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CAEP Annual Plan: 2021-22 44 North Coast Adult Education Consortium

Status: Consortium Approved

California Adult Education Program : Annual Plan : 2021-22 Produced: Aug 5, 2021, 11:35 PM UTC Prudence Ratliff

44 North Coast Adult Education Consortium

Plans & Goals - Consortium Approved

Executive Summary
The North Coast Adult Education Consortium (NCAEC) serves Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. Membership consists of three K-12 Districts and one Community College District. Various other K-12 Districts, community agencies, and adult education supporters partner and collaborate with the NCAEC. All allocations have been consistent with the three year plan to support adult learners, program development, and streamlining of services. Allocations remain strategic and aligned with the three year plan, in the midst of the COVID restrictions. The vision of the NCAEC is to offer adult education classes at locations geographically accessible to learners within the NCAEC region. Based on identified workforce needs, NCAEC classes will increase educational attainment and career success by providing the preparation and skills needed for employment, continuing education, and personal growth of the residents of our region. The NCAEC’s region strives for student equity and accessibility. Strategies to increase equity include access to technology, transportation assistance, and educational resources in Spanish, as 22% of NCAEC students identified as Hispanic. The pathway to become a student is welcoming and streamlined with virtual appointment with counselors available. During face to face classes students are assisted in completing applications and enrollment forms.Accomplishments from the 20/21 year include an increase in the number of CTE classes amongst all members and professional Development of members. Del Norte held their first in person adult welding instruction; College of the Redwoods developed Medical Assisting curriculum to offer the program beginning in Fall 2021. The Wildland Firefighter Academy was held with 25 enrolled resulting in 22 completions. All but one member representative including the Director are new in their roles this year. We have all learned together how best to address the reporting requirements; develop the annual and 3 year plans and develop strategies for improving our programs.In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 21/22 goals include offering relevant adult education classes which will lead to employment or post-secondary education, supporting student participation, and persistence. The NCAEC will continue to work toward curriculum alignment across members to increase a no wrong door approach for adult learners. The NCAEC will continue to gather student data and utilize for decision-making relevant to student learners’ needs. College of the Redwoods curriculum will being updated for the English as a Second Language offerings for implementation in the 2022-23 year. This revision to the ESL certificates will provide pathways for students who wish to pursue either a Communication or Academic track. Eureka City Schools will provide Citizenship classes to pass the test and become integrated into the community. Del Norte will bring back the Hmong Language and Culture classes in a face to face modality. A new CTE program will be offered in fall 2021 to train students as Medical Assistants.
Regional Planning Overview
In order to reach rural and remote students during the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAEC is committed to offering online classes and limited face-to-face classes, in alignment with public health. As we move out of the pandemic more face-to-face classes will be offered with the exception of correspondence continuing in the correctional facility for the fall 2021 semester. Loaning technology to support adult learners will be a key strategy to promote access and equity with online class to rural and remote populations. Members continue to collect student data and use that information to drive decision-making. The NCAEC is continuing to work on curriculum alignment across the membership. Curriculum is also being updated for the English as a Second Language offerings for implementation in the 2022-23 year. A new CTE program will be offered in fall 2021 to train students as Medical Assistants.

Meeting Regional Needs

Regional Need #1

Gaps in Service / Regional Needs
The NCAEC has identified offering ABE, HSE, AWD, CTE and ESL courses as key regional needs.
How do you know? What resources did you use to identify these gaps?
The NCAEC identified this gap through use of research data, determining distance between education sites and students of origin, communication with partners, and analysis of fluctuating enrollment data. Local employment data also identified that job openings for Medical Assistants are expected to increase by 12% between 2018 and 2028.
How will you measure effectiveness / progress towards meeting this need?
The NCAEC will measure effectiveness through enrollment maintenance or increase, and/or employment gains.

Regional Need #2

Gaps in Service / Regional Needs
The NCAEC identified the regional need to provide additional CTE and WR classes.
How do you know? What resources did you use to identify these gaps?
California unemployment rose to 15.5% in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state unemployment rate has decreased from the onset of the pandemic and for March 2021 was 8.3% compared to the US Unemployment rate of 6.2%. Humboldt County’s unemployment rate for April 2021 has dropped to 6.3% and for Del Norte County has dropped to 8.1% (EDD, Labor Market Consultant – Labor Market Information Division MIC 57). NCAEC members and partners have also shared that CTE and WR courses will support adults in becoming more employable.
How will you measure effectiveness / progress towards meeting this need?
Effectiveness will be measured through enrollments, additional classes, and outreach.

Regional Need #3

Gaps in Service / Regional Needs
A regional need is to develop a clear pathway between members and partners for employment, career, and post-secondary training.
How do you know? What resources did you use to identify these gaps?
The gap was identified through the NCEAC membership; along with working with our local America’s Job Centers of CA to identify the training needs in each county.
How will you measure effectiveness / progress towards meeting this need?
Effectiveness will be measured through the number of students who complete a CTE course, obtain a High School Equivalency, and or improve ESL skills to move into post-secondary programs.

Gaps In Service

New Strategies

Strategy #1
The NCAEC membership foresees most adult education classes occurring through a remote or distance education modality in the upcoming year. As the pandemic comes to an end more face-to-face classes will be offered. As such, the NCAEC has identified lack of technology as a gap in service for students. The NCAEC plans to continue lending technology to students who lack this in order to access classes. In addition, moving as quickly as health protocols will allow we plan to move back to more face-to-face classes.
Strategy #2
Transportation is an ongoing gap within the region. The NCAEC will work to increase transportation assistance to adult students. As we move to return to face to face courses students will need this more than in the last year.
Strategy #3
Continue to work and expand upon community partnerships to provide better service and assist adult learners in achieving their goals.

Seamless Transitions

New Strategies

Strategy #1
Increase members’ use of CASAS and/or MIS data to drive instruction, plan courses, and advise students.
Strategy #2
Work with ABE, ASE, and ESL students to assist with their transition to post-secondary pathways that lead to employment or better employment opportunities.

Student Acceleration

New Strategies

Strategy #1
To accelerate high school diploma completion use of credit recovery opportunities and competency based testing.
Strategy #2
Continue to offer compressed course scheduling, along with yearlong classes in HSE, WR, AWD, CTE and ESL to meet the rural adult learners needs.

Professional Development

New Strategies

Strategy #1
Increase consortium members' awareness and engagement with upcoming CAEP sponsored trainings and webinars.

Leveraging Resources

New Strategies

Strategy #1
As possible during the move out of the COVID-19 pandemic, leverage the NCAEC partnership's locations to interface with new and potential adult learners.
Strategy #2
Collaborate with NCAEC’s partners to meet the education need of adults who require ABE, ESL, AWD, or WR skills.

Fiscal Management

A narrative justifying how the planned allocations are consistent with the annual adult education plan which is based on your CAEP 3-year plan.
Allocations presented in this budget are appropriate to support the FY 21/22 adult education plan with the context of the CAEP three year plan. The funds are used to maintain infrastructure to house and offer adult education classes, expand courses upon community need, and facilitate community partnerships.
An approach to incorporating remaining carry-over funds from prior year(s) into strategies planned for 2021-22.
Remaining carry over funds will be used to establish and implement new CTE programing and support the expansion of adult education classes.

Certification

Del Norte County Unified - Member Representative

Approved by Randy Fugate

07/06/2021 06:14 PM PDT

Eureka City Schools - Member Representative

Approved by Mr. Brad Albee

08/05/2021 04:21 PM PDT

Northern Humboldt Union High - Member Representative

Approved by Jack Bareilles

07/02/2021 09:07 AM PDT

Redwoods CCD - Member Representative

Approved by Prudence Ratliff

08/05/2021 04:35 PM PDT