CALIFORNIA ADULT LITERACY
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

CALPROgress is the newsletter of the California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project. In this newsletter, you will find information about upcoming professional development activities, links to important national, state, and local Web sites, and useful resources. In addition, each issue contains an article that focuses on useful information about research and best practices in professional development.

CALPROgress is published twice a year, both in hard copy and on our Web site (PDF format). The available issues are listed below:

Current Issues

• Fall 2008 [PDF]
• Spring 2008 [PDF]

Past Issues

• View past issues of CALPROgress

CALPRO develops fact sheets on topics of interest to adult education instructional staff and administrators. The purpose of the fact sheets is to provide information about current trends and issues in adult education and to direct users to additional resources on the topic. Each fact sheet presents one topic and takes the form of frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Fact Sheets

• Authentic Materials
• Universal Design for Learning
• Health Literacy
• Assessing the Needs of Adult English Language Learners
• Adult Learning Theories

Visit the Publications Web page to download the fact sheets.

New to teaching adult basic education (ABE)? Help is now just a mouse-click away!

Orientation for New ABE Teachers, a self-directed online course, is now available. The self-study course guides new instructors through the most immediate and important aspects of teaching adult basic education in California. Available entirely online to individual participants who work without other participants or a facilitator, this course offers extreme flexibility in professional development and fosters independent learning.

To get started, an individual needs only an e-mail address and Internet access. For a course description, registration details, and other information, visit CALPRO’s online campus Web page.

The Catalog of CALPRO Professional Development Resources represents a comprehensive guide to CALPRO’s many professional development products and services, such as workshops, online courses, resources guides, and research-based publications. 

Download the Catalog of CALPRO Professional Development Resources [PDF]

During 2008-2009, CALPRO once again is offering a professional development initiative to support agencies in establishing site-based professional development (PD). Over the past three years, 19 agencies have participated in this initiative and successfully completed site-based PD plans. For 2008-2009, up to 12 agencies will be selected to participate. Each of the 12 agencies will be invited to send its agency director and one teacher or administrator, designated to serve as a professional development practitioner, to participate in the initiative.

Download the Learning Communities Initiative Application for Participation in CALPRO Learning Communities for Site-Based Professional Development. This document describes the initiative and the application process.

The Adult Education Leadership Institute is a two-year leadership development program offered to California’s new (three years or fewer) adult education administrators.

The goal of the Leadership Institute is to enable adult education administrators to gain effective management and quality leadership skills that will enhance their capacity to operate an adult education program. Ultimately, the Leadership Institute helps to ensure that California has strong adult education leadership for the future.

Visit the Administrator Resources Web page to download the Invitation to Apply and Application.

Since 2001, CALPRO has trained California adult educators to deliver workshops on various topics. These facilitators are available to help ensure that an agency’s teaching staff continues to grow professionally.

The California Department of Education and CALPRO encourage local adult education agencies to use these workshops for site-based professional development opportunities for their staff members.

Click on the link below to download the fact sheet. The fact sheet outlines the process for scheduling CALPRO workshops.

Download the Fact Sheet for Site Administrators: Process for Scheduling CALPRO Workshops [PDF]

This publication, produced by CALPRO, under funding from the California Department of Education (CDE), explores issues of culture and culturally relevant practice in adult education programs and suggests several practical strategies for educators.

The digest highlights studies that identify issues of cultural difference and provides recommendations for making the practice of adult education more culturally relevant.

This digest is the newest of several publications featured on CALPRO’s Resources Web page, where educators can find the latest information on a wide body of relevant research.

Click on the link below to download the publication. You also may visit the Publications page to view other resources.

Download the Culturally Relevant Practice Research Digest [PDF]

Start the new school year off right by taking a professional development course online!

CALPRO offers free professional development courses which you can take via the Internet any time, any place. All you need to get started is an e-mail account, Internet access, and a few hours a week for study, scheduled at your own convenience.

Through these classes adult educators can exchange ideas with colleagues from across the state, get input from a subject-area expert, and register for Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

This fall, CALPRO will offer four popular online courses:

1. Designing Programs for Adults with Learning Disabilities, Session 1: Awareness for Adult Educators
2. Effective Lesson Planning
3. Enhancing Learner Persistence
4. Just-in-Time Leadership: Smart Fiscal Management for Adult School Administrators

Registration

Enrollment for these courses is limited, so register today!

For a schedule of Fall 2008 online courses, registration, and other details, visit the CALPRO Online Courses Web page.

From January 4 – March 17, 2008, CALPRO administered its annual statewide online survey to help determine professional development needs of California’s adult education teachers and administrators. A total of 1,783 adult educators responded. For a copy of the Executive Summary, click on the link below.

Download the Executive Summary of the 2008 Professional Development Needs Assessment [PDF]

CALPRO has posted two sets of nationally validated competencies to help you assess your skills and plan for your professional development. Two competency checklists, one for administrators and one for teachers, are available. You may complete these online and then use them as a guide to help you track your own professional development. Periodically, complete the checklist and print out to save a copy for your records. This will help you document the progress you are making toward your professional development goals. Note that CALPRO ensures you complete confidentiality and does not retain the information you enter.

To view and complete the competency checklists, go to the Professional Competencies Web page.

Go to the Management and Instructor Competencies Web page.

The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education (ACVE) closed its doors on December 31, 2003. Over the years, the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) developed and produced a rich collection of publications pertaining to research and practice in adult, career, and vocational education.

CALPRO is pleased to announce that the complete archives of all ERIC ACVE publications can be accessed on the CALPRO Web site.

View the ERIC Document Collection on the CALPRO Web Site