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The Communicator, CCAE's Monthly Newsletter                                     August 2014
In This Issue

LegislativeWebinar








OTAN



OTAN is announcing a Request for Proposals for the Community Model of Online Learning project. Three pilot projects will be established to increase the quantity, quality, and effectiveness of online and blended instruction to support adult learners. Applicants must be a California-based, Workforce Investment Act, Title II, Adult Education and Family Literacy Act-funded agency with a history of success serving adult learners. 
For more information, please visit OTAN and log in. If you are not yet an OTAN member, it is free. Just select the "Register here!" link to enroll. Calpro

 


CALPRO

 
There's still time to get in on CALPRO's professional development offerings before the start of another school year! For the first time ever, Community of Practice:  Evidence-Based Reading Instruction is being offered in Northern California. The deadline is nearly here, so submit your institution's application right away! Additionally, Rubrics Revealed: How Rubrics Support ESL Learner Self-Assessment webinar will be offered in August. You can register here for these and other summer events.


MigrationPolicyInti


 On June 18th, the Migration Policy Institute, an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think-tank, based in Washington, D.C., released a new report called "Critical Choices in Post-Recession California: Investing in the Educational and Career Success of Immigrant Youth."  The executive summary and full report, which I helped review (the segments on Adult Education), can be found at: http://migrationpolicy.org/research/critical-choices-post-recession-california-educational-career-success-immigrant-youth.    The report focuses in on first- and second-generation immigrant youth, ages 16 to 26, detailing many of the issues that immigrant youth and young adults face in all parts of California--including lower graduation rates, lack of support, and barriers to transition to college.  Some items in this report that standout, as it relates to California immigrant youth, are: - A staggering 230,000 immigrant youth lack a high school diploma or High School Equivalency Certification. - The ELL graduation rate is 63%, compared to the overall state level of 80%. - 122,000 young adults are not eligible for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), due to education requirements at the time of the President's executive order and in need of Adult Education to satisfy those requirements.  This report states the issues very well and makes the connection that the education of immigrant youth and young adults is critical to the success of California's economic competitiveness, as we need to produce, by 2025,  2.3 million new college graduates on top of the 3.2 million that are already expected.  Even though this study is focusing on immigrant youth, it goes into great detail about the overall current budget/programming situation with California's K-12 Adult Schools and names the issues that have concerned us over the past five years.  In addition, the report offers recommendations that will be helpful as we work with the legislature and the governor's office for dedicated Adult Education funding.  Take the time to read the full report; but if you can't read it all, please make sure that you read Part VI "Adult Education as an On-Ramp to Postsecondary Success" (Pages 65-74).   

AB86Chris


 Chris Nelson, Past President

By now, many of you have participated in Regional Consortium planning to coordinate strategies between K-12 based Adult Schools and the Community Colleges to better serve adult learners.  The first quarterly report from each of the consortia was due on July 31st.  This first report focused in on Objectives 1, 2 and 4 of what the State Workgroup and the Legislation states in AB 86, asking for each consortium to gather.  The objectives are:

  • An evaluation of current levels and types of adult education programs within its region, including education for adults in correctional facilities; credit, noncredit, and enhanced noncredit adult education coursework; and programs funded through Title II of the federal Workforce Investment Act, known as the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (Public Law 105-220).
  • An evaluation of current needs for adult education programs within its region.
  • Plans to address the gaps identified pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2).

We will now be able to see what we currently offer throughout the state in Adult Education.  We will also be able to see what our current needs will be as a result of not only the cuts to Adult Education but other events that have taken place in California that may drive what we must do for adults seeking education and re-training.  An initial draft of the statewide data on these objectives should be available in the next few months. 

  

In the meantime, please keep participating in Regional Consortia activities.  Last month the CASAS Summer Institute put on an amazing session, in which I was a panel member, attracting over 200 California Adult Educators to discuss AB 86.  Entitled "AB 86- California Consortia: Sharing Progress, Plans and Challenges," this session provided a forum to learn about the successes, challenges, and opportunities that have been presented to us as we have been planning for the future of Adult Education.  For a link to the powerpoint, click here.  

  

If you would like to share what you are doing for planning of your Regional Consortium in this column, please drop me a line at [email protected]


Contact us!
[email protected]
P: 888-542-2231
F: 866-941-5129
www.ccaestate.org
Jerry Green
Executive Director

ExecutiveDirector

Stepping up to Leadership:

We are extremely grateful for the many CCAE members who provide dedicated leadership for their Sections and Chapters over many years; yet it is particularly exciting to see the new faces that step up to assume the duties of treasurer, membership coordinator, event planner, secretary, or offices involving even more responsibility. This fresh energy is critical to the health and evolution of our professional organization. Whether you assist on a conference planning team, as a legislative advocate or board officer, you will be part of a team that provides a noble service to your adult education colleagues and students. In addition, if your experience is similar to mine, you will stretch your leadership skills and develop valued long-term friendships. We currently have a significant representation of teachers and support staff in leadership positions and would very much like to see this representation expand. Let your local Chapter or Section President know you are ready to help out!

 

Membership = Strength:

Statewide membership increased by 12.8% last year, thanks in good part to individuals like you who invited a colleague to join. That's over 310 new voices championing adult education and supporting CCAE's mission of providing quality staff development, staff recognition, and legislative advocacy. Please continue to spread the word.

 

Regular Membership Benefits:

  The camaraderie and solidarity of 2,700 adult educators

  Opportunities for Excellence Awards nominations

  Staff training to enhance your work success

  Access to low cost healthcare

  Timely emails with adult education updates and alerts

  Opportunities for legislative advocacy

  Enrollment in COABE - our national literacy organization affiliate

  Membership rates for regional and state CCAE events

  More details at www.ccaestate.org.  

