April 24, 2019
April is National Volunteer Month
Adult education would be nothing without the work of volunteers. Many agencies across Pennsylvania utilize the help of volunteer tutors to meet the needs of their students. April was made National Volunteer Month as part of George H.W. Bush's 1000 Points of Light campaign and is an opportunity to show special appreciation to the selfless and skilled volunteers around us.

The  Pennsylvania Adult Education Resources  website has a  Tutoring page  devoted to the needs of tutors and tutor coordinators . Tutors will find handbooks for math, reading, and writing instruction as well as a quick reference guide to the eight available professional development modules. Tutor coordinators will find resources to help them prepare and later observe their agencies' tutors.

Creative Suggestions on How to Recruit Volunteers:
The following tips are drawn from Effective Practices in Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers An Adult Literacy Perspective  which offers a variety of research-based information on adult education volunteerism.

  1. Donate adult books with a bookplate/inscription for the literacy program/volunteer to the public library.
  2. Place upcoming tutor trainings in the events column of your local newspapers.
  3. Put up a display at the local farmers market.
  4. Have a "general interest workshop” (e.g., birdhouse building) and recruit volunteers from among the participants.
  5. Set up an information table at the mall.
  6. Enlist the support of the mayor and council members.
  7. Place a "Thank You" advertisement in the local newspaper’s volunteer section.
  8. Rent a portable sign and have it placed on a major intersection.
  9. Advertise in the newsletters of local retirement communities.
  10. Place help wanted ads at the local community college.
  11. Participate in college job fairs.
  12. Blend traditional face-to-face workshops with online opportunities so that ongoing training is available to volunteers without overtaxing staff.
  13. Distribute flyers at bookstores.
  14. Design a special tutor recruitment insert to be added to the city water bills one month.
  15. Advertise in your city’s community calendar emails.
  16. Partner with a 4-H group or older Girl Scout troop to provide literacy information and training to its members. 
High School Equivalency (HSE) Updates and Resources
New GED® Postsecondary Outcomes Data
This month's In Session Educator Newsletter from GED Testing Service® reports on some analysis of data about how graduates of the GED® program perform once enrolled in college. The findings confirm the previous research that students who score higher on the GED® exams will do better in their future education. Of students who passed the GED® achieving the HSE level or above, 70% have a GPA of 2.0 or higher. That number goes up to 80% for students who passed the GED® exams with the CR + Credit level. More analysis will come in the future, but these findings are an interesting reflection of what a GED® can mean for our students.
HiSET® Readiness webinars
 HiSET® is offering two free webinars that will focus on the math and writing aspects of the HiSET® exams respectively. Presented by HiSET® client managers who are also former educators, these two webinars will make math and literacy content more accessible to students. Participants will also review the design, requirements, and scoring of the exams as well as strategies and resources for both educators and test takers. Register online for the HiSET® Math Readiness and HiSET® Language Arts - Writing Readiness webinars.
#GEDGradDay
GED Testing Service® invites you and your students to participate in the annual #GEDGradDay via Facebook on Thursday, May 16, 2019. When students share how they overcame obstacles on the way to completing their GED certificate and they include the hashtag #GradDaySweeps, they will be entered to win a GED Grad prize pack that includes an iPad, GED gifts, a backpack and a $50 Amazon gift card. Learn how to fully participate online .
Teaching Tips and Resources
A note from eData Tech Support
At this time of the year, when a student returns after an absence, adult basic education agencies that use eData should remember to check to see if this absence exceeds 90 days. If so, agencies should have the learner fill out a new intake form and create a new Period of Participation (PoP) for the adult in eData. It’s also a good idea at this time to make sure the student’s assessment has not expired and, if they need a new one, ensure that the form given  alternates  with the most recent form given to the student. As always, for any questions about data entry or other eData issues, contact eData Tech Support at 1-877-857-8869 or email at eDataTechSupport@psu.edu .
Modeling the writing process in front of students
We know that doing something yourself is one of the most effective ways to learn, but watching someone else do a task is helpful too. Then you can witness the process unfold and understand it in a way that you otherwise might not. A recent Edutopia article, Modeling Writing and Revising for Students , features a high school history teacher who writes and edits a complete article right in front of her students in class. She encourages students to point out her mistakes, and she uses several strategies to help them learn from her writing process.
Professional Development Opportunities
