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June 5 , 2020 

Dear MCAE community,
 
It's hard to believe the school year is almost over: this has certainly been anything but a normal school year! How are you planning for summer and fall? How can MCAE help connect you with knowledge, peers, and resources in the coming months? Reach out to me if there's something you need or want to share - a challenge, a question, or a success story! Stay safe and be well.

Rachel Gwaltney
Director, MCAE
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Updates from the Field
 
Massachusetts Updates
  • As the wait continues for a fiscal 2021 state budget plan, 91 economics professors wrote a letter urging state lawmakers to raise taxes and to avoid spending cuts to make fiscal ends meet amidst plummeting revenues. "Large cuts would erode the health and social infrastructure needed to continue combatting COVID-19, increase an already high level of inequality, and exacerbate the economic downturn. Instead of budget cuts, the state should look to raise revenues to balance its budget," the economists wrote in a letter distributed by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center. Stay tuned to MCAE Action Alerts for updates on the state budget.
  • The Raise Up Massachusetts Coalition is asking for your support for Emergency Paid Sick Time legislation, which would expand access to sick time for low-wage employees not covered by federal legislation.
  • Did you know that during COVID-19, emergency housing and rental assistance is available to low to moderate income people and this is one of a very few benefits that undocumented immigrants are also eligible for? Learn more from our partners in this document . 
  • The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network's #MAkingadifference social media campaign is happening now, leading up to the virtual event, Nonprofit Awareness Day: A Celebration of Nonprofit Excellence on June 24, 2020. The campaign's goal is to highlight the countless ways that nonprofits are #MAkingadifference in communities across Massachusetts.
  Federal/National Updates
  • Please consider signing on to this request from the Campaign to Invest in America's Workforce urging Congress to immediately invest at least $15.6 billion in our nation's workforce development system, including adult education.
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 MCAE Webinar Recordings Now Available!

Have you missed any of the webinars in our series over the last few weeks? The recordings are now available via our Facebook page.
Coming up next on June 15 - Register now:
Are you enjoying our webinar series? MCAE lost a significant portion of our annual revenue by cancelling our NETWORK conference this year, but we want to keep the learning going! Please consider a small donation to MCAE to help us maintain these efforts and continue to be your voice for adult education over the coming year.
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Stay Connected to MCAE 
  • Follow and engage with MCAE on Twitter or on Facebook  - we'll be sharing updates and resources there regularly.
  • Make sure you are signed up for MCAE Action Alerts to get the latest updates on the state budget process and our fight to sustain and increase the ABE line item during this difficult year.
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Resources for ABE Programs
(Links here do not equal endorsements. Programs should decide what best meets their own needs.)
  • The Barbara Bush Foundation has published at-home learning toolkits for families, caregivers, and adult learners. 
  • The EdTech Center at WorldEd has launched Tips for Distance Learning, with comprehensive guidance on the first steps to take in planning, successful implementation (recruiting, onboarding, teaching, and assessing learners), and locating and evaluating online learning resources. We include information on how to meet virtually with students, links to offers for free or reduced online courses or curricula from publishers known to provide quality ABE learning resources, and a professional development events calendar.
  • Our friends at SABES have many online webinars and opportunities for virtual professional development coming up. See the training calendar here.
  • Visit AIR's Adult Education Research and Technical Assistance Center (AERTAC) for resources that may assist adult educators on topics such as distance learning, online teaching, digital literacy, and health literacy.
  • The MIRA Coalition is building an evolving library of COVID-19 resources for immigrant communities and advocates.
  • The Boston Foundation has launched a COVID-19 Response Fund to rapidly deploy flexible resources to organizations in Greater Boston that are working with communities that are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
  • The Nellie Mae Foundation is maintaining a list of Funding Opportunities for Non-profits Affected by COVID-19.
  • LINCS is compiling resources and ideas for online ABE learning. 
  • In response to growing coronavirus scams, the Federal Trade Commission has created a dedicated web page with information about current scams and guidance on avoiding them.
Resources from Vendors
(Links here do not equal endorsements. Programs should decide what best meets their own needs.)
  • NEW! New Readers Press is offering free 90-day pilots for many of their programs. Find information and links to resources in their weekly News for You newsletter. 
  • GED Testing Service has resources for preparing for GED testing during COVID-19. 
  • Best Colleges has resources for students working on applying to college.
  • English Discoveries has resources for English-language learners.
  • USA Hello has resources for refugees, asylum seekers, immigrants, and the communities serving them.
  • Essential Education is offering assistance to educators in the form of a low-cost, short-term seat license.  
  • NorthStar is making the Northstar Online Learning (NSOL) unit on Basic Computer Skills available publicly for a period of time to serve those who may be unable to access services in public locations due to COVID-19 restrictions. 
  • KET is offering free access to FastForward and Workplace Essential Skills programs for a 30-day period.
  • Burlington English is offering a free webinar to demonstrate their distance learning services.
  • Digital Promise has compiled many resources for schools and programs to adjust to distance learning during the COVID-19 crisis.
  • The Family Literacy Company has resources for parents and children to learn together at home.
Resources for the most updated information on COVID-19