 

Member Drives begin in August or September, depending upon schools, service areas, and chapter timelines. It is extremely helpful if site leaders foster opportunities for staff to learn about CCAE's mission. These might include social events, presentations to staff, sign-up tables, renewal or new member incentives, membership drawings, electronic newsletters, or even more creative outreach ideas.  

 

Is Your School an Institutional Member? Last year, 57 adult schools took a stand to directly support the work of CCAE by registering as Institutional Members. Included with institutional membership is a beautiful wall plaque, acknowledgment on our state website and conference program, and full membership rights for two staff members named by the institution. Go to www.ccaestate.org for an Institutional Membership enrollment form.

 

Able to make a larger financial contribution? Consider becoming a Golden Circle Member, at the $150 per year level, or enroll in the new Diamond member category, at $250.   Members will receive a plaque, listing on the CCAE website, and mention in the conference program. Most importantly, you will strengthen CCAE's ability to advocate, provide training, and celebrate excellence.    

 

Sincerely,

Jerry Green
Executive Director

LegislativeUpdateLegislative Update

Contributed by
Dawn Keopke
Legislative Advocate

Call to Action - Affecting January's Budget Proposal

 

As you certainly have heard, we are hitting the ground running this month, in an effort to affect the Governor's January budget proposal, in support of K-12 adult education.  In our assessment, it is absolutely critical that the Administration and Department of Finance get the January proposal right, by providing dedicated funding and stability for K-12 school districts to maintain their current adult education programs and look to opportunities to expand and re/establish programs and services for the adults most in need in our state.  The timing is critical, in that school districts will be moving to finalize their budgets shortly after the January budget proposal is released and looking toward the March 15th layoff notice deadline and what may need to be done without clear direction and stability being provided to them for K-12 based adult schools.  It is for this reason that our focus is ultimately on the Administration and Department of Finance to ensure they "get it right" in their January proposal.  The Legislature plays a key role, as well, in helping place pressure, but it is ultimately the Administration and Department of Finance who will have the say in their January proposal.  Pressure must be applied from all angles to affect the details and ensure it provides stability for the K-12 adult education system.   

 

In this regard, we have prepared a host of materials for use by the field at the local level including talking points, a myths vs. facts white paper, timeline overview, sample coalition ("Nascar") letter, and more.  Further, we will be hosting our first webinar this week, in an effort to ensure that the field is updated on the current state of affairs in Sacramento; the efforts we are pursuing at the state level; and what you,  at the local level, can do to assist in our efforts to put pressure on the Administration to "get it right" in their January budget proposal. 

 

In order to ensure such an outcome, leadership in both organizations has developed a vigorous advocacy and strategy plan that ensures no stone is left unturned in our fight to protect K-12 based adult education by ensuring dedicated funding that flows through current fiscal infrastructures.  This plan encompasses state level advocacy and political involvement, local grassroots advocacy, and the hiring of Forza Communications, a well-respected public relations firm in Sacramento, to help get our message out and stir up noise about the importance of K-12 based adult education and need to protect it going forward. 

 

More specifically, at the state level, we are working on our own CCAE and CAEAA focused advocacy, as well as working with a diverse group of school districts, community college districts, and Ed Coalition members (ACSA, CASBO, CC League, and more) to push for a workable, stable adult education system.  We're also working with CDE, the Legislature, legislative caucuses, civil rights organizations and more. 

 

At the local level, we're asking that everyone take up the cause and work within your adult schools, regions, and sections to ensure that each and every legislator is reached in the coming weeks with the ask of 1) support for protecting K-12 based adult education and 2) helping to push the Administration and Department of Finance to "get it right" in providing stability to K-12 districts to maintain, grow and re/establish their adult education programs.  We've also asked that, at the local level, you work in your regions to obtain key signatories to sign on to a coalition letter in support of K-12 adult education.  Such signatories could include everyone from your local Chambers of Commerce to community based organizations, businesses, school board members, Boards of Supervisors, and more - the sky is the limit!  This work, however, must be done quickly (by October 1st) in order to ensure the pressure is felt in Sacramento by the Administration and Department of Finance who are already working on the details of the January budget proposal.  We estimate that our window for affecting the proposal will begin to close at the end of September/beginning of October as the Department of Finance moves in to approval mode with the Administration.  In this regard....get moving, we have work to do!

 

Finally, we have hired Forza Communications and its principal, Steve Maviglio, to help us get our message out and drum up additional pressure in the media, in support of K-12 based adult education.  He has key relationships in and around the Capitol and is at the top of his game, with a serious following of policy, political and budget gurus watching to see what the latest issues are that he is working on.  We'll be working with him to craft the messages and ensure they are directed appropriately to affect the January budget proposal positively for K-12 based adult education. 

 

We hope you will take up this important cause.  Never has the time for action been more important or critical and it is imperative that we are all moving in the same direction.  While we are focused on broader messaging in our advocacy for now, as we get further in to the weeds with the Department of Finance and other stakeholders we'll keep you updated on the progress we're making and what other details we should be advocating.  Let's move swiftly and together to affect the January budget proposal - the clock is ticking!
MissionImpossible

CCAE 2015 Conference  

Mission Possible: Encryption No. 2

 

Agents for Change:

 

The response to our monthly encryptions has been great! A new message will be posted on the first of each month with the answers following on the 15th.

 

Every correct submission earns one ticket for our special drawing at the upcoming CCAE state conference.

Match the Adult Schools here  with the years they started -

An extra ticket if you can also list the correct CCAE section.

 

All of this information can be found on the CCAE website on the conference page at http://ccaestate.org/conference2015agentforchange.html.

Send your answers to Darlene Neilsen by 8/15: [email protected].     

 

Happy solving!
Darlene Neilsen


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