CAEP
Annual Plan

Produced: Aug 25, 2024, 03:14 PM UTC - By Shaun Roderick

59 Sierra Joint Consortium
CONSORTIUM APPROVED

2024-25

Plans & Goals

Executive Summary

The consortium underwent a significant reconfiguration in the 23/24 school year. Two schools within the consortium decided to withdraw due to declining ADA, increasing program costs, and the need for additional administrative oversight. In collaboration with representatives from CDE and CAEP, the consortium worked with the Nevada Joint Union High School District (NJUHSD) and the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD) to establish MOU agreements to continue adult education programming in those areas. Ultimately, the Placer School for Adults (PSA) took over services and programming for Eastern Placer County and Western Nevada County, while the Roseville Adult School (RAS) assumed responsibility for the Western Placer County region. This realignment necessitated a redistribution of consortium funding to ensure adequate support for programming needs in the 24/25 CFAD in NOVA. The consortium will also be working to allocate the surplus funding that was left over from TTUSD and NJUHSD funds from the 23/24 school year. 

With this new coverage and funding realignment, the consortium and its remaining schools (PSA, RAS, and Sierra Community College) feel confident in providing robust and critically needed education programming and increasing course offerings for the entire consortium region. The consortium's vision is to work collaboratively to share resources and course offerings through in-person, HYFLEX, and blended models of instruction that will allow students from across the region to take advantage of in-person and online course offerings. This will enable previously underrepresented areas of the consortium to have access to a wide variety of course offerings that will allow students to achieve language acquisition skills, get their high school diploma/ high school equivalency, career technical courses, and access the supports offered through the consortium partnerships with organizations such as the department of rehabilitation, the local workforce boards and more. 

In the prior year, the consortium navigated this major transition while maintaining its goal of increasing support and course offerings for students in underrepresented parts of the region and improving student outcomes overall. As reported in our TOPS data, all of the adult schools in the consortium saw an increase in student enrollments, student persistence numbers, student completion rates, and EFL gains during the year. 

Regional Planning Overview

Every member is expected to convene monthly to review, analyze, and adapt the strategic initiatives outlined in our annual plan, ensuring their alignment with our three-year plan. Annually, the consortium evaluates the three-year plan and devises a yearly plan based on overarching objectives and progress, or lack thereof, made in the previous year. Additionally, the consortium conducts periodic reviews of its bylaws to verify that members fulfill the requirements for implementing local and regional plans stipulated in the SJC bylaws.


Meeting Regional Needs

Regional Need #1

Gaps in Service / Regional Needs

According to the 23-24 plan and regional and federal census data, there is a substantial demand for support in obtaining a high school diploma or equivalent among individuals aged 20 to 49. This need is still a key indicator of support in our region. In the broader areas of Placer County and Nevada County, approximately 12,000 individuals in this age group are without a high school diploma or its equivalent and are within their prime income-earning years. Presently, our consortium caters to 30% of this population. The consortium will continue to provide outreach through crucial partners and advertising to address the needs of this population in our region.

Our consortium was able to provide programming for 18% of the estimated 6,000* adults in need of ELL classes in our region in the 23/24 school year and this remains an area of need for our region.

Our consortium was able to provide programs and services for 20% of families in our region that qualify as low-income according to county demographics in the 23/24 school year, and this remains an area of need for our region. 

According to demographics data and employer input more employees in our region must be prepared for high-need, high-wage, and middle-high-skilled industry sectors such as construction and trades, local and state government jobs,  Private education, and allied healthcare.

(*This number is estimated from Placer County and Nevada County demographic data as found on the county websites) 

How do you know? What resources did you use to identify these gaps?

The SJC team analyzed LaunchBoard data to identify underserved populations. Additionally, they examined demographic data from the two counties' websites that our consortium serves (Placer and Nevada), the Center of Excellence labor market data, and data from the quarterly EDD labor market data reports. They also incorporated input from our local industry partners and students in our programs to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the needs in our consortium's region.


How will you measure effectiveness / progress towards meeting this need?

In the previous year (23/24), the consortium aimed to achieve a 2% increase in enrollment, persistence, and completion rates among younger age groups, males, ELL students, and low-income students. The goal was successfully achieved when the consortium's overall data was analyzed. This year, the target is an additional 3% increase across the consortium to ensure that our highest-need populations receive enhanced opportunities and services to progress in their education and access training and employment.

We will gauge the effectiveness of these efforts through ongoing monitoring and data sharing at the monthly SJC meetings to ensure that the consortium is progressing in increasing services and opportunities for the identified populations in line with this year's plan. The data sharing and monitoring will also be shared with our partners, such as the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), Placer County Employment Services (PCES), our local AJCC and Workforce Board (GSWB), our school district boards and other stakeholders through our monthly meetings and participation on the boards of our partners. 