Penn State Certificate Programs: Summer registration
Registration is now open for Penn State University's summer courses (May 13 to August 10) for the  Family Literacy Certificate  and  online Certificate in Adult Basic Education . Scholarships are available for the Family Literacy Certificate. 
Webinar: Moving Forward - Innovative Disability and Employment Service Delivery
If you provide disability employment services, an upcoming webinar may help you. On Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at 2:00-3:30 p.m., WorkforceGPS has organized a presentation by the Workforce Innovation Cohort on Disability and Employment. This cohort discussed and developed best practices for six months and will highlight the barriers and solutions to disability employment service delivery. Learn more and register online.
Webinars: Using Khan Academy and USA Learns as supplemental distance learning
The Distance Education Technical Assistance Project will be holding short webinars on Khan Academy and USA Learns, the two free resources on the list of resources approved for supplemental distance learning. Khan Academy will be discussed on April 24, 2019, at 12:00 p.m. and USA Learns will be discussed on May 1, 2019, at 12:00 p.m. Each webinar will focus on setting up teachers and students, assigning lessons, and tracking time and progress. There will be approximately 20-30 minutes of content, followed by time for questions. You do not need to register. The webinar room will be opened at 11:30 a.m. each day. Please join at least 10 minutes early if possible. To join at the appropriate time, go to https://paiu.zoom.us/j/6459492181. If you have any questions, please contact  Chuck Klinger.
Asynchronous Interview: Distance and Blended Learning
On Tuesday, April 23, LINCS will offer an asynchronous interview with Dr. Jen Vanek, director of the IDEAL Consortium at World Education, Inc. Dr. Vanek will examine   New Models for Distance Classes in Adult Education   and introduce   IDEAL Distance Education and Blended Learning Handbook . The discussion will focus on the importance of orientation, placement, assessment, retention, and how technology can best be used to those ends. The activity and follow-up discussions will also include discussion of best practices and self-reflection. Learn more information and how to register online.
State and National Adult Education News
PAACE 2020 dates
Mark your calendar for the 2020 conference of the Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education (PAACE). It will be held on March 29-31, 2020, at the Marriott Lancaster County Convention Center.
Career Pathways: Cross-Agency Partnerships
The first key element of a career pathways program is building cross-agency partnerships and clarifying roles. Partners and roles change, and it is important for agencies to regularly assess where they have been with various career pathways partners, where they are now, and where they want to go with their partners. Not only has the Workforce Development Project compiled many great resources in the  Regional Planning section  of the Career Pathways PA Adult Education Resources webpage, but project staff also provides one-on-one technical assistance to use tools and resources effectively with both adult education staff and partner staff. Read more...
Grants and Scholarships
P-3 Governor's Institute applications
Applications are now available for the 2019 Prenatal to Grade 3 (P-3) Governor's Institute . The purpose of this program is to assist school districts, early learning providers, and community organizations around Pennsylvania in making collaborative efforts for student success from prenatal through grade 3. This Institute will be held in Hershey, PA on June 24-25, 2019. Application deadline is April 30, 2019. Learn more and apply online.
The Five Most Common Types of Grants
A new blog post from GetEdFunding.com outlines The Five Most Common Types of Grants : program and project grants, general operating grants, capital grants, capacity building grants, and endowments. Knowing the difference between these types can help you choose and successfully secure the right type of grant for you.
PA Adult Education Resources
Visit  www.paadultedresources.org  for the latest PA adult education news and resources. Recent additions to the site include:

Upcoming State and National Conferences
State and National Newsletters
Listed below are state and national organizations' newsletters that may be of interest to you. To receive the most recent editions by email, please subscribe directly to the newsletter. 

OCTAE Connection, US Department of Education, Office of Career, Technical, & Adult Education. Features news and resources for adult basic, career, and technical education

GED® In Session, GED Testing Service®. Features news and information related to the GED® test

World Education/U.S. Features resources and information from World Education projects including The Change Agent, College for Adults, EdTech Center, National College Transitional network, and many others

Families Learning: News of the Week, National Center for Families Learning .
Features information and resources for family literacy, early childhood education, and parent education

Workforce GPS, Workforce3 One. Features career pathways and workforce development information

COABE Journal, Coalition On Adult Basic Education. Features national information, resources, and initiatives for adult basic education