This program year, the Professional Learning Opportunities project established an equity committee to support WIOA Title II adult education agencies and the Professional Development System in shifting their culture towards one of equity and inclusion. The committee is charged with creating professional development opportunities around the following topics: culturally responsive teaching, asset-based and inclusive language, and equity and inclusion. Maribel Ojeda, chair of the committee, explained, “We believe that equity and inclusion are essential components of adult education and family literacy programming, and we are excited to support programs across the state with resources around this important topic.”

Members of the committee bring a diverse skillset and range of experience to this initiative and include:

• Loice Byler, student advisor and cultural navigator at Lancaster-Lebanon IU13
• Sara Cole, agency consultant for the Professional Learning Opportunities project
• Kevin Cromwell, senior program manager at YWCA Tri-County Area
• Dawn Hannah, chief program officer at Beyond Literacy
• Carolanne Mitchell, tutor coordinator at Beyond Literacy 
• Maribel Ojeda, agency consultant for the Professional Learning Opportunities project
• Wenxi Schwab, adult education instructor and student support coordinator at ARIN IU 28

The committee plans to make courses, learning modules, and tools available to the field in the 2023-24 program year. If you are interested in learning more about bringing equity and inclusion to adult education contact Maribel Ojeda at mojeda@tiu11.org. 

Edutopia: Using Praise for Improvement

A recent Edutopia article, "The Art (and Science) of Using Praise for Improvement," discusses the benefits of using praise with students, from improving relationships to improving learning. It also acknowledges our common barriers to offering as much praise as we should before outlining several tips for increasing our praise of our students.

Standards-in-Action English Learner Virtual Training Institutes

Registration is now open for the 2023 Standards-in-Action (SIA) English Learner (EL) Virtual Training Institutes on March 7 and May 2, 2023. The trainings are open to all individual AEFLA adult educators. Individual registrants will be placed in groups of five or more, and every team will be supported by two SIA coaches. These institutes will focus on instruction that simultaneously engages English learners in two of their critical instructional needs: English language and academic content development. The trainings are concrete and evidence-based and provide participants with ready-to-use methods and materials to assist with EL teaching and learning. The training materials are accessible and can change how teachers think about and implement EL instruction. Register on the Standards in Action website.

Webinar and Report: Closing the Digital Skill Divide

Today, 92% of jobs in the U.S. labor market require digital skills. That is from the recently released report, "Closing the Digital Skill Divide." This report was a collaboration of the National Skills Coalition and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. One-third of workers don't possess the foundational digital skills that today's jobs demand. Read the report and register for the February 22, 1:00 p.m., virtual event on this groundbreaking new research about the digital skill divide and learn how it can help inform the implementation of the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act investments.

Professional Learning for Adult Education and Family Literacy Staff

Staff at PDE-funded adult education and family literacy agencies can view a list of upcoming courses now available for enrollment in the PD Portal. For more information about any of these courses, please visit the PD Portal, open the course catalog, and review the syllabus. If you are interested in enrolling in a course, please consult with your in-house professional development specialist (IHPDS) to determine if the course meets your professional learning goals.

Webinar: Providing Services to Immigrant Workers and Refugees

Immigrants and refugees are critical to filling the workforce pipeline that is necessary for employers to thrive. A webinar will be held on Thursday, February 23, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., titled "Providing Services to Immigrant Workers and Refugees - Starting with Trust: Yes, WIOA Can!" This webinar will begin a conversation about services for immigrant workers and refugees which will extend into an invitation-only, peer-to-peer discussion three weeks later. Presenters will conduct a few polls asking members about the topics they would like to discuss further. Register or learn more online.

Families Learning Conference: Call for Proposals

The National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) is planning the annual Families Learning Conference to be held October 23-25 in Omaha, Nebraska. They invite you to submit an interactive, engaging presentation proposal before March 28. Learn more and submit a proposal on the conference website.

One-Day Correctional Education Symposium in May

The virtual Correctional Education Symposium, hosted by the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) and the Correctional Education Association (CEA), will be held on May 16, 2023. The goal of the symposium is to bring together correctional education practitioners and administrators to learn what other states are doing to enhance their own programs, specifically in the areas of innovative practices, equity in corrections, overcoming reentry barriers, and higher education. Also, if you are a correctional education practitioner or administrator with innovative ideas, consider submitting a proposal to present at the symposium.

The job postings below are for adult basic education programs funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and, at least in part, by WIOA Title II funds. You can also find the postings on the paadultedresources.org website. To post a job, please email the job advertisement to mjmanfred@tiu11.org.  

Director of Student Curriculum and Instruction – Delaware County Literacy Council

Program Associate II: Adult Education, Workforce, and Postsecondary Education – WestEd 

Visit www.paadultedresources.org for the latest PA adult education news and resources. Recent additions to the site include:

• 22-23 eData Access Template v2
• Job posting: Director of Student Curriculum and Instruction

• COABE National Conference - April 2-5, 2023, Atlanta, GA
• PAACE Conference - April 23-25, 2023, Lancaster, PA
• Correctional Education Symposium - May 16, 2023, Virtual
• Families Learning Conference - October 23-25, 2023, Omaha, NE

State and national organizations' newsletters are listed below and may be of interest to you. To receive the most recent editions by email, please subscribe directly to the newsletter. 

Early Childhood Education Recap, PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning Features weekly and monthly news and information relating to early childhood education.

Feb. 13 Feb. 6 Jan. 30

Families Learning: News of the Week, National Center for Families Learning

Features information and resources for family literacy, early childhood education, and parent education.

Feb. 8 Feb. 3 Feb. 1

WorkforceGPS, Workforce3 One Features career pathways and workforce development information.

Feb. 14 Feb. 8 February Newsletter

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

Feb. 10 Feb. 3. 3 Feb. 2 Jan. 27

World Education/U.S. Features resources and information from World Education projects including EdTech Center News, The Change Agent, College for Adults, E-Learning, LINCS Region 1 Professional Development Center, National College Transitional Network, and many others. 

Feb. 15 Feb. 8