CAEP
Annual Plan

Produced: Aug 16, 2025, 12:21 AM UTC - By Jack Bareilles

44 North Coast Adult Education Consortium
CONSORTIUM APPROVED

2025-26

Plans & Goals

Executive Summary

The North Coast Adult Education Consortium (NCAEC) serves all of Humboldt and Del Norte Counties as well as parts of several neighboring counties covering membership includes three K-12 Districts, and one Community College District. Partnerships of our members in various efforts on the North Coast are the foundation for working together and have been leveraged to strengthen the role of education and workforce training. With the collaboration of schools districts, business partners, and county agencies, the services for Adult Education will be prioritized and aligned to meet the regional needs according to the California Adult Education Program (CAEP). NCAEC will offer Adult Education classes at locations geographically accessible to learners within the consortium region as needed. Based on identified workforce needs, member’s classes will increase educational attainment and career success by providing the preparation and skills needed for employment, continuing post-secondary education, and personal growth of the residents of our region. Through the work of NCAEC, we have come together to identify the adult education needs and resources in our region. We have determined that we have significant needs, the expertise to develop effective programs, and a strong desire by all members to see a robust adult education offering in our region. The partnerships we developed, as we worked together to advance the shared vision and plan, will lead to integrated educational pathways, increased educational opportunities, and improved ability to address the varied needs of our collective adult learners. 

Plans & Goals

How (if at all) do the consortium’s previous program year goals differ from the current year’s goals?

Goals have changed or new goals have emerged for the upcoming year

Why have the consortium’s goals changed for the upcoming year?

Previously identified goals have been accomplished, some more have been identified. 

  • Enrollment targets from CR president
  • CDCP programming- certificates
  • Adult Education restructuring at the College to provide additional support of consortium and programming.


How much progress did the consortium make towards its previous program year goals?

Excellent progress - all goals were met

All of the 3 identified goals towards fulfillment of regional need #1 have been accomplished. Many of the strategies applied for their completion were expanded beyond original planning. 

Addressing Educational Needs

Improving Integration of Services & Transitions

Improving Effectiveness of Services 

Previously identified metrics: 

  1. Progress: Participants with Educational Functioning Levels Gains ESL (AE 400 - ESL) 
  2. Student Barriers: English Language Learner (AE 305 - Overall) 
  3. All: Adults who Became Participants (AE 202 - Overall 

Programming to facilitate assistance for students pursuing high school equivalency has been expanded. An additional funding source for testing fees through Soroptomist has been established to serve a portion of targeted underserved populations who are residents of the Eel River Valley. Additionally, non-credit high school equivalency test preparation courses at College of the Redwoods are now offered with instruction in Spanish at 2 locations: Fortuna and downtown Eureka. Spanish language instruction has also been expanded to cover two more non-credit college preparation courses which target basic skills and digital literacy. These free course offerings target barriers to upskilling and credit-bearing college classes for 6.8% of individuals in the region who are Spanish speakers. 

Facilitation of non-credit certificates for students in ESL programing has been improved through the creation of a digital tracking tool for required participation hours. Advising and educational planning for ESL students is better informed and data is accessible to students. 

In addition, the improvement of integration and effectiveness of services has been accomplished. Non-credit Adult Education course scheduling was updated to include data-informed strategic planning, resulting in increased enrollments. 

What barriers did the consortium face in making progress towards its previous program year goals?

Consortium member turnover

The consortium has experienced a high turnover rate int he last year; 50% of total consortium turnover and 2/3 of funded membership turnover. 

What are the goals for the consortium for the current program year?

Not Entered
How will the consortium measure progress towards the goals set for the current program year?

Not Entered

Assessment

Regional Needs Assessment

Please identify the categories of needs in your region.

Please identify resources used to identify these gaps.

