The California Adult Education �Consortium Model
Hosted by the Urban Alliance for Adult Literacy
June 1, 2026
Please briefly introduce yourself in the chat
What is the Urban Alliance for Adult Literacy?
A national project supporting urban adult foundational education coalitions (networks, mayoral initiatives, consortia, collaborations)
A national affiliate of ProLiteracy
Offers Greenhouse Meetings (webinars), an online discussion group, and presentations at state and national conferences
Presenters
Dr. Carolyn Zachry, State Director and Education Administrator for the Adult Education Office within the Career and College Transition Division (CCTD) at the California Department of Education (CDE). czachry@cde.ca.gov
Sherri Watkins, Executive Director, State Center Adult Education Consortium sherri.watkins@statecenter.com
Greenhouse Meeting Moderator: David J. Rosen (Co-founder of Urban Alliance for Adult Literacy and member of the Urban Alliance’s Steering Committee) djrosen@comcast.net
Today’s Agenda and Format
We’ll better understand how adult education provision in California is organized as coalitions of adult schools, community colleges, and partner programs
First hour: presentations and a short Q & A.
Additional 30 minutes: further Q & A and opportunities to describe your local
coalition/network/Initiative
Post your questions in the chat any time to be answered in the Q & A period.
Views expressed here are those of the presenter or attendees and not necessarily of the Urban Alliance for Adult Literacy or ProLiteracy.
� California’s Regional Approach to �Adult Education�
California Adult Education History�
In 1856 the first class for adults was organized by the San Francisco Board of Education and offered in the basement of St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Today we have nearly 400 agencies providing services for adults to better their education, career training, and the opportunity to learn English.
Acronyms
AB – Assembly Bill
AEBG – Adult Education Block Grant
CAEP – California Adult Education Program
CCCCO – California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office
CDE – California Department of Education
WIOA Title II– Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Title II Adult Education and Family Literacy Act
General Information
Overview
The 2015–2016 State Budget appropriated $500 million to California Community College Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) and the California Department of Education to allocate funding for adult education. In the current year, 2025–2026 CAEP funding is $669 million. The funds are provided to eligible consortia for the purpose of implementing regional plans for adult education. The intent of the California Adult Education Program (CAEP, formally the Adult Education Block Grant) was to expand and improve the provision of adult education via these consortia.
The CCCCO and the California Department of Education (CDE) are working in partnership to implement the requirements outlined in the CAEP.
There are 71 regional consortia across the state that include members from community colleges, K–12 adult schools, county offices of education and a variety of community partners including, but not limited to local workforce boards, libraries, and community-based organizations.
General Information (2)
Our Mission
California adult educators in K-12 and community colleges work synergistically with workforce and education partners, community stakeholders and industry through the CAEP's 71 consortia to ensure that students are prepared for life, for work and to support their families and strengthen communities, no matter where they are in their educational journey.
Leadership
The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the California Department of Education appointed joint leadership for the CAEP.
71 regional consortia following Community College Districts
Provider Types
CAEP
Annual Plan
EC 84906 (a) (1) Commencing with the 2019–20 fiscal year, as a condition of receipt of an apportionment of funds from this program for a fiscal year, the members of a consortium shall have a consortium-approved three-year adult education plan that addresses a three-year fiscal planning cycle. The plan shall be updated at least once each year based on available data pertaining to the requirements of subdivision (b)
Breaking Down the Annual Plan
Section | Instructions |
Section 1: Plans and Goals | Identify an executive summary, a regional planning overview, and how the annual plan will meet the identified regional needs. |
Section 2: Address Educational Needs | Define the strategies to address the activities, barriers and metrics. |
Section 3: Improve Integration of Services & Transitions | Define the strategies to address the activities, barriers and metrics. |
Breaking Down the Annual Plan (2)
Section | Instructions |
Section 4: Improve Effectiveness of Services | Define the strategies to address the activities, barriers and metrics. |
Section 5: Fiscal Management | Describe how the consortium’s available funds, including carry-over funds, will be leveraged to impact the strategies identified in the plan.. |
Section 6: Preview & Submit | Review the content of each prior section. |
Immigrant Integration (2019)
An AB 2098 workgroup issued recommendations in 2019 to “promote California’s civic and economic health by developing coordinated statewide immigrant integration policies and initiatives.”
The workgroup offered a definition of immigrant integration as follows:
Immigrant integration is a two-way process in which immigrants are embraced and welcomed by the receiving society with effective, culturally relevant, and linguistically accessible programs and services that facilitate and provide: upward social and economic mobility, increased civic participation, and multigenerational integration to build secure, thriving, and inclusive communities.
What Has Worked Well
Challenges
Collaborations
The modeling of collaboration has been critical from the beginning. The CAEP Office collaborates with other state agency partners including the Labor Agency, Economic Development Department, California Workforce Board, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Health and Human Services, and Department of Health.
Collaborations (2)
Questions�
Carolyn Zachry, Ed.D.
Education Administrator/State Director
Adult Education Office
California Department of Education
czachry@cde.ca.gov
Questions and comments?
Please post your comments and questions in the chat and/or raise your hand now. . .
. . . (and stay on after this presentation for additional discussion if you can.)
Thanks!
We appreciate your interest and participation in this discussion and other Urban Alliance activities!
(Visit https://www.urbanallianceforadultliteracy.org for more information.)
To join the Urban Alliance as an individual (free), Email urbanallianceforadultliteracy@gmail.com with
“Join Urban Alliance as an Individual" in the message header.
Urban Alliance activities include it asynchronous online Discussion Group. To join the discussion group: Email urbanallianceforadultliteracy@gmail.com with “Join Adult Literacy Cafe" in the message header.
Discussion (continued)
For the next 30 minutes, please share. . .