Networking/Support

Small Adult Education schools often do not have the resources or money to send staff to professional development workshops and training sessions. However, there are several organizations that provide invaluable free assistance to administrators of small adult schools.

These include the California Department of Education and the four Adult Education Leadership Projects as well as state and national professional associations.

California Department of Education, Adult Education Office (CDE/AEO)

The CDE Adult Education Office has consultants who are available to visit the school site, work directly with the administrator, and provide continuing support via telephone and e-mail (http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ae).

Budget Projections of this guide contains the current Adult Education Office staff directory.

Leadership Projects of the California Department of Education

CALIFORNIA ADULT LITERACY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (CALPRO)

It is always beneficial to network and share ideas with other adult school administrators. To support this, CALPRO offers administrator networking groups. For schedules of networking groups in your area, check the CALPRO online calendar at http://www.calpro-online.org.

CALPRO also operates a two-year Leadership Institute for practicing 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. The Institute consists of 5 days of training a year for each of two years. The CALPRO Web site contains additional information and an application for the Leadership Institute.

In addition, CALPRO offers Just-in-Time Leadership training for new administrators on topics of fiscal management (available as a workshop and as an online course) and on personnel and legal issues (available as a workshop).

Mentor Training is available for seasoned administrators who are willing to serve as peer coaches for new administrators. In addition, the CALPRO Web site offers many helpful publications and online guides (http://www.calpro-online.org).

CALIFORNIA DISTANCE LEARNING PROJECT (CDLP)

The CDLP licenses statewide instructional media resources for local use, provides technical support and training services in using distance learning, and offers online services for adult learners and teachers (http://www.cdlponline.org).

COMPREHENSIVE ADULT STUDENT ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (CASAS)

CASAS provides training and technical assistance to local program administrators, data managers, and teachers through regional workshops. Topics include accountability, CASAS implementation, and TOPSpro software. CASAS sponsors EL Civics networking meetings regularly to meet state and federal requirements.The CASAS National Summer Institute facilitates collaboration and networking among programs and states that are implementing CASAS to meet national and state accountability requirements.

The CASAS Web site provides many helpful resources, including student and program-level data from prior years. Visit the CASAS Web site (http://www.casas.org) to access online registration for regional workshops, networking meetings, and the CASAS Summer Institute.

OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NETWORK (OTAN)

OTAN provides a wide spectrum of information services and links free for adult education administrators and teachers who log on to the OTAN Web site and establish a user name and password (http://www.otan.us).

Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)

ACSA is actively involved in all facets of education K-12 and has an Adult Education Committee. Each year, an annual conference provides an invaluable opportunity to learn about issues and trends in adult education and to gain new networking opportunities (http://www.acsa.org).

California Adult Education Administrators' Association (CAEAA)

CAEAA is a statewide organization for administrators or management personnel who work in, or support, adult education programs. CAEAA maintains regular communication concerning adult education issues (http://www.caeaa.org).

California Council for Adult Education (CCAE)

CCAE takes a leadership role in promoting adult education and provides professional development, primarily for teachers (http://www.ccaestate.org).

California State Consortium for Adult Education (CSCAE)

Dedicated to supporting “adult education through local and state advocacy, professional development, and promotion of high standards for the field,” CSCAE members comprise more than 3,000 teachers, clerical workers, administrators, students, and supporters (http://www.cscae.org).

Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE)

COABE is a national professional organization that provides leadership, communication, professional development, and advocacy for adult education and literacy practitioners to advance quality services for all adult learners (http://www.coabe.org).

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