MIS, HCWDB 2025-2028 Plan, prior self assessment, 2023 Del Norte County Economic Forecast

  • Successful recruitment and hiring of qualified Medical Assisting faculty for the Del Norte campus.
  • Development and implementation of Medical Assisting course sequences and offerings at the CR Del Norte Instructional Site.
  • Leveraging the planned new healthcare education/training facility in Crescent City, which is a high-priority project using Measure I bond funding, to support program delivery.
  • Establishing or reinforcing clear pathways from non-credit Medical Assisting to credit-bearing Nursing programs in Del Norte, mirroring existing pathways elsewhere in the consortium
  • Successful recruitment and hiring of qualified Medical Assisting faculty for the Del Norte campus.
  • Development and implementation of Medical Assisting course sequences and offerings at the CR Del Norte Instructional Site.
  • Leveraging the planned new healthcare education/training facility in Crescent City, which is a high-priority project using Measure I bond funding, to support program delivery.
  • Establishing or reinforcing clear pathways from non-credit Medical Assisting to credit-bearing Nursing programs in Del Norte, mirroring existing pathways elsewhere in the consortium
  • Regular attendance by all consortium members at adult education webinars and statewide conferences.
  • Direct professional development engagement with the Targeted Technical Assistance Coach for all members, focusing on data collection, reporting, and networking.
  • Development of a communication network with other state consortia to facilitate information exchange and identify ways to close service gaps.
  • Participation of the Consortium Lead in the CAEP Consortium Lead Academy to enhance leadership and operational effectiveness.

Data is collected from MIS, TopsPro, HCWDB 2025-2028 Plan, prior self assessment, 2023 Del Norte County Economic Forecast, Labor market data through the Centers of Excellence, Census data, datavista and CAEP fact sheet. Some needs unique to our region include: Lack of physical/facility access, high cost of living /housing /healthcare, areas of economic inequity, labor market issues (e.g., teacher shortages, etc.), internet access challenges, geographically isolated, lack of transportation, limited access to technology. We plan to address these needs and gaps by working towards those objectives and activitites outlined in objectives #1-3. 

Activities & Outcomes

Objective #1: Address Educational Needs

Expand Adult Ed Programming Regionally

THREE-YEAR PLAN 2025-28
  • The activity that will be carried out: Expand Adult Education Programming Regionally. Involves a comprehensive effort to expand and diversify adult education program offerings across the North Coast region, with a particular focus on addressing the identified sectors of economic and employment growth, and skill gaps across the region. A particular area of focus will be expansion.  expansion of Medical Assisting program offerings to Del Norte County. This is a strategic move to align educational programs with regional labor market demands, as healthcare, including medical assistants, is a high-demand and growing sector in the North Coast.
  • What agencies or individuals will carry out the activity: North Coast Adult Education Consortium, College of the Redwoods. 
  • Key deliverables:
    • Successful recruitment and hiring of qualified Medical Assisting faculty for the Del Norte campus.
    • Development and implementation of Medical Assisting course sequences and offerings at the CR Del Norte Instructional Site.
    • Leveraging the planned new healthcare education/training facility in Crescent City, which is a high-priority project using Measure I bond funding, to support program delivery.
    • Establishing or reinforcing clear pathways from non-credit Medical Assisting to credit-bearing Nursing programs in Del Norte, mirroring existing pathways elsewhere in the consortium
    • How the activity will contribute to achieving one or more of the three CAEP objectives
  • How the activity will contribute to achieving one or more of the three CAEP objectives:

    ◦Addresses Educational Needs: This activity directly addresses the community's demand for job skills training. Expanding Medical Assisting in Del Norte provides accessible vocational education in a region facing low college readiness and significant socioeconomic challenges.

    ◦Improves Integration of Services & Transitions: The Medical Assisting program is designed to align with pathways to credit programs in Nursing. Expanding this offering to Del Norte will strengthen the transition of students from non-credit adult education into credit-bearing college programs and into a high-demand career pathway in healthcare. This directly tackles the identified regional gap of "unclear educational & career pathways" for adult education students. Partnerships with workforce development and other community organizations will further integrate services.

