Produced: Aug 15, 2025, 02:28 PM UTC - By Deanna Keuilian
2025-26
Plans & Goals
Assessment
Activities & Outcomes
Objective #1: Address Educational Needs
Address Educational Needs
Development and Expansion of Targeted Programs
The Desert Regional Consortium (DRC) will develop and expand targeted ESL, High School Diploma, High School Equivalency, and short-term Career Technical Education (CTE) programs in underserved regions of the Coachella Valley. The activity focuses on increasing equitable access for low-income, Hispanic, migrant, and English Learner adult populations by offering classes in flexible formats (in-person, hybrid, and online) and leveraging community partnerships for recruitment, instruction, and support services. Emphasis will be placed on aligning new courses with current labor market demands and regional workforce priorities.
Adult Education Metrics and Student Barriers
- Student Barriers: Low Literacy (155AE)
Responsible Positions, Responsible Consortium Members, and Proposed Completion Date
Responsible Position | Responsible Member | Proposed Completion Date |
---|---|---|
Dean Papas | Desert CCD | 06/30/2028 |
Larry Bellanich | Desert Sands Unified | 06/30/2028 |
Jereme Weischedel | Coachella Valley Unified | 06/30/2028 |
Deanna Keuilian | Palm Springs Unified | 06/30/2028 |
Art Kimball | Riverside Co. Office of Education | 06/30/2028 |
Trisha Jenkins | Riverside Co. Office of Education | 06/30/2028 |
Objective #2: Improve Integration of Services & Transitions
Create Seamless Transitions
1. Implement a multi-phase Workforce Transition Strategy that includes the creation and distribution of a Workforce Resource Guidebook, delivery of “Lunch & Learn” workforce sessions, establishment of Career Resource Help Desks, and formation of Cross-Agency Transition Teams to guide adult learners through workforce and postsecondary pathways.
2. Lead Agencies and Individuals:
- Coachella Valley Adult School (CVAS): Coordination, distribution of materials, hosting of sessions.
- CSUSB TRIO EOC Program: On-site counselor providing student support and guidance.
- Desert Sands Unified School District: Workforce training partnerships and career readiness programming.
- Riverside County Library System Literacy Services: Learner assessment and individualized planning.
- Desert Regional Consortium (DRC): Oversight and regional coordination.
- Workforce Development Boards & Local Employers: Career pathway guidance, job placement, and mock interviews.
3. Key Deliverables:
- A Workforce Resource Guidebook (digital/print) outlining workforce services, training programs, AE programs, financial aid, and IET pathways.
- “Lunch & Learn” sessions connecting students with EOC counselors, Workforce reps, and job training providers.
- Career Resource Help Desks staffed weekly by AE and workforce reps to offer drop-in support.
- Cross-Agency Transition Teams that meet quarterly to review referral processes, align services, and monitor student transitions.
4. Contribution to CAEP Objectives:
- Seamless Transitions: Builds clear pathways between high school completion, workforce training, and postsecondary education.
- Student Acceleration: IET programs and short-term certifications provide fast-tracked options to employment.
- Student Success: Students receive targeted support in academic advising, job readiness, and financial aid—leading to better completion and employment outcomes.
6. Connection to Student Barriers and Adult Education Metrics:
This strategy directly addresses key student barriers such as lack of awareness of workforce services, limited access to job training, and financial and logistical challenges in continuing education. By offering on-site counseling, simplified resources, real-time guidance, and direct access to employment services, this initiative improves performance in the following CAEP Adult Education Metrics:
- Transition to Postsecondary Education or Training
- Completion of High School Diploma/HSE
- Employment Status After Exit
- Attainment of Postsecondary Credentials
Services to Underserved/High-Need Populations
Adult Education Metrics and Student Barriers
- Student Barriers: Low Literacy (155AE)
Responsible Positions, Responsible Consortium Members, and Proposed Completion Date
Responsible Position | Responsible Member | Proposed Completion Date |
---|---|---|
Dean Papas | Desert CCD | 06/30/2028 |
Larry Bellanich | Desert Sands Unified | 06/30/2028 |
Jereme Weischedel | Coachella Valley Unified | 06/30/2028 |
Deanna Keuilian | Palm Springs Unified | 06/30/2028 |
Art Kimball | Riverside Co. Office of Education | 06/30/2028 |
Trisha Jenkins | Riverside Co. Office of Education | 06/30/2028 |
Objective #3: Improve Effectiveness of Services
Enhancing Learner Outcomes
The DRC has made great progress in developing resource-sharing agreements between specific members to expand the regional AE system since becoming a consortium. The consortium has benefited from examining additional strategies such as developing a shared process to develop articulated curricula and share resources for students across different agencies. Increased coordination of counselors has resulted in an exchange of best practices that has benefitted the consortium as a whole and has contributed to a more consistent student experience. While the DRC has moved toward collaboration as it has expanded the geographical reach of programs, it is still working to reconcile historical or traditional boundaries between providers with current and future capacity needs. In the past, organizational red tape and system misalignment among DRC members has hindered program and service coordination. This contributed to inefficiencies such as duplication of administrative efforts and transition barriers for students. The move to a more fully integrated, regional AE system has eliminated previous gaps in service areas. Regional unemployment data and community input is examined on a quarterly basis to ensure classes are placed in the locations of most need targeting adults with high unemployment, poor English skills, and adults with no high school diplomas.
DRC will continue to partner and consult with Local Workforce Development Board and Riverside County Agencies to improve student transitions into the workforce. Additionally, the three Coachella Valley school districts (Desert Sands USD, Palm Springs USD and Coachella Valley USD) will continue to maximize resources by utilizing the instructors staff from College of the Desert and Coachella Valley Adult School. Given the high unemployment rate that has transpired as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, the DRC will collaborate and to create shared goals. DRC will create a shared workforce employer advisory with Riverside County School of Career Education.
