California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project

Apply now for CALPRO's Spring 2026 Integrated Education and Training (IET) Implementation Clinic. IET Clinic is designed for program staff who seek more support in meeting the IET implementation challenges they face and are interested in learning from other IET practitioners. Clinic overview:Each participating agency team includes three members: an IET program administrator, an English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor, and a Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructor.The innovative format of this fully online clinic includes the following elements:Two day-long virtual training sessionsThree live, interactive webinars (75–90 minutes each), with topics tailored to the needs and interests of the participating teamsOngoing discussions in an online community of practice Team capstone projectCoaching (following completion of the clinic)Link to application and additional details:CALPRO Application: Online Integrated Education and Training (IET) Implementation Clinic, Spring 2026To apply, each member of the agency team must complete the application by February 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.  Notifications of acceptance will occur by February 13, 2026. [Please note that each member of your three-person agency team is required to submit an application.]Clinic topics:Topics will be tailored to the needs of the participating practitioners and identified through the application process. Sample topics includeStarting Strong: Developing the Team-Teaching PartnershipBuilding an Integrated SyllabusPromising Intake & Onboarding Strategies for IETand moreEligibility to apply:Membership and participation are free of charge and open to all California adult education funded programs. Preference will be given to IET program team staff working in an Integrated EL Civics IET program that is funded through Section 243 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (WIOA, Title II: AEFLA) grant. Not sure if you’re eligible? Let CALPRO help—email calpro@air.org or call 1-916-286-8803.Key dates:February 6, 2026 — Applications due; each member of your team must submit a separate application; access the application hereFebruary 25, 2026, 1–2:15 p.m. — Webinar 1: Kickoff and orientation sessionMarch 20, 2026, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. — Virtual Session 1April 16, 2026, 1–2:30 p.m. — Webinar 2April 29, 2026, 1–2:15 p.m. — Webinar 3June 5, 2026, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. — Virtual Session 2Contact information:Contact CALPRO at calpro@air.org or (916) 286-8803.

The “IET At‑a‑Glance Guide” provides a clear, streamlined overview of how agencies should classify and document Workforce Preparation and Workforce Training within Integrated Education and Training (IET) programs. It outlines which courses qualify as workforce preparation (e.g., digital literacy, vocational ESL, financial literacy, and career readiness skills) and distinguishes these from workforce training options, including CTE pathway courses and industry‑recognized credential programs. This guide serves as a quick reference to help programs correctly categorize offerings and ensure alignment with state guidance for IET implementation.

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.

Author: John Tibbetts and Anestine Hector-Mason, September 2015Produced by California Adult Literacy Professional Development ProjectCollaboration has been shown through research to be an effective strategy both in the classroom and in program management. This CALPRO Research Brief examines the research as it applies to both Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) at the program level, and to classroom instruction, and finds that in both applications collaboration improves outcomes.

Authors: Committee on Learning Sciences: Foundations and Applications to Adolescent and Adult Literacy; Alan M. Lesgold and Melissa Welch-Ross, Editors; National Research Council (2012).This 504-page report synthesizes the research on literacy and learning to improve literacy instruction in the United States and to recommend a more systemic approach to research, practice, and policy. From the National Academies Press (NAP) Web site, readers may read the report online, download free PDF files of the full report and a 24-page summary, or purchase the book. Visit the NAP Web site.

How can you prepare your learners to succeed in the workforce? Find out what employers say are essential skills for today's workforce. This series shows you how to connect transferable skills in the classroom to the workplace. There are two sessions; each session is broken into two parts (4 webinars total). This series will provide background on skills transferable from the classroom to the workplace and to teach students how to articulate those skills.  Registration information: This event is not currently scheduled. Registration will become available once this topic is scheduled. 

Course Description: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; the date and time will be announced and posted. This course is intended to (1)build teachers’ capacity to identify the skills and knowledge required for excellent teaching as presented in the Adult Education Teacher Competencies, (2) evaluate in which areas participants are strong and in which areas professional development could support improvement, and (3) plan for increasing effectiveness of instruction. 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:By the end of the course participants will be able to: • Explain the background and rationale for Adult Education Teacher Competencies • Recognize performance indicators in practice • Create a sample illustration related to a specific program area • Identify the competencies from domains 1 and 3 in practice • Relate selected competencies to classroom practice • Create an initial professional development goalRegistration 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.

Join us for an insightful webinar focused on promoting math identity in adult learners and embracing productive struggle in mathematics. Research shows that students who lack confidence in math often give up when faced with challenges, mistakenly thinking that struggling indicates a lack of intelligence. Although struggle can conflict with educators’ notions of successful teaching, struggle and mistakes are the best times for brain growth and are a necessary component of learning and understanding. Teaching that embraces and uses productive struggle leads to long-term benefits, with students more able to apply their learning to new problem situations. This research forum webinar explores ways to foster a positive math identity and embrace productive struggle in adult education classrooms.