Newsletter | November 2025 | | Resources to Help Students in Need | | |
Through their work in local communities and with its members, adult educators know not everyone always has access to the essential items that they need. Below are some available resources that can help locate information on accessing assistance now and throughout the year:
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PA Navigate: This website helps Pennsylvanians find help with food, housing, utilities, transportation, or other health and social care services in their community.
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PA211.org: This United Way website is a comprehensive starting point for connecting with local resources.
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Feeding Pennsylvania: Local food banks and other food assistance programs are found here along with up-to-date information on SNAP benefits.
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Utility Assistance Programs: This website through the PA Public Utility Commission can help qualifying customers living in a low-income household or undergoing hardship contact their utility company for information on utility assistance programs.
In addition, the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) has the Educate & Elevate Foundation, which provides two distinct grant applications that support adult learners and local programs and agencies.
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For adult learners: Through the SOS (Support Our Students) Fund, learners facing immediate barriers, such as transportation, childcare, or unexpected hardship, can apply to receive up to $1,000 in emergency assistance to help them stay in class and succeed.
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For programs: The Local Enrichment Fund grants up to $1,000 to local adult education programs to enhance their services and support their learners. This fund can also serve as a steppingstone to the Excellence in Local Programming Award.
These grants help ease financial barriers, strengthen learner persistence, and bolster program capacity, ultimately unlocking potential and enhancing success for adult learners, their families, and the programs that serve them. For more information and to apply, visit the Educate & Elevate Foundation website.
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| TEACHING TIPS & RESOURCES |
Integrating Technology
Adult students, whether they are preparing for the workforce or for modern life, need to be ready to use technology. A recent Edutopia article, 27 Quick Win, Low-Prep Ways to Integrate Tech This Year, gives you a curated collection of technology ideas, grouped along commonly needed themes: quick starts for the day, checks for understanding, collaboration and discussion, writing and creation, self-support, and reflection and exit tickets.
| 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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Learner Return on Investment Study
The Learner Return on Investment Study is aimed at helping the field understand the relationship between learners’ investment in participating in adult education and the return they get for that investment. Rutgers University professor and researcher Alisa Belzer and her team hope to learn more about what learners’ reasons are for enrolling and how programs are addressing them. The team is especially interested in learning more about programs that provide a high level of return on learners' investments. The study team is looking for programs that serve ABE learners in Levels 1 through 4 to participate. Participation involves completing a brief screening survey that should take three to five minutes. Selected programs will be asked to administer a learner survey and provide some additional program information. The study team will share a summary of programs' learner responses, which could provide valuable data on program effectiveness that can inform decision-making. Please take a moment to review the participation letter and, if interested, complete the screen survey by December 5. For more information, please contact Alisa Belzer at alisa.belzer@gse.rutgers.edu.
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Recent Events
On November 6, 2025, staff from the Workforce Development System Liaison Project (WDSL) facilitated a face-to-face cross-training event in the Northwest Workforce Development Area. Prior to the event, participants completed pre-work through Workforcestafftraining.com. During the face-to-face event, workforce development system staff from all four WIOA core programs examined current strengths and discussed how to use them to better coordinate services provided to job seekers in their large geographical areas.
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Upcoming Events
WDSL project staff will be facilitating upcoming cross-training events in the South Central and Chester County WDAs in December. On January 20, 2026, from 12-1 p.m., the Friday Lunchtime Webinar Coming Together with Partners through Cross-Training Events will include a panel of adult education administrators and workforce partners from the Northwest, South Central, and Chester WDAs. The panel will explore how cross-training events have helped partners come together.
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PA CareerLink® Activities
During a recent Workforce Wednesday networking session, Northampton Community College’s (NCC) adult education program shared how the local PA CareerLink® (PACL) has been having “pop-ups” all over the Lehigh Valley. At one of the pop-up events at NCC, adult learners were able to learn more about PACL services and workshops, get professional headshots taken, and connect with Dress with Success for professional attire. The WDSL project would love to hear about other unique ways adult learners in Title II funded programs are connecting with the services provided by other WIOA core partners through the PACL system. Join and share during Workforce Wednesday networking sessions or email Loretta at lml160@psu.edu.
| | STATE AND NATIONAL ADULT EDUCATION NEWS |
COABE National Awards
COABE is seeking nominations for the annual awards given for outstanding members of the adult education community. Awards include Outstanding Teacher, Adult Learner, and Administrator of the Year, as well as awards for Workforce Development, State Innovation, Local Excellence in Advocacy, Excellence in Local Programming, and State Association Leadership. There are also incentive grants and individual scholarships. Peer nominations (not self-nominations) will be accepted through December 28, 2025, through the COABE Awards and Grants page.
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Students as Leaders Summit 2026
The COABE Students as Leaders Summit is coming to the COABE National Conference in Indianapolis, April 12-15, 2026. This one-of-a-kind event is designed just for adult learners. They will have access to sessions, networking opportunities, and experiences created specifically for them, not just as a participant, but as a leader and changemaker in adult education. Funding support will be available to help with travel and lodging for those who live outside Indiana. Details and applications will be shared soon but please note that, to be eligible for funding and to attend the Summit, participants must complete COABE’s Student Ambassador Training before the conference.
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Deadline for CEA Forum Workshop Proposals
The 2026 Correctional Education Association (CEA) Forum will be held in Baltimore, MD, May 3-5, 2026. This event will bring together educators, administrators, policymakers, and advocates from across the country to share best practices, explore innovative strategies, and strengthen the impact of correctional education. If you have ideas or practices to share, you can submit a proposal now until Monday, December 15.
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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.
- There are currently no job listings.
| | 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 | | 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.
Nov. 14 | Oct. 31
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 Transition Network, and many others.
The Change Agent
COABE Connects, Digital Equity, Coalition on Adult Basic Education
Features national information, resources, and initiatives for adult basic education.
Nov. 21 | COABE Compass | Nov. 14 | Nov. 7 | Oct. 31 | Oct. 24
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