Statewide Release

January-March Professional Learning Opportunities
Below you will find a list of upcoming courses that are now available for enrollment in the PD Portal. For more information about any of these courses, please visit the PD Portal, open the course catalog, and review the syllabus. If you are interested in enrolling in a course, please consult with your in-house professional development specialist (IHPDS) to determine if the course meets your professional learning goals.

  • Download the PD Portal User Guide which includes directions for logging in, viewing course descriptions, and enrolling.
  • Visit the PD Portal FAQ page for answers to questions about enrollment, navigating and completing courses, and tech support.
New Modules for Professional Learning in 2021

Several new modules have been added to the PD Portal course catalog this program year. Modules offer flexible, short-term opportunities to learn about new topics or expand your knowledge in your area of practice. The four staff induction modules new to the PD Portal this program year include the following:
  • College and Career Readiness Standards Overview - English Language Arts (ELA).
  • College and Career Readiness Standards Overview - Math.
  • Family Literacy Overview.
  • Writing Lesson Objectives.
Staff induction modules may be taken as part of the new staff induction process, but are equally valuable for more experienced staff members as a way to update and refresh their knowledge and skills.

Also new to the PD Portal course catalog this program year are two on-demand modules:
  • CCRS Key Shifts for English Language Arts.
  • CCRS Key Shifts for Mathematics.
These two modules provide an in-depth look at the key shifts for math and English language arts in the College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS). These modules are not part of the staff induction series; it is recommended that participants first take the College and Career Readiness Overview staff induction modules or have some familiarity with the CCRS before taking these modules.

Visit the PD Portal Professional Learning Opportunities Catalog to view and enroll in any of our 20 staff induction and on-demand module courses!
Online Course Beginning in January

BEST Plus 2.0 Scoring Refresher - starts January 25, enroll by January 22.
Online Courses Beginning in February

Student Support Coordinator Basics - starts February 2, enroll by January 29.

Tutor Coordinator Basics - starts February 3, enroll by February 1.

ESL Basics: Second Language Acquisition and Principles of Second Language Teaching - starts February 5, enroll by February 4.

Integrating Technology Into the Adult Education Classroom - starts February 8, enroll by February 4.

Integrating Career Awareness Into the ABE and ESOL Classroom - starts February 12, enroll by February 1.

NEW! ESL Contextualized Lesson Planning - starts February 16, enroll by February 10. Prior to participating in this course, participants must have completed the ESL Basics course in the PD Portal. Participants should also be familiar with the College and Career Readiness Standards.

Family Literacy Foundations - starts February 17, enroll by February 17.
Online Courses Beginning in March

Early Learning Accomplishment Profile (E-LAP) and Learning Accomplishment Profile - 3rd Edition (LAP-3) Assessment Implementation - enroll within first seven days of March and complete by April 1.

Supporting Adult Learner Transition: The Role of the Student Support Coordinator - starts March 1, enroll by February 26.

NEW! CCRS Foundations - Math Lesson Planning - starts March 2, enroll by March 2.

BEST Plus 2.0 Test Administrator Training - starts March 8, enroll by March 4.

Using and Scoring ACIRI - course runs March 15 - April 15; enroll by March 22 to complete the course by April 15.
Offered on Demand

Introduction to the Foundation Skills Framework
Enroll anytime and have 30 days from the enrollment date to complete the course.

PA CASAS Training Courses - Observations Delayed
Enroll anytime and have 30 days from the enrollment date to complete the course.
Choose from three course options:
  • PA CASAS Training Paper-Based for practitioners who will administer paper-based CASAS tests.
  • PA CASAS Training eTests for practitioners who will administer CASAS eTests.
  • PA CASAS Training Paper-Based and eTests for practitioners who will administer both paper-based CASAS tests and eTests.
Please note: The full 45-day PA CASAS Training requires participants to complete a final assignment: three administrations of the CASAS assessment performed under the observation of a trained peer and signed off by the agency administrator or IHPDS. This requirement has been temporarily waived due to COVID-19. Participants will complete all other activities in these courses and be asked to complete a test administration/ observation assignment at a later date.

PA TABE 11&12 Training - Observations Delayed
Enroll anytime and have 30 days from the enrollment date to complete the course.
Please note: The full 45-day PA TABE 11&12 Training requires participants to complete a final assignment: three administrations of the TABE 11&12 assessment performed under the observation of a trained peer and signed off by the agency administrator or IHPDS. This requirement has been temporarily waived due to COVID-19. Participants will complete all other activities in this course and be asked to complete a test administration/observation assignment at a later date.

Staff Induction Verification Course
New staff members who are participating in the staff induction process enroll in this course after they have completed the required activities.

Staff Induction Module Courses
This series of modules is designed for new agency staff members as part of a customizable onboarding process. Existing staff may also choose to complete these modules at any time. New Modules: CCRS Overview - Math; Family Literacy Overview.

On-Demand Modules
On-demand modules are offered in the PD Portal to provide participants with flexible learning opportunities on a variety of topics. Please note that these on-demand modules are not part of the series of modules designed for staff induction. New Modules: CCRS Key Shifts for English Language Arts; CCRS Key Shifts for Mathematics.

Tutor Training Module Courses
These modules cover the foundational skills needed by volunteers working in adult education programs. The eight modules serve as a component of volunteer tutor and classroom aide training and can be completed at any time.

Friday Lunchtime Webinar Resources
The Professional Development System offers Friday Lunchtime Webinars most Fridays at noon. Enroll in Friday Lunchtime Webinar Resources in the course catalog to access the complete schedule of webinars, the webinar link, presentation slides, and recordings.