October 11, 2017
 











We are excited to announce the soft launch of NOVA, the new platform we will use to manage the AEBG fund. The AEBG Office's Neil Kelly will walk through the fiscal-management system during a webinar on Oct. 20, from noon to 1 p.m. If you haven't already registered for the webinar, please do so by clicking the link below to access the registration page.
 
Learning how to use NOVA is critical because this is the system that each consortium member that receives AEBG funds will be required to use to submit the 2017-18 budget, due in early December, provide member updates to the AEBG database, and starting next year,  allow members and consortia to enter and certify quarterly expense reporting. This new system, once it's up and running, will replace the AEBG portal. NOVA is an end-to-end platform designed to manage state funding streams.

Today (10/11), a team of beta users will receive an email announcing the soft launch. Those of you who are not part of the test group will receive an email at the end of October, when the system officially launches, providing you with access. The following release of functionality will be AEBG fiscal reporting and CFAD management, making NOVA the centralized platform for all things AEBG. The screenshot above gives you a glimpse of what the new system will look like.

Please note: AEBG 2015-16 implementation funding, 95 percent of which has been spent, will be closed out in the old system in January/February 2018. AEBG data and accountability funding will also remain in the old system and will be closed out in January/February 2019.



A note about the upcoming AEBG TAP webinars: The next few webinars are related to data submission via TOPSpro Enterprise and are designed to provide support for this important task. The webinars will be followed by training on promising practices for leveraging resources, with support services and additional direction related to the community college data-collection guidelines.

Oct. 18 Webinar: AEBG Data-Submission Guidelines

Time:  1 p.m. to 2 p.m. 

Description: Join Neil Kelly and Richard Ackerman (CASAS) to review how to import and export student data to the TOPSPro Enterprise System. This will include document review, best practices, and how to request technical assistance.
                  
Oct. 20 Webinar: New Fiscal System - NOVA

Time:  12 p.m. to 1 p.m. 


Oct. 25 Webinar: Data, Partnerships and Support Services - Key Strategies for Student Success

Time:  1 p.m. to 2 p.m. 
 

Oct. 26 Webinar: Harnessing the Power of Social Media for Advancing Adult Education

Time: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Description: How do you harness the power of social media to educate all types of key stakeholders about the importance of adult education? This session highlights key Twitter and Facebook strategies to showcase success stories, important data points, infographics and calls to action to motivate engagement with your adult education programs and our statewide AEBG Educate & Elevate campaign. Learn how to build your following and connect with our campaign's social media strategy to maximize reach and exposure.

Oct. 27 Webinar: Impact to Credit College (details coming soon)

Nov. 8 Webinar: AEBG Elevate & Educate Campaign: Working with Key Influencers to Build Support

Time: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. 

Description:  In a highly competitive funding environment, adult educators need a coordinated strategy to inform key stakeholders about the positive impacts of adult education. This session shares how to conduct a successful briefing for key influencers using the campaign fact sheet, video and legislative talking points from the AEBG Educate & Elevate campaign toolkit, coupled with your compelling local success stories and innovations. Leaders from the AEBG Advocacy Committee share their insights and strategies, as well as their game plan for a coordinated outreach effort.


AEBG Webinar Information:
  • The AEBG Office and the AEBG Technical Assistance Project (TAP) host a series of webinars and events to provide professional development, technical assistance and important AEBG updates and information. Check the AEBG Webinar page for a complete schedule.
     
    • Wednesdays are designated for professional development 
    • Fridays are designated for policy/state updates 
       
  • Webinars use Adobe Connect. After you register for the webinar at the link provided below, you will receive an email with directions about how to access the webinar. Archived recordings of webinars are made available on the AEBG Webinars page (scroll to bottom).
     
  • If you need help registering for or accessing the webinar, please call the AEBG TAP at 1-888-TAP-AEBG (888-827-2324). You also can email your questions in advance of the webinar to tap@aebg.org. If questions arise at the time of the webinar, please call instead, as your email likely won't be seen once the webinar is underway.



The AEBG Final Allocations for 2017-18 have been released along with a letter granting approval to spend these funds. CLICK HERE for the 2017-18 final allocation schedule. 

If your fiscal agent is a K-12 school district or COE, or you are a direct-funded K-12 or COE member, please click on the CDE link below to view your allocation schedule. Consortia with a K-12 fiscal agent or who are direct-funded K-12 members should note that CDE Accounting processed the apportionment request and the state controller released payment. Payment receipt can be expected in three weeks. 
 
If your fiscal agent is a community college district or you are a direct-funded community college member, please click on the Chancellor's Office link below to view your allocation schedule.
 
Remember, if you have a fiscal agent, the breakdown of funding by member will not be listed on the allocation schedule. It will be listed on the CFAD signed by all members and submitted to the AEBG Office in May. To view the CFAD for your consortium, find your details page in the consortium directory( CLICK HERE for Consortia Directory).

Important Links:

laraec professional development webinars 
open to all adult educators


The Los Angeles Regional Adult Education Consortium (LARAEC) is partnering with the  Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) to offer a professional development webinar series about Integrated Education and Training (IET). The webinars are open to all adult educators in California.  

To access the first webinar in the series, which was about IET definitions and models,  CLICK HERE. 

There two additional webinars in the series are as follows:

Oct. 24: Redesigning Curriculum, Instruction, Partnerships and Policies
 
Time: 12 p.m. PST
Presenter: Judy Mortrude 

IET is more than a classroom service model; it is a system redesign strategy to support the role of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title II/AEBG as a partner for a strong workforce. This hour will focus on the policies, practices and professional learning needed to support a transitions-oriented school.