The consortium will expand its CTE, ELL, and GED/HSD offerings in Western Placer, Tahoe Truckee, and Nevada County. Additionally, student completion of IET/IELCE programs will increase, leading to employment or advancement. The success of these expansion efforts will be measured through student enrollment, persistence, and completion rates, as well as EFL gains and survey responses indicating students' employment and improved job prospects after participating in our programs.

Address Educational Needs

2024-25 Strategies

Outreach and Enrollment to New and Current Regions of the Two Counties Being Served

Activity that Applies to this Strategy

Outreach and Enrollment for ESL, HSD/HSE, or CTE

Metrics that Apply to this Activity/Strategy

  • All: Number of Adults Served (AE 200 - Overall)
  • Student Barriers: English Language Learner (AE 305 - Overall)

The consortium's new realignment involves the Roseville Adult School (RAS) serving Western Placer County in collaboration with Sierra College (SC), and the Placer School for Adults (PSA) serving Eastern Placer County and Nevada County, also in collaboration with Sierra College. The following strategies will address how RAS, PSA, and SC collaborate to create strategies to meet the identified needs and goals for the 2024-2025 school year.

Roseville Adult School started with a High School Diploma Program in Lincoln in July 2024. We had an outreach event at the end of the 23-24 school year at Phoenix High School to kick off the new program and enrolled several students.  We continue to work with Lincoln and Phoenix High Schools to send non-grads to our counselor for enrollment. We have a dedicated part-time counselor in Lincoln.  In August, we will start an ESL class in Lincoln.  Regarding outreach for ESL in Lincoln, we have ordered a banner, and our two Lincoln teachers are distributing flyers to schools and churches in the area.  

RAS is also addressing enrollment in ESL in Roseville. Up to 40 students were previously turned away due to insufficient funds and space. RAS has used extra funds this year to hire 3 new ESL teachers and add those classes to daytime and evening. We also distributed flyers to Rocklin Public Library for the ESL class that RAS is doing there to replace the Placer School for Adults class.

PSA’s new oversight of Tahoe/Truckee and Nevada County requires establishing new enrollment and recruitment processes at both locations. Initial outreach and the development of enrollment processes will coincide. PSA’s enrollment procedures will be adapted to meet the specific needs of the new locations. These needs include managed enrollment, counselor meetings, CASAS testing, and goal setting. Messaging and branding will be developed and disseminated to educate the communities on the new configuration and course offerings. This will be done through partnerships with nonprofit and government organizations such as the Alliance for Workforce Development, local libraries, and schools. Additionally, we will advertise on social media, at movie theaters, in the DMV, and on local radio stations.

The needs, barriers, and gaps relate to the program's transition. Establishing procedures, hiring new staff, and becoming known in the community will take time.

Sierra College has hired a dedicated CTE enrollment specialist to assist with outreach and onboarding career education programs at the college, including our noncredit career pathways such as the construction boot camp, entrepreneurship, and more. This specialist can also assist our workforce boards with recruitment and onboarding into programs that leverage their grant funding. For the next year, we will explore additional opportunities to leverage the position for outreach and enrollment throughout the consortium.

Improve Integration of Services & Transitions

2024-25 Strategies

Improving Integration of Services and Transitions

Activity that Applies to this Strategy

Student Services and Transitions

Metrics that Apply to this Activity/Strategy

  • All: Adults who Became Participants (AE 202 - Overall)
  • All: Number of Adults Served (AE 200 - Overall)

Roseville Adult School will backfill a gap in services in Western Placer, created as Placer School for Adults leaves to refocus on the Eastern Placer and Western Nevada regions.  RAS has started a High School Diploma class in Lincoln. In August, they will also begin an ESL class at the Rocklin Library and an ESL class in Lincoln.  They intend to reach out to local nonprofits to disseminate information about the classes and provide outreach to local schools.  RAS now has the capacity to add classes to accommodate more students at the Lincoln site as needed.

The consortium continues to have success with the transition specialist/counselor position created a few years ago and housed at PSA.  She works closely with the Sierra counseling team and stays apprised of key deadlines and requirements to help adult students seamlessly apply and transition to Sierra College. This counselor also works with the other adult school counselors in our consortium, serving as the point person to communicate important information related to transitioning to college. In the coming year, we plan to continue to leverage this role and explore how transition counselors can assist with the newest shifts in Nevada County and Tahoe Truckee service areas.

