Newsletter | October 2025

New Section: The Workforce Wire

We are featuring a new section to this newsletter this month: The Workforce Wire. It will provide adult education practitioners with information to help them support adult learners in becoming career ready. This section includes updates on workforce initiatives happening in Pennsylvania and how to work with partners to connect adult learners to those opportunities, as well as other tools and resources focused on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), career pathways, apprenticeships, and Integrated Education and Training (IET). For additional information and support, contact Chrissie Klinger at cok5111@psu.edu.

THE WORKFORCE WIRE

Workforce Wednesday Networking Sessions

The Workforce Development System Liaison Project’s (WDSL) Workforce Wednesday Networking Sessions are off to a great start. Below is a summary of some tips from the field on leading during difficult times.

Control the narrative. Be sure your adult education program helps others understand how the work you do impacts the economy and your local community.
Determine where you can have control and how you can thrive with that control.
Have a clear "ask," especially when it comes to cost sharing opportunities (e.g., test materials, splitting staff hours, using volunteers).
Explore multiple funding opportunities including fee for service.
Consider how some reactions right now could lead to being proactive with programming and funding in the future.
Realize that everyone is in the same boat; work together not against each other.
Positivity trumps negativity; manage expectations and be transparent.
Words matter; think about how you are saying things to others.
Explore/revisit change management and the best way to help others transition and adapt to changes.

Program administrators and coordinators are invited to join the Workforce Wednesday Networking Sessions on Wednesdays from 12:30-1:00 p.m. using the Zoom link https://psu.zoom.us/my/llininger.

Technical Assistance

Several agencies have received technical assistance from WDSL project staff this year related to the Division of Adult Education's Policy G.100 Adult Education and the Workforce Development System. If you would like support with working collaboratively with your local workforce development board or preparing an annual report to the board, please contact Loretta at lml160@psu.edu.

WIOA Partner Cross-Training Events

These events complement the Workforce Staff Training Courses and are currently scheduled in three different workforce areas. If you would like to get more information about cross-training opportunities or schedule one, please complete the online form.

TEACHING TIPS & RESOURCES

Working with Classroom Aides Guide

The Professional Learning Opportunities Project has developed a new guide for instructors, in-house professional development specialists (IHPDSs), tutor coordinators, and other staff who work with volunteers in the classroom. The new resource, Working with Classroom Aides, provides strategies and resources to support classroom aides, both for in-person and distance learning classes and is available on PAAER's Tutor Coordinator page.

Talk with Me Toolkits for Family Literacy

Talk with Me Toolkits are a collection of resources that give caregivers ways to begin conversations with children. Developed by the Smithsonian, The Goodling Institute, and Family Place Libraries, these toolkits are organized around one of 12 themes meant to improve thinking, vocabulary, and language development. These free online Toolkits can be used by family literacy and adult education programs. Penn State's Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy will host a presentation at the upcoming NCFL conference on November 4, at 10:30 a.m. A separate webinar will be held to introduce the Talk with Me Toolkits on November 10, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Learn more about this webinar and register online.

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.

Navigating New Realities Conference

The PennTESOL East Fall 2025 Conference will be held Saturday, November 15, 2025. The event is hosted by University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. The theme will be Navigating New Realities. Register and view the conference agenda online.

Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant Program

A new grant is available to Pennsylvania school districts, community colleges, and non-profit organizations. The Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Grant program "is designed to help companies identify and train a skilled workforce for existing or near future open positions, engage youth or those with barriers awareness-building activities about career opportunities in manufacturing, and/or advance capacity for local or regional manufacturers." Find the program fact sheet and application details on the Department of Community and Economic Development website.

STATE AND NATIONAL ADULT EDUCATION NEWS

Updated eData Materials

Updated 25-26 eData resources are available to support data entry, reporting, and analysis. The 25-26 eData Instructional Manual and Glossary can assist in accurate and efficient data entry, and includes a manual with step-by-step directions for data entry and a glossary that defines all data fields used in eData. The updated 25-26 eData Access Template Guide offers step-by-step instructions for setting up and using the eData Access template to track and analyze agency data. It also provides detailed explanations of the specific queries and reports included in the template.

JOB POSTINGS

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

NCFL Families Learning Conference - November 2-5, 2025, Charlotte, NC - In-person
ApprenticeshipPA - November 13-14, 2025, Pittsburgh, PA - In-person
PennTESOL East Fall Conference - November 15, 2025, Philadelphia, PA - In-person
TESOL Virtual Convention - November 21-22, 2025 - Online
COABE National Conference - April 12-15, 2026, Indianapolis, IN - In-person and virtual
PAACE Conference - April 27-28, 2026, State College, PA - In-person
CEA Forum - May 3-5, 2026, Baltimore, MD - 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.

PA Association for Adult Continuing Education (PAACE)

Features information for adult education partners for advocacy, networking, and professional development.

September Newsletter

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

October 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.

Oct. 17 | Oct. 3 | Sept. 25

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.

Oct. 8

COABE Connects, Digital Equity, Coalition on Adult Basic Education

Features national information, resources, and initiatives for adult basic education.

Oct.17 | Oct. 10 | Oct. 3 | Sept. 26

This newsletter is a result of a project developed by the Communications Project which is managed by the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11 through a contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Education; however, the opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of TIU 11 or the Pennsylvania Department of Education. No official endorsement of these agencies should be inferred.