arrive late or leave early will not be certified as trainers and, therefore, CALPRO will not be able to reimburse their costs.

Critical thinking is an essential skill found in both the College and Career Readiness Standards and the English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education. Critical thinking skills are needed in every facet of our lives, and in particular as we are inundated with more information from a variety of dependable and undependable sources. This online workshop series will prepare you to include a variety of critical thinking strategies in your adult education classes. It is presented in three 1.5 hour webinars. Registration information*: Registration for these sessions is now closed. Scheduled session dates and times are as follows: Session 1: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PMSession 2: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PMSession 3: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM*Please note: Registering for Session 1 automatically registers you for Session 2 and 3. Certificate of Completion will reflect hours attended. 

Critical thinking is an essential skill found in both the College and Career Readiness Standards and the English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education. Critical thinking skills are needed in every facet of our lives, and in particular as we are inundated with more information from a variety of dependable and undependable sources. This online workshop series will prepare you to include a variety of critical thinking strategies in your adult education classes. It is presented in three 1.5 hour webinars. Registration information*: Registration for these sessions is now closed. Scheduled session dates and times are as follows: Session 1: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PMSession 2: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PMSession 3: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM*Please note: Registering for Session 1 automatically registers you for Session 2 and 3. Certificate of Completion will reflect hours attended.

English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education. Critical thinking skills are needed in every facet of our lives, and in particular as we are inundated with more information from a variety of dependable and undependable sources. This online workshop series will prepare you to include a variety of critical thinking strategies in your adult education classes. It is presented in three 1.5 hour webinars. Registration information*: Registration for these sessions is now closed. Scheduled session dates and times are as follows: Session 1: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PMSession 2: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PMSession 3: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM*Please note: Registering for Session 1 automatically registers you for Session 2 and 3. Certificate of Completion will reflect hours attended.

CALPRO is pleased to announce the opening of the application to the 2025-2026 Professional Learning Communities (PLC) Institute. Participating teams and individual members can choose to attend the full-day sessions in November and May either virtually or in person. The Institute will consist of the following training schedule and topics:October 10, 2025 12:30-2:00 This kick-off and orientation webinar will focus on institute expectations and process.October 10, 2025 - November 6, 2025 Teams are expected to complete online assignments.November 6-7, 2025 This two-day session in Sacramento, CA will focus on the framework and the training needed to craft plans and start a PLC process of school improvement focusing on student learning through ongoing professional development embedded in the agency’s school calendar. November 7, 2025 - May 7, 2026 Participating schools are expected to use the intervening time between the November and May sessions to take action on plans to lay the groundwork for PLC implementation for the 2023–24 school year and complete online assignments.January 23, 2026, 12:30-3:30 This webinar will focus on PLC big ideas and essential questions.March 6, 2026 12:30-3:30 This webinar will focus on team assessment collaboration.May 7-8, 2026 This two-day session in Sacramento, CA will focus on continuing training, feedback, evaluation, and problem-solving in support of implementation. Please note that you will meet with your implementation coach once per month during the Institute. The training, coaching, and online activities across the six months of training are approximately 50 hours. Applications must be received by September 30, 2025. To learn more about the Institute, please click on this link. Benefits Of Participating In The PLC Institute:Shift school culture to focus on learning results.Develop PLC processes of inquiry to achieve better results for the students you serve.Establish collaborative teams to identify essential student learning.Work collaboratively to develop common formative assessments for learning.Work collaboratively to analyze evidence of student learning and use that evidence to learn from one another.Embed professional development that fosters the ongoing processes of collective inquiry and action research.Eighteen months of PLC implementation coaching supportWho Is Eligible To Apply?Any California Department of Education, Adult Education Office WIA Title II, or California Adult Education Program (CAEP) funded agency may apply. The Agency Director/Principal and a nominated lead teacher or PD staff member will participate as a team in the CALPRO Professional Learning Community Institute. To access the application, please click on this link.For More InformationFor more information, contact coordinator Sudie Whalen.

Hosted by the CDCR Folsom PrisonTrauma-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.In this three-hour workshop, participants will explore the impact of past trauma on learning and apply practical instructional strategies that support self-efficacy, self-management, and responsive decision-making.Registration Information:This tailored regional CoP is designed for the Folsom State Prison staff and teachers.There is no registration fee to participate.  

Hosted by the CDCR Mule Creek PrisonTrauma-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.In this three-hour workshop, participants will explore the impact of past trauma on learning and apply practical instructional strategies that support self-efficacy, self-management, and responsive decision-making.Registration Information:This tailored regional CoP is designed for the Mule Creek State Prison staff and teachers.There is no registration fee to participate.