The traditional thinking about transitions means we often work to move students from Adult School to college and/or career.  We see an opportunity to broaden that thinking by working closely with our consortium members to help students transition to whichever institution can best meet their educational/career goals, even if it’s moving a student from the college back to an Adult Education partner for relevant training.  For example, Sierra College’s Undocumented Student Center is interested in working more closely with our consortium adult schools to identify and refer students to critical job training opportunities not currently offered at the college. Enhancing the ease by which students move within and between our institutions as their needs change and grow is an essential strategy.

Improve Effectiveness of Services

2024-25 Strategies

Consortium Effectiveness

Activity that Applies to this Strategy

Consortium Effectiveness

Metrics that Apply to this Activity/Strategy

  • All: Adults who Became Participants (AE 202 - Overall)
  • All: Number of Adults Served (AE 200 - Overall)
  • Student Barriers: English Language Learner (AE 305 - Overall)
  • Student Barriers: Low Income (AE 310 - Overall)

 The executive summary highlights that the Nevada Joint Union and Tahoe Truckee Districts have discontinued their adult school services. As a result and to improve consortium effectiveness, the consortium has been reconfigured to continue serving students in these areas. The service areas have been realigned and funding allocations have been streamlined, allowing for greater flexibility in utilizing resources to meet the needs and address the gaps in our region. The consortium will also use ongoing quarterly data at monthly meetings to ensure the effectiveness of programs, outreach to underserved populations, and program offerings. The following narrative explains how both the Placer School for Adults and the Roseville Adult School, in conjunction with Sierra College, will ensure and improve program effectiveness through defined processes and procedure

Placer School for Adults (PSA), in partnership with the Placer Union High School District, has established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreements with the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District and the Nevada Joint Union High School District. This allows PSA to use available classroom and office space for offering programs and courses in both regions. All districts involved in this transition will continue to communicate with their families and adult students in the regions to ensure outreach and a seamless transition of programming. Additionally, Sierra College has generously provided classroom space. PSA has recently appointed a new administrator to oversee program management, teacher and staff recruitment, and data collection for Nevada County and the Tahoe Truckee regions. The new administrator will collaborate with the PSA leadership team to ensure program continuity and will focus on expanding program offerings in response to the growing demand in the area. The PSA team has adjusted to create greater access to students in all remote regions of Eastern Placer County and Nevada County through the use of HyFLEX offerings in all program areas. They have also established key hubs where students can receive in-person support and course access. Additionally, the PSA team is collaborating with consortium partners to provide services and support to help students continue their education and achieve their college and career goals.

As previously stated, Roseville Adult School will backfill a gap in services in Western Placer, created as Placer School for Adults leaves, to refocus on the Eastern Placer and Western Nevada regions. RAS has started a High School Diploma class in Lincoln. In August, they will also begin an ESL class at the Rocklin Library and an ESL class in Lincoln. They intend to reach out to local nonprofits to disseminate information about the classes and provide outreach to local schools. RAS can now add classes to accommodate more students at the Lincoln site as needed.

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.

Consortium planned allocations will address strategies identified in the annual plan and aligned with the 3-year plan. Each member agency will use its CAEP allocation to address this one-year plan in alignment with the consortium's 3-year

plan. Each member agency will align spending in the following key areas:

  • Address educational needs.

  • Improve integration of service and transitions.

  • Improve the effectiveness of the services.

Our consortium is in a unique situation. Two agencies shut down with a lot of carry-over, and funds are being redirected to the remaining agencies covering the underserved regions. It will take some time to address the carryover from 23-24 and to develop spending plans for the new redistributed funds. 


An approach to incorporating remaining carry-over funds from prior year(s) into strategies planned for 2024-25.

With a shift in responsibilities of serving underserved areas (PSA -Nevada County and Tahoe Truckee and RAS- Western Placer and Rocklin), we anticipate several one-time start-up expenses and additional staff.  We plan to spend the carryover on infrastructure and curriculum (and use increased ongoing funds on personnel.) Remote sites need technology previously owned by the outgoing district, so these will all need replacing.  RAS is also expanding its services to Roseville to avoid overcrowding and waitlisting.

Certification

Nevada Joint Union High - Member Representative

Approved by Noah Levinson

08/14/2024 02:55 PM PDT

Placer Union High - Member Representative

Approved by Steven Casperite

08/14/2024 02:59 PM PDT

Roseville Joint Union High - Member Representative

Approved by Lisa Voss

08/14/2024 02:54 PM PDT

Sierra Joint CCD - Member Representative

Approved by Jill Alcorn

08/14/2024 02:56 PM PDT

Tahoe-Truckee Unified - Member Representative

  • Manager of College and Careers: Career Technical and Adult Education
  • twold@ttusd.org
  • (530) 582-2591
  • Assistant Superintendent Educational Services
  • sroderick@ttusd.org
  • (530) 582-2530 ext: 20441
Approved by Shaun Roderick

08/25/2024 08:14 AM PDT