VALRC

Bi-monthly Program Managers Meeting
2025-09-15 13:30 - 15:30, 2025-11-17 13:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Bi-monthly virtual meeting for updates, news, and discussion for all adult education program managers.
Register and join here.

ProLiteracy: Teacher Training Plus: Setting a Purpose for Reading
2025-09-23 13:00 - 14:00
Reading is more than just decoding words; it’s an active, purposeful engagement with text. This comprehensive webinar delves into the profound impact of establishing a clear reading purpose that fosters deeper comprehension and promotes meaningful interaction between the reader and the material. We’ll explore how connecting discrete reading assignments to overarching personal and academic goals significantly enhances learner motivation, persistence, and overall achievement.
Register here.

Literacy Minnesota: Teaching Reading Vocabulary
2025-09-24 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
Vocabulary is everyone’s favorite reading component! And helping students master reading vocabulary is a key to helping them master comprehension.
But how many words should you teach? And which words are the most important? What strategies are best for helping students learn new words? How do you get students to make new words part of their receptive and productive vocabularies? This webinar will focus on the theory and best practice behind choosing, teaching and reviewing reading vocabulary. You’ll get a chance to learn about (and practice) a variety of activities that can be done remotely or in person. Links to great online resources will also be provided.
This workshop will be most useful for instructors working with low-intermediate to advanced readers.
Register Here

COABE: Building Stronger Pipelines: Advancing IET and Apprenticeship Programs Through Language and Employer Partnerships
2025-09-30 14:00 - 15:30
As workforce needs shift and career pathways evolve, integrated education and training (IET) and apprenticeship models offer powerful tools for helping adult learners access high-demand jobs. But how do programs move from planning to full-scale implementation and ensure these pathways are equitable and accessible for English learners?
In this webinar, we will explore how adult education programs are building and expanding IET and apprenticeship pipelines through cross-sector collaboration, employer partnerships, and digital tools that support language and literacy instruction. Speakers will share real-world examples, highlight common roadblocks, and offer actionable strategies to increase access, improve learner outcomes, and meet workforce demand. The needs of special populations, including internationally trained professionals will be explored.
Whether you’re designing a new IET program or looking to take an existing model to the next level, this webinar will provide practical insights and replicable strategies for building programs that work for both learners and employers.
Register here.

Literacy MN: Developing and Practicing Reading Fluency
2025-09-30 19:30 - 21:30 | Online
Come and review the important role of fluency in reading instruction. We will discuss the three key components of reading fluency and look at a variety of activities tutors and teachers can try. We will talk about the mechanics of doing fluency practice via Zoom, Google Meet, Teams or any other remote tutoring tool (including the phone!). Participants will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions and share resources.
This workshop will be most useful for instructors working with low-intermediate to advanced readers.
Register here

edWeb Dyslexia Awareness Week Webinars
2025-10-07 - 2025-10-09 | Online
Join edWeb for a three-day webinar series exploring research-based strategies to overcome instructional challenges, set meaningful reading goals, and celebrate the unique strengths of learners.
More details and registration information can be found here.

COABE: Embracing AI for Reading Instruction
2025-10-09 14:00 - 15:30
Busy teachers often need more time to plan lessons and find materials for teaching reading skills to students. Embracing AI can be a game changer for planning lessons and gathering materials to deliver instruction in each of the four components of reading. Participants will learn about free AI tools for teaching phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Save time and tailor instruction to meet your students’ needs with tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and more.
Register here.

Literacy MN: Teaching Intermediate Alphabetics
2025-10-10 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
Teaching intermediate alphabetics (syllables, prefixes, suffixes, root words) is a great way to help students build their decoding and comprehension skills. Come learn a variety of fun and easy-to-use routines and activities for helping intermediate-level readers develop these important tools.
Register here.

TABE and TABE CLAS-E – Using the Reports and Resources to Support Gains!
2025-10-14 12:00 - 13:30
Join Data Recognition Corporation for a webinar as we discuss TABE and TABE CLAS-E.
During the webinar we will review:

Integrating the *NEW* Instructional Strategies to Support ELL Measurable Gains
DRC INSIGHT: How to Access the Individual Profile Reports
Data Points Available for TABE and CLAS-E, and Interpreting Scores
Using the Blueprints to Prepare for Post-Testing
Best Practices for Post-Testing
Questions and Answers

Register in advance here.

DARS: Champions of Disability Employment
2025-10-15 11:00 - 12:30
Celebrate the businesses, partners, and DARS customers who have shown great passion, commitment, resilience, and courage in creating employment opportunities for individuals. Learn about resources, strategies, and hear the inspiring stories of people who have overcome multiple barriers to become self-sufficient.
Register here.