Nov. 28: Connecting Adult Education Students to Living-Wage Careers
 
Time: 12 p.m. PST
Presenter: William Durden 

In Washington state, IET is the centerpiece of pathway design for basic skills students. Students who begin in basic skills learn in context to their chosen pathway. High school completion is competency-based, and students can co-enroll in a high school completion program while participating in IET that leads to certificates, degrees and a living-wage career. 
 
This session will highlight:
  • IET in guided pathways as the core strategy for serving students who begin in basic skills.
  • The range of IET options available in Washington state.
  • High school completion as a competency-based, co-enrolled program.
  • Contextualization of basic skills and English-language acquisition to the pathway and IET of students' choosing.
  • Navigational services designed to provide wraparound support and guide students to completion 



The first phase of the Educate & Elevate California campaign is underway, and you can do your part to cross-promote the campaign through your respective websites. Simply use the language below, and place the campaign logo prominently on your consortium's website, as well as on individual member websites. Your webmaster can assist you with this task. The more we cross promote, the more site traffic will be generated, increasing exposure to adult education. To download the campaign logo,  CLICK HERE .
 
Proud Partner
 
[Insert the name of your organization]  is a proud partner of the Educate & Elevate California campaign comprised of California adult educators in K-12 and community colleges who work synergistically with workforce and education partners, community stakeholders and industry through the Adult Education Block Grant's (AEBG) 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. Learn more about our innovations and efforts to enhance adult education at www.EducateandElevateCA.org.




The deadline to apply to serve on the Adult Education Field Team is approaching. Applications must be submitted by Oct. 23.  The field team comprises adult education professionals who are charged with developing, for the AEBG Office, recommendations to help ensure the grant program is being implemented properly and effectively. The field team plays a significant role in ensuring that high-quality and effective programs are delivered at the regional level so California's adult learners have access to the education and resources they need to meet their educational and career goals.
 
Those selected for the team will be notified by Nov. 30, and team members will serve three years, to coincide with the consortia's three-year planning process.
 
Scope of Responsibilities
The team will meet as needed or, at a minimum, quarterly (travel costs will be paid for by the consortium or member). During the meetings, the AEBG Office will brief members on relevant matters, actions and issues. The meetings will provide an opportunity for facilitated discussion and problem solving, with the end goal being a set of recommendations that have adult learners' best interests in mind and that meet the goals of state legislation and funding requirements.
 
Open Application and Endorsement
The AEBG Office is looking for qualified applicants (see application for criteria) who can commit to attending all required meetings, engage in collaborative discussion and problem solving and make learner-centered recommendations. Applicants must receive the endorsement of at least two adult education professionals. One endorsement must be made by a representative of the applicant's adult education consortium, which certifies that the consortium as a whole is supportive of the application. Applications will be accepted through an online portal with the assistance of the AEBG TAP.




A new non-AEBG funding source has became available. The California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office Division of Workforce and Economic Development recently issued a request for applications (RFA) for the California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) Pre-Apprenticeship and Enhanced On-the-Job Training Grant Program. This grant opportunity, part of the FY 2017-18 CAI, seeks to create new and innovative apprenticeship opportunities in priority and emerging industry sectors. Eligible applicants include California community college districts, California Department of Education local educational agencies, including regional occupational centers and programs, and county offices of education. 
 
Bidders conference: 
Oct. 19, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Application due date:
Nov. 15, 2017

For more information, including application materials and instructions on how to access the bidders conference, click the link below. 




Many changes are in store for the 2017-18 program year, and we want to be sure that all consortia are prepared to implement the changes within their regions. In addition to face-to-face regional meetings to discuss new policy (see item below), we have gathered key documents here to help you process the changes. 



To help consortia understand the many policy changes and data-collection rules for the 2017-18 program year, the AEBG Office is continuing to host face-to-face regional trainings, which have been well-attended so far. The next trainings will take place Oct. 17-18 in Vista, with subsequent sessions scheduled through November.
 
If you have not already registered for the regional training nearest you, do so soon because slots are filling up quickly. To register, visit the AEBG Regional Training page and click on the events you would like to attend. From there you can register.
 
Day 1 of the training is for AEBG coordinators, data-entry staff, administrators and technical support and will focus on AEBG data and accountability, policy changes, program metrics, community college-specific changes and more.

It is important that you include technical staff who will be working with the data submission process.
 
Day 2 will be hands-on in the computer lab, with CASAS TOPSpro® Enterprise (TE) experts to walk you through reporting through TE. All AEBG members must use CASAS TE to report student data.

The questions and answers from the initial training have been posted on the  Regional Training page. The Q&A will be updated as needed following each training.
 
To prepare for the training, we ask that regions:   
Upcoming regional trainings:

Oct. 17-18  Vista (Northern San Diego)
Oct. 24-25  Madera
Nov. 7-8  Santa Maria
Nov. 15-16  San Bernardino

savethedate save the date: third annual AEBG summit Jan. 22-23


With "Together Toward Tomorrow" as its theme, the third annual AEBG Summit will look to the future of adult education. Which promising practices that will lead to greater success for AEBG in the near future can your consortium share? We will be seeking presentations on a wide range of topics for the event, which will be Jan. 22-23, 2018, in Southern California. 

The location will be announced soon, and more information, including the call for proposals and registration, also is forthcoming. The summit will include several representatives from each consortium and will cover a wide range of topics.