    ◦Improves Effectiveness of Services: By directly addressing a critical workforce shortage in healthcare and offering a program with documented high demand, the consortium ensures its services are relevant and impactful. This contributes to the strategic goal of expanding and prioritizing offerings that prepare students for living-wage jobs, thereby improving overall service effectiveness.

  • How the activity will contribute to achieving short-term, intermediate, and (optional) long-term outcomes
    • Identifying new academic programs, pathways, and industry need. 
    • Recruiting and securing qualified faculty and instructors
    • Developing and leveraging facilities: Accelerating Measure I bond planning for a new Del Norte Healthcare Training Hub in Crescent City is a high-priority project, which will support expanded nursing and other health education programs. 
  • How the activity will contribute to addressing and achieving targets related to the selected Student Barriers and adult education Metrics
  • The expansion will contribute to an increase in Career Technical Education (CTE) enrollment and completion rates, particularly within the healthcare sector and potentially others like skilled trades. This will positively impact job placement rates for students completing these CTE programs, a key indicator of effectiveness. 
  • The activity will drive the number of non-credit CTE students transitioning into credit-bearing programs, such as Medical Assistant students progressing to Nursing, which is a metric for effectiveness in non-credit to credit enrollment.
  • ▪Overall, by attracting new students to vocational training and providing clear pathways, the activity will contribute to the "Adults who Became Participants (AE 100 - Overall)" metric for the consortium.
  • The systematic identification of industry needs and program development will directly measure the "number of training programs developed in direct response to industry-identified needs".

Adult Education Metrics and Student Barriers

  • Students and Programs: Career Technical Education (1003)

Responsible Positions, Responsible Consortium Members, and Proposed Completion Date

Responsible PositionResponsible MemberProposed Completion Date
NCAECRedwoods CCD06/20/2028
NCAECDel Norte County Unified06/20/2028
NCAECEureka City Schools06/20/2028
NCAECNorthern Humboldt Union High06/20/2028

Objective #2: Improve Integration of Services & Transitions

Create Cohesive Marketing & Programming

THREE-YEAR PLAN 2025-28

The NCAEC will act on development and implementation of a comprehensive marketing plan and improvements to adult education programming. The significance of a cohesive marketing and programming effort lies in its direct contribution to increasing access to services, boosting enrollment, and ensuring clear pathways for adult learners to achieve their educational and career goals. 

The following initiatives will support this activity:

Developing a Consortium-Wide Marketing Plan

The NCAEC will collaborate with a marketing consultant to devise a plan that identifies optimal methods for disseminating information about adult education offerings and recruiting interested students. This plan will leverage promotional tools such as websites and social media platforms to enhance visibility and drive enrollment. Responsible agent(s): Consortium Lead, all members collaboratively.

Deliverable: Comprehensive consortium-wide marketing plan

Creating Promotional Materials

Consortium members will produce materials to promote all available programs, and their informational websites will be linked to provide easier access to these resources. Responsible agent(s): Consortium Lead, all members collaboratively.

Deliverable: New and regularly updated promotional materials for all consortium offerings

Centralizing Information Sharing 

Consortium members are committed to establishing a centralized platform for posting and sharing adult education services and offerings across the region. This initiative aims to foster a stronger network among adult education practitioners and facilitate connections between students and available programs. Responsible agent(s): Consortium Lead, all members collaboratively 

Deliverable: A centralized web-based platform for sharing Adult Education services and offerings available. 

Clarifying and Promoting Educational Pathways

The activity will reinforce the connection between Adult School education and credit-bearing college classes by promoting a clearer sequence from consortium educational offerings to credit-bearing classes. This also includes highlighting career pathways, such as the Medical Assistant non-credit programs to the Nursing credit-bearing program, and welding programs to welding credit programs. Responsible agent(s): Consortium Lead, all members collaboratively.

