Newsletter | January 2026 | | Martin Luther King Jr. Lesson Plan | | |
Fun Fact: There are over 950 roads in America named after Martin Luther King, Jr.
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With Martin Luther King Jr. Day this week, you may still be looking for a way to share his story with your adult learners in a way that is appropriate for their goals and abilities. Literacy Minnesota has a lesson plan that you can use.
The lesson introduces learners to the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his role within the Civil Rights Movement. Discussion also asks learners to reflect on their own experiences and opinions of discrimination and equality.
The lesson plan allows for a total of two hours and 45 minutes of activity, though you may find that you complete the tasks in less time. The lesson involves pre-reading activities, vocabulary, a reading of a 1000-word biography, and a short excerpt from King's "I Have a Dream" speech, class discussion, and post-reading reflection activities. Each step is flexible with multiple options or variations available.
Consider using or adapting this lesson for your students this month or in February's Black History Month.
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| PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES | |
Upcoming 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 view 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.
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Workforce Wednesdays
If you missed the Workforce Wednesday special presentation Roles and Responsibilities of the One-Stop Operator, you can now watch the recording. Workforce Wednesday networking sessions will continue every Wednesday, 12:30-1:00 p.m., on Zoom.
Need Assistance?
If you have specific topics you would like to explore or need customized technical assistance with working collaboratively with your workforce development system partners, contact Loretta at lml160@psu.edu.
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Upcoming Conferences
The WDSL project will be at the PAACE and PWDA Conference vendor areas and will be providing printed copies of the updated Introduction to the PA CareerLink® System User Guide. New PA Foundation Skills resources will also be shared at both conferences.
| | STATE AND NATIONAL ADULT EDUCATION NEWS |
PAACE Conference Early Bird Registration
The early bird rates for the upcoming PAACE Conference end on January 31. For 2026, the in-person Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education (PAACE) Conference will take place Sunday, April 26 through Monday, April 27, at the Penn Stater. Monday will include five breakout sessions, awards luncheon, and snack breaks. In addition to this in-person conference, PAACE will hold a virtual conference day on Friday, May 1, which will include four sessions, networking, and facilitated discussion. This virtual option may be added to an in-person registration or purchased separately for those unable to attend in person.
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COABE National Conference Registration
The Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) National Conference is an annual professional development event for the field of adult education, and the 2026 hybrid conference will be held in Indianapolis, IN. Participants can attend in person, virtually, or a mix of both formats. Attendees will have access to 400+ sessions, networking events, and over 100 vendor booths. Virtual sessions will be available for up to six months after the event goes live. Registration is open now, and early bird pricing continues through February 17, 2026.
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Dollar General Literacy Foundation Funding Opportunities
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is accepting the following grant applications through February 5, 2026, 11:00pm:
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides grant funding to support literacy and education initiatives serving individuals of all ages and funds nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries within a 15-mile radius of Dollar General stores in the states in which they operate. Learn more about grant eligibility and the application process and apply.
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Students as Leaders Summit Funding
The Students as Leaders (SAL) Mini Grant is now open for applications! Through generous support from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, this grant helps adult education programs and state associations send learners to the Students as Leaders Summit on April 13, 2026, in Indianapolis. This full-day event gives adult learners the chance to strengthen leadership and communication skills, build confidence for career and financial success, and connect with peers from across the country. The application deadline is March 13, and you can learn more in a recent COABE newsletter.
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YouthBuild Grant Opportunity
The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOL), shared a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). DOL will award grants through a competitive process to eligible public or private non-profit organizations or Tribal entities to provide pre-apprenticeship occupational skills training, education, and job placement services to youth. YouthBuild prepares participants for quality jobs in various industry sectors and includes wrap-around supportive services such as assistance in transportation, childcare, and housing. YouthBuild programs must offer participants construction training and hands-on experiences building affordable housing for their community. Programs may also include a Construction Plus component, providing vocational training in additional high-demand industries. Questions regarding this FOA may be emailed to YB_FOA-ETA-26-38@dol.gov. DOL encourages prospective applicants and interested parties to use the Grants.gov subscription option to register for future updates provided for this particular FOA.
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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 PAAER website. To post a job, please email the job advertisement to mjmanfred@tiu11.org.
| | PA ADULT EDUCATION RESOURCES | | |
Visit PAAER.org for the latest PA adult education news and resources. Recent additions to the site include:
| | UPCOMING STATE & NATIONAL CONFERENCES | |
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COABE National Conference - April 12-15, 2026, Indianapolis, IN - In-person and virtual
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Students as Leaders Summit - April 13, 2026, Indianapolis, IN - In-person
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PAACE Conference - April 27-28, 2026, State College, PA - In-person | May 1, 2026 - Virtual
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CEA Forum - May 3-5, 2026, Baltimore, MD - In-person
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PA Workforce Development Association Conference - May 6-8, 2026, Hershey, PA - In-person
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Level Up GED® Conference - July 29-31, 2026 - Atlanta, GA - In-person
| | STATE & NATIONAL NEWSLETTERS | | |
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.
Families Learning, News of the Week, National Center for Families Learning
Features information and resources for family literacy, early childhood education, and parent education.
Jan. 16 | Dec. 22 | Dec. 19 |
Adult and Family Literacy Today
Features updates on adult and family literacy research, policy, and practice from the Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy and the Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy.
December Newsletter
PA Association for Adult Continuing Education (PAACE)
Features information for adult education partners for advocacy, networking, and professional development.
December/January Newsletter
COABE Connects, Digital Equity, Coalition on Adult Basic Education
Features national information, resources, and initiatives for adult basic education.
Jan. 22 | Jan. 16 | Jan. 9 | Dec. 31 | Dec. 19 | December Newsletter
CEA National News & Notes
Features news and national information from the Correctional Education Association.
December Newsletter
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