Internet for All: Connecting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | |
Extending and expanding access to broadband across Pennsylvania and making connection more reliable and affordable is a top priority of Governor Josh Shapiro and his administration. A main driver of this improvement is the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (Authority) and it's "Internet for All: Connecting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" initiative, a series of upcoming public engagement activities to support the development of the Commonwealth’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity (DE) program plans. As the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania seeks to expand and invest in improved broadband connectivity and digital access, our students’ voices should be heard, and their needs considered. | |
Please consider using the links above to complete the survey and to share it with your students and staff. The information it gathers will help assess connectivity and digital access and identify barriers. Your answers on the survey will inform the 5-Year Action Plan and Digital Equity Plans, being prepared in 2023 by the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority.
The survey is being released throughout the commonwealth using several deployment methods to broaden its reach. Respondents will be able to submit a paper survey, respond online, or participate via phone. Paper surveys will be available for residents at select locations, including businesses, educational centers, local government offices, social service offices, and healthcare facilities. The online survey is available in translation for the following languages: Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, and Korean.
Paper responses should be collected and mailed to:
Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority
400 North Street, 4th Floor Keystone Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120.
Attn: Digital access survey responses
We recommend that you support students as they complete it. It is several pages long and has vocabulary that may not be clear to everyone. ProLO consultants have developed two lesson plans to assist teachers and tutors in your programs with presenting the survey to your students. An ABE lesson plan is geared towards NRS levels 3 and 4 but includes an adapted vocabulary activity for higher-level ELL learners. A beginning ELL lesson plan may help your lower-level ESL students be able to participate as well. And of course, you can always work one-on-one with some learners if your program has the capacity to do so.
For more information about the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority and the upcoming community engagement activities, visit the Authority’s website.
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Teaching Tips and Resources | |
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Jump-Starting Relationships with Students This School Year
In adult education, our relationships with students are important. A new Edutopia article, "The Power of a 45 Second Investment in Relationship Building," discusses a simple but purposeful plan with which you can get the ball rolling with your students. You can benefit from this strategy throughout the year.
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Professional Development Opportunities | |
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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.
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Webinar: Helping Students Stay - Retention in the Classroom
Retention is a constant challenge in adult education and students face barriers to retention that are outside of our control. A webinar on Monday, July 31, 2:00-3:00 p.m., will address issues teachers can influence, from the moment they receive rosters to the last day of class. Participants will explore recent research on student persistence, hear practical strategies to improve retention, and be prompted to consider their own classroom retention data. Enjoy collaboration and sharing with others while tackling this perennial challenge! Register online.
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State and National Adult Education News | |
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Survey: College Bridge Programs for Justice-Impacted Students
On July 1, 2023, the restoration of Pell Grants for incarcerated persons takes effect with the potential to significantly expand access to higher education programs. However, access alone is not enough. The vast majority of those that achieve their high school diploma (HSD) or GED while incarcerated, or prior to incarceration, are not prepared with the skills needed to continue onto higher education or workforce development training opportunities. As college in prison programs continue to expand, supported by the newly reinstated Federal Pell Grants, the need for college bridge programs has become all the more urgent. Formal agreements with higher education institutions may be needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the college bridge program on long-term student outcomes. In order to get a better understanding of the need for college bridge programs that help incarcerated people acquire the writing, critical thinking and math skills required to access Pell-funded higher education programs, a field survey to assess the needs of both the incarcerated population and the colleges is necessary. Take the survey or learn more online.
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ALL IN Research Grants and Scholarships
World Education is leading a community-engaged research initiative on behalf of the Adult Literacy and Learning Impact Network (ALL IN). ALL IN is offering this opportunity for short-term research projects that can unearth instructional and programmatic innovation, make visible teacher knowledge, and offer insights in line with broad goals of the National Action Plan for Adult Literacy related to access, quality, and/or uptake. Proposals should describe community-engaged research, which is a collaborative and participatory approach that emphasizes the active involvement of researchers, educators, and community members in the research process to address educational issues and promote positive change. Read online about the research funding opportunity. You can hear a discussion of it on Youtube.
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Citizenship and Integration Grant
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the expansion of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, which provides funding for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country. The program, now open for applications through July 28, 2023, will provide up to $25 million in grants to prepare immigrants for naturalization and promote civic integration through increased knowledge of English, U.S. history, and civics. In addition to the traditional programs that fund citizenship and English classes, the 2023 grants also include opportunities for creative and innovative approaches to preparing immigrants for naturalization. The grants are:
- Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services
- Community and Regional Integration Network Grant
- Regional Hub Program
- Innovations in Citizenship Education Program
To learn more, read the USCIS news release.
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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 paadultedresources.org website. To post a job, please email the job advertisement to mjmanfred@tiu11.org.
There are no new job postings at this time.
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PA Adult Education Resources | |
Upcoming State and National Conferences
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State and National Newsletters
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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.
June 26
Families Learning, News of the Week, National Center for Families Learning
Features information and resources for family literacy, early childhood education, and parent education.
July 7 June 23
WorkforceGPS, Workforce3 One Features career pathways and workforce development information.
July 11 July Newsletter June 27
COABE Connects, Digital Equity, Coalition On Adult Basic Education Features national information, resources, and initiatives for adult basic education.
July 7 July 3 June 30 June 23
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.
July 6 June 30
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