California Adult Education Professional Development System
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California Adult Education: Description of Professional Development System
The California Department of Education (CDE), through the Adult Education Office, oversees all adult education professional development activity in the state. The CDE contracts with outside organizations to provide direct services to teachers and administrators, including a rich and varied professional development system. The majority of professional development activities are managed by the California Adult Literacy Professional Development Organization (CALPRO). All professional development is based on adult research.
California’s 12,000 adult education teachers are responsible for obtaining and maintaining their teaching credential. School districts also have a responsibility to assure teachers meet the expectations of their bargaining unit contracts and the California Teaching Standards.
The CDE assures that a full range of developmental assistance is available to local adult education agencies. State consultants provide technical assistance on program, administrative and fiscal issues. The state leadership projects assist local agencies with data and accountability, technology, and professional development. Adult education professional organizations also offer workshops and conferences for teachers and administrators.
California’s professional development system includes 10 Professional Development Centers (PDC), online resources, site-based professional development, and institutes and special events. Each PDC participates in the statewide rollout of priority PD topics, as well as providing a resource library and scheduling workshops, networking groups and other events of local interest.
CALPRO and the Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN) initiated a number of innovative professional development projects in California, many of them designed to foster site-based learning communities. Examples include study circles, teacher mentoring, technology mentoring, learning communities for professional development, and field-based action research.
Examples of other special projects include Just-in-Time Leadership sessions for new administrators, a two-year Leadership Institute, and the prestigious Programs of Excellence recognition system.
CALPRO and OTAN both provide rich online resources for teachers including online courses and guides, research publications, an online lesson plan builder, and sample activities, lesson plans, and websites to use in the classroom.
Visit these useful websites at:
www.calpro-online.org
www.otan.us
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Wendi Maxwell
Education Programs Consultant
California Department of Education
January 27, 2006