The DRC will continue to engage in available Professional Development resources from CALPRO, OTAN, CAEP, and CASAS – both in-person, online (synchronous) and in hosting local events for the benefit of the entire consortium (i.e., localized workshops). Possible topics may include data-driven decision-making, practices, growth mindset practices, and raising awareness about the needs and motivations of adult learners.
Adult Education Metrics and Student Barriers
- Student Barriers: Low Literacy (155AE)
Responsible Positions, Responsible Consortium Members, and Proposed Completion Date
Responsible Position | Responsible Member | Proposed Completion Date |
---|---|---|
Dean Papas | Desert CCD | 06/30/2028 |
Larry Bellanich | Desert Sands Unified | 06/30/2028 |
Jereme Weischedel | Coachella Valley Unified | 06/30/2028 |
Deanna Keuilian | Palm Springs Unified | 06/30/2028 |
Art Kimball | Riverside Co. Office of Education | 06/30/2028 |
Trisha Jenkins | Riverside Co. Office of Education | 06/30/2028 |
Fiscal Management
Alignment & Carryover
All Desert Regional Consortium members unanimously approved the previous DRC Three-Year Plan and will approve the current Three-Year Plan, which contains various ongoing/new programs, as well as pilots to be implemented. CAEP funds are allocated for administering existing/new school sites, purchasing required administrative reporting software/hardware, staffing, maintaining faculty, providing counseling, professional development, marketing, and upgrading/replacing equipment. The DRC annual plans reevaluate and focus on specifics of the Three-Year plan to be accomplished or updated. As the DRC proceeds, additional adjustments and funding will be made to our new Three-Year Plan to deal with unplanned changes via the CFAD and DRC Annual Plan. WIOA members use funds to supplement current programs. Other non CAEP funds also supplement current CAEP programs.
The DRC is committed to completing the objectives stated in the Three-Year Plan. As per the CAEP memo of February 26,2020, all Desert Regional Consortium members are eligible for the COLA. The DRC is a Direct Funded Consortium. The DRC Administrative Expenses once approved by the DRC will be deducted from CVUSD allocation. Initially, COLA was used to pay for consortium administrative expenses and were added to CVUSD's yearly allocation. The total cost of Administrative Expenses will remain with CVUSD, but are not part of its base allocation. Coachella Valley Unified School District, as the Administrative unit, will pay Administrative Expenses as designated by the DRC. Continuing forward, the DRC will utilize the same format for distribution of funds to members.
If a DRC member has “excessive” member carryover percentage carryover, AB 1491 would require a consortium with carryover from one or more prior fiscal years exceeding 20% to submit a written expenditure plan, as specified, to the chancellor and the Superintendent, and would require the chancellor and the Superintendent to prescribe and assign technical assistance to that consortium to ensure that adequate adult education services are provided to the region in proportion to the region's available funding.
Currently the DRC has Provided CAEP with a Written Expenditure Plan:
All DRC members have been alerted to increase their expenditures. If a large expenditure is to be made at a future date that will cause the member to exceed the 20% threshold, the member will notify the DRC Director and in turn the Director will notify CAEP of the impending overage. Should a DRC member have an extreme carryover above 20% at the beginning of the third Quarter, members will be alerted and asked if they need assistance to expend their funds. If the member requires assistance, other DRC members may step in and assist any member in the expenditure of the excess funds as per the DRC Governance Plan.
In addition, the DRC Consortium Director has kept the CAEP Lead of the progress of all members have made towards the 20% threshold by the end of Quarter 4.
Usage
Consortium Objectives & Activities Overview
Objectives & Activities
Activity | Origin | Included in Annual Plan |
---|---|---|
Objective #1: Address Educational Needs | ||
Address Educational Needs | THREE-YEAR PLAN 2025-28 | |
Development and Expansion of Targeted Programs | THREE-YEAR PLAN 2025-28 | |
Objective #2: Improve Integration of Services & Transitions | ||
Create Seamless Transitions | THREE-YEAR PLAN 2025-28 | |
Improve Integration of Services & Transitions | THREE-YEAR PLAN 2025-28 | |
Objective #3: Improve Effectiveness of Services | ||
Enhancing Learner Outcomes | THREE-YEAR PLAN 2025-28 |
Certification
Coachella Valley Unified - Member Representative
Jereme Weischedel - jereme.weischedel@cvusd.us
- (760) 398-6302
Jorge Romero - BUDGET SPECIALIST
- jorge.romero@cvusd.us
- (760) 848-1033
Ana Alvarado - Accounting Manager
- aalvarado@cvusd.us
- (760) 848-1048
Diana Salinas - diana.salinas@cvusd.us
Desert CCD - Member Representative
Dean Papas - Dean, Communications & Humanities
- dpapas@collegeofthedesert.edu
- (760) 776-7371
Emmanuel Garcia - Accounting Specialist
- egarcia@collegeofthedesert.edu
- (760) 565-4836 ext: 4836
Desert Sands Unified - Member Representative
Larry Bellanich - Director, Child Welfare and Attendance
- larry.bellanich@desertsands.us
- (760) 771-8612
Palm Springs Unified - Member Representative
Deanna Keuilian - Director, Curriculum & Instruction - Secondary
- dkeuilian@psusd.us
- (760) 883-2703
Riverside Co. Office of Education - Member Representative
Victor Gomez - Administrator
- vgomez@rcoe.us
- (951) 826-4551