COABE: AI in Adult Education: Preparing Learners and Helping Educators for Today and Tomorrow
2025-10-17 14:00 - 15:30
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping education, work, and the skills needed for success. For adult education, AI offers tools to personalize learning, support digital literacy, and create stronger pathways to employment. This webinar will highlight strategies for integrating AI into programs, with examples of readily available tools that teachers and students can use immediately to enhance instruction and engagement. Participants will learn how AI can expand opportunities, improve outcomes, and prepare learners for the future.
Register here.

2025 LACES Data Training - Invitation Only
2025-10-21 - 2025-10-22 | The Arboretum, 300 Arboretum Place, Richmond, VA, 23236
By invitation only, more information is forthcoming. Please be sure to visit the LACES resource page for updates.

ProLiteracy: Teacher Training Plus: Research, Verify, Evaluate: Teaching 21st Century Information Skills
2025-10-21 13:00 - 14:00
Help learners build the essential research and evaluation skills needed for today’s information-rich workplaces. In this webinar, participants will explore how to teach digital research strategies and information evaluation. Learn how to help students navigate online resources, use fact-checking tools, and interpret the credibility of digital content. Explore how AI tools can assist students in conducting research, from generating search questions to organizing and interpreting the information they find. You will leave with practical strategies and classroom-ready ideas to integrate research skills into HSE, ESL, and other adult education settings.
Register here.

Literacy MN: Comprehension Strategies for Intermediate-Level Readers
2025-10-27 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
Research shows that explicitly teaching a set of comprehension strategies is a great way to help intermediate-level readers maximize their understanding of texts. Come learn a handful of great comprehension tools that will help students develop critical thinking skills and comprehension skills.
Register here.

Tuesdays for Teachers: Corrections - Getting Students Ready for Re-entry
2025-10-28 15:30 - 17:00
When you think of Re-entry services, what comes to mind? Housing, employment assistance, transportation, counseling? Re-entry programs provide all of those services and more. However, adult educators can play a role in preparing students for re-entry through academic instruction that is contextualized to show students how the skills they learn while preparing for the GED test transfer into their lives after incarceration.
This session is designed to help instructors in corrections programs contextualize their instruction to show the value of learning concepts and skills for the GED test as well as for life beyond incarceration. Students in corrections have many resources available to them through re-entry services. However, if the student has limited skills in math, reading, or writing, how those students can take full advantage of those services may be limited.
Think in terms of a student using re-entry services to find employment. Employers today expect that new hires will have at least a basic level of writing skills. In fact, almost 75% of employers rank written communication skills third behind leadership and working as part of a team. In this session, teachers will learn how to use “information hooks” to show students how what they are learning to pass the GED test can be used in various occupations from fast food to transportation to sales and service.
Register here.

Literacy Minnesota: Teaching Reading Vocabulary
2025-11-03 19:30 - 21:30 | Online
Vocabulary is everyone’s favorite reading component! And helping students master reading vocabulary is a key to helping them master comprehension.
But how many words should you teach? And which words are the most important? What strategies are best for helping students learn new words? How do you get students to make new words part of their receptive and productive vocabularies? This webinar will focus on the theory and best practice behind choosing, teaching and reviewing reading vocabulary. You’ll get a chance to learn about (and practice) a variety of activities that can be done remotely or in person. Links to great online resources will also be provided.
This workshop will be most useful for instructors working with low-intermediate to advanced readers.
Register here.

Navigating CASAS New Test Series - Virginia ESL and ABE Programs
2025-11-06 14:00 - 15:30
In this training, we will introduce participants to CASAS’ new Reading STEPS, Listening STEPS, Reading GOALS 2 and Math GOALS 2 assessment series. We will look at sample test items and test blueprints and explore their alignment to the College and Career Readiness and English Language Proficiency Standards. We will hi-light the most popular TOPSpro Enterprise instructional reports and discuss ways in which they can be used to help inform instruction.
Registration required: https://casas-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/e3JU-KsmQsSeZi4goSO1PA

COABE: Trauma-Informed Instruction: Teaching Through Triggers and Traumas - Theirs and Yours
2025-11-07 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
Participants will learn how to teach through triggers and traumas—yours and your students’—to lead students to academic success. Research shows that past and present trauma affects our ability to learn and teach effectively. This webinar will present an accessible understanding of how the brain functions when under stress and how to regulate before you react. This knowledge combined with practical, transferable skills will improve learning, instruction, test-taking, and quality of life.
Register here.

EdTech Strategy Session
2025-11-14 13:00 - 14:30
Monthly sessions highlighting innovations in edtech and digital learning

On the second Friday of each month, the EdTech Strategy Sessions bring you two ⚡lightning talks that highlight practical strategies and innovative approaches to leveraging technology in adult education. After the talks, you are welcome to join a small-group discussion with one of the speakers to exchange ideas, adapt strategies to your context, and plan your next steps.
Register here.

CAL: Reading Science for Multilingual Learners
2025-11-18 16:00 - 16:30 | Online
In the United States (US), bilingual or Multilingual Learners (MLLs) tend to perform at grade level on word reading or decoding. However, scientific evidence shows that they tend to struggle with reading comprehension and with building knowledge from text throughout the elementary school years. Traditionally, vocabulary instruction has been leveraged to address many of MLLs’ needs in reading comprehension, yet this does not seem to be enough to address MLLs’ needs in understanding text. In fact, the history of bilingualism research shows that bilingualism has often been perceived as detracting to learning and reading, rather than contributing to it. However, evidence from the last two decades and recent evidence point to the role that Executive Function (EF) skills might play as plausible drivers of reading comprehension in MLLs. In this webinar conversation with CAL colleagues, Ana Taboada Barber draws on existing research and her work on Executive Functions in MLLs and their English-monolingual peers to help shed light on how an asset-based approach to teaching MLLs can help broaden our understanding of their challenges with reading comprehension and knowledge-building from text.
Register here.

Literacy Minnesota: I Hear You! Effective Listening Instruction for English Language Learners
2025-11-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Virtual
Come learn how explicit listening instruction builds a foundation for literacy skills and fosters independence for language learners. This workshop will identify authentic learning tasks that English learners encounter daily, try out a variety of listening activities across multiple levels, and discuss which explicit listening strategies are used for each one. Participants will leave with ideas for listening tasks that can be used in remote or in-person instruction.
Please note that you may be asked to participate in discussion groups during the webinar. Please plan to join us from a quiet setting where you can see the PowerPoint slides and use your audio.
Register Here

NEDP: Fall Leadership meeting (for NEDP program managers and leaders)
2025-11-21 10:00 - 12:00
Fall meeting for NEDP program managers and leaders.
Register here.

CASAS Office Hours
2025-11-21 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-05 14:00 - 15:00
Maximize the many features and resources available in CASAS. Join us and bring your questions and get one-on-one support, help, suggestions and just plain old encouragement in using CASAS. Attending participants will drive the session with their questions and needs.
Register here.

IET Office Hour
2025-12-03 12:00 - 13:15
Come discuss IET planning tools, IET maps, and all aspects of programming for IETs, IELCE, and workforce programming in adult education. Come with questions!
IET Office Hours will be held the first Wednesday of every month, except January, from 12p – 1:15p.
Register and join here.

NEDP: Fall Professional Learning Community (for NEDP Advisors & Assessors)
2025-12-08 16:00 - 17:00
This session will focus on using NEDP data to drive program persistence and completion.
Register here.

ProLiteracy: See What You’ve Been Missing Lunch & Learn
2025-12-11 12:00 - 12:30 | Online
Where can directors, program managers, and support staff find guidance and materials for program management, marketing and recruitment, advocacy, grants and funding, and research data?
Where can teachers find professional development, training courses, and resources for basic literacy and numeracy; CASAS®, TABE®, GED®, and HiSET® test prep; ESL and citizenship; and workforce readiness?
Join Lauren Osowski and Greg Stultz to find out what you may be missing from ProLiteracy and New Readers Press—it’s right under your nose!
Register here.

EdTech Strategy Session
2025-12-12 01:00 - 14:30
Monthly sessions highlighting innovations in edtech and digital learning

On the second Friday of each month, the EdTech Strategy Sessions bring you two ⚡lightning talks that highlight practical strategies and innovative approaches to leveraging technology in adult education. After the talks, you are welcome to join a small-group discussion with one of the speakers to exchange ideas, adapt strategies to your context, and plan your next steps.
Register here.
December’s strategy session, sponsored by @Essential Education, will focus on innovative strategies for accelerating HSE credentialing.

Lightning talk #1 – A Flexible Approach to Practice
This lightning talk will highlight how to provide learners with flexible materials and ample practice. Hear about how to foster self-directed learning and structured autonomy to personalize learning experiences.
Lightning talk #2 – Engaging Youth
The second speaker will share strategies for engaging younger adult learners (ages 16-18) in short-term programs, including increased engagement, mixed prescription for varied levels and skills, and the practical integration of Career and Technical Education (CTE).

COABE: Expanding the Age Range for PACT Time by Discovering PACT Time Experiences for Families
2025-12-12 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
This webinar will dive into expanding the age range for PACT Time® activities by discovering a variety of experiences for children and parents of all ages. Most PACT Time resources that are available are focused on early childhood (0-8), but family literacy programming can serve families with children of any age and PACT Time activities need to reflect the age of those children. Join Allison Miller from the National Center for Families Learning to review available resources and dream up new ones!
Register here.