Deliverable: Shared student data tracking methods

Expanding Service Offerings and Access

Pathways are being strengthened between non-credit adult education and credit-bearing college classes or specific Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Access is being extended to key populations through various partnerships; for instance, a program at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility provides inmates with HiSET preparation, and college/workforce readiness classes, with continued assistance and pathways to education after release. New funding is dedicated to expanding language access resources and ESL training specifically linked to workforce opportunities in growing industries like healthcare, construction, and renewable energy, indicating a broader integration of language skills with in-demand jobs. Furthermore, the NCAEC is establishing partnerships with organizations like the Northern California Indian Development Council (NCIDC) to provide culturally relevant training and employment opportunities for tribal members and is enhancing reference and referral systems for community members with disabilities through a grant program with the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). The consortium is also exploring consortium-wide credit for prior learning (CPL) and stackable certificates to offer more flexible credentialing options and ensure all funded members collectively provide foundational services like basic skills development, resume workshops, and job preparation. Responsible agent(s): Consortium Lead, all members collaboratively.

Deliverable: Clarified consortium-wide pathways and transitions between non-credit, credit bearing, and career programs.

Contribution to CAEP Objective: Utilizing Data

This activity directly supports the CAEP objective of Utilizing Data by embedding data collection and review into the process of improving services and reaching students effectively. The "Review Student Data" strategy, which is intrinsically linked to marketing promotion, explicitly uses CAEP student outcomes and reports as metrics for assessing effectiveness. By consistently reviewing this data, the NCAEC can refine its marketing strategies and programming to better address community needs and improve student outcomes, ensuring a coherent alignment of practices and procedures across the consortium.

Connection to Metrics: 

The core objective of this activity is to significantly increase the visibility of classes and services, which is expected to result in a direct increase in enrollment and, consequently, a higher number of participants. 


Adult Education Metrics and Student Barriers

  • All: Participants (202AE)

Responsible Positions, Responsible Consortium Members, and Proposed Completion Date

Responsible PositionResponsible MemberProposed Completion Date
NCAECRedwoods CCD06/20/2028
NCAECDel Norte County Unified06/20/2028
NCAECEureka City Schools06/20/2028
NCAECNorthern Humboldt Union High06/20/2028

