I hope you are staying well during this challenging time. Today would have been our annual NETWORK conference, and I was so looking forward to meeting you all in person. Please click here for a video message from me to all of you about what MCAE is working on and how you can be involved.

Click here for video

 

Click here to read a transcript of the video. 

• MCAE is launching a free webinar series to bring some of the NETWORK content directly to you and your staff. Stay tuned for an announcement about the webinar schedule and links to register. 

• SABES is offering many online webinars and opportunities for virtual professional development coming up. See the complete training calendar here.
   
• Adult Education State Director Wyvonne Stevens-Carter recently issued several updates to ACLS programs in Massachusetts. A few highlights:
• Following the Governor's orders, all adult education programs, including post-secondary and workforce training programs, whether conducted in public school buildings, institutions of higher education, or community-based organizations, will not resume in-person instruction through May 4, 2020. Additional guidance about remote learning opportunities for adult learners will be forthcoming.
• ACLS and the UMass Center for Educational Assessment are
  seeking feedback from teachers about the knowledge and