Objective #3: Improve Effectiveness of Services

Professional Development

THREE-YEAR PLAN 2025-28
  • The activity that will be carried out
    • This activity involves providing ongoing professional development opportunities for all North Coast Adult Education Consortium (NCAEC) members and staff. The goal is to enhance the effectiveness of adult education services by improving staff skills in various areas. This includes attending webinars and conferences related to adult education offerings. Collaborating with a Targeted Technical Assistance Coach for professional development in areas like data collection, reporting, and networking, and fostering a network with other consortia throughout the state to share information and best practices. Specifically, K-12 Consortium members will seek professional development for CASAS testing and assessment and for the development of classes. Adult School staff will also explore ESL curriculum to better meet student needs. Furthermore, the Consortium Lead will participate in the CAEP Consortium Lead Academy, which covers topics such as organizational leadership, program development and evaluation, fiscal resource management, data collection, and regional networking.
  • What agencies or individuals will carry out the activity
    • All Consortium members are expected to attend professional development offerings offered through CAEP and throughout the state. This includes College of the Redwoods (CR) and the K-12 districts (Del Norte County Unified, Eureka City Schools, Northern Humboldt Union High).
  • Key deliverables
    • Regular attendance by all consortium members at adult education webinars and statewide conferences.
    • Direct professional development engagement with the Targeted Technical Assistance Coach for all members, focusing on data collection, reporting, and networking.
    • Development of a communication network with other state consortia to facilitate information exchange and identify ways to close service gaps.
    • Participation of the Consortium Lead in the CAEP Consortium Lead Academy to enhance leadership and operational effectiveness.
  • How the activity will contribute to achieving one or more of the three CAEP objectives
    • Ineffectiveness of Services / Service Quality: This is the core barrier addressed. By improving staff skills, knowledge, and coordination through professional development, the overall quality and effectiveness of adult education services are enhanced, directly addressing issues like high turnover and past compliance problems. Creating guiding documents for the consortium will greatly increase the effectiveness and the ability to remain cohesive and functional even with Consortium turnover. 
    • Improve Integration of Services & Transitions: Professional development in networking and understanding services of other consortia and partners will facilitate stronger linkages and seamless transitions for students. Training for student development advisors and instructors on reinforcing credit-bearing classes as a "next step" contributes to clear pathways from non-credit to credit programs and career opportunities. The Consortium Lead Academy's focus on "Regional Networking and Priorities" will further support this objective.
  • How the activity will contribute to achieving short-term, intermediate, and (optional) long-term outcomes:
    • Improved accuracy and timeliness of data collection and reporting, leading to better-informed programmatic decisions and compliance with CAEP requirements. More integrated service delivery facilitated by stronger networks and shared understanding among consortium members and partners. Sustained improvement in overall program quality, student outcomes, and institutional capacity throughout the North Coast Adult Education Consortium. This translates to a more resilient and adaptable adult education system that can consistently meet the evolving needs of the region's adult learners and employers. The enhanced effectiveness will contribute to long-term sustainability.
  • How the activity will contribute to addressing and achieving targets related to the selected Student Barriers and adult education Metrics:
    •  A more effective and well-managed adult education system, resulting from professional development, is more likely to attract and retain students, contributing to an increase in overall participation 

Adult Education Metrics and Student Barriers

  • All: Participants (202AE)

Responsible Positions, Responsible Consortium Members, and Proposed Completion Date

Responsible PositionResponsible MemberProposed Completion Date
NCAECRedwoods CCD06/20/2028
NCAECDel Norte County Unified06/20/2028
NCAECEureka City Schools06/20/2028
NCAECNorthern Humboldt Union High06/20/2028

Fiscal Management

Alignment & Carryover

Per the NCAEC bylaws, The Consortium formally meets on a quarterly basis or more frequently as needed to develop the annual activities aligned to the related funding distribution schedule which was approved at the annual meeting where the allocation amounts were voted on. Each Consortium member has agreed to spend their allocations to address the strategies described in the annual plan that were developed through the 3 year plan. 

The Consortium will develop and submit a CFAD annually. The Consortium will reevaluate our funding needs annually and discuss what is needed to lower the carryover each year as well as strategies to spend down funds in a timely manner. This will be discussed as part of our annual by-laws review 

Usage

How does the consortium plan to use allocated funds in the upcoming year?

Not Entered

Consortium Objectives & Activities Overview

Objectives & Activities

= consortium has included this activity in an Annual Plan from the 2025-28 Three-Year Plan
= consortium has NOT selected this activity in an Annual Plan from the 2025-28 Three-Year Plan
ActivityOriginIncluded in Annual Plan
Objective #1: Address Educational Needs
Expand Adult Ed Programming Regionally
THREE-YEAR PLAN 2025-28
Objective #2: Improve Integration of Services & Transitions
Create Cohesive Marketing & Programming
THREE-YEAR PLAN 2025-28
Objective #3: Improve Effectiveness of Services
Professional Development
THREE-YEAR PLAN 2025-28

Certification

Del Norte County Unified - Member Representative

Approved by Jeff Napier 4640202

08/15/2025 10:04 AM PDT

Eureka City Schools - Member Representative

Approved by Paul Claussen

08/15/2025 10:04 AM PDT

Northern Humboldt Union High - Member Representative

Approved by Jack Bareilles

08/15/2025 05:21 PM PDT

Redwoods CCD - Member Representative

Approved by Amber Cavanaugh

08/15/2025 10:03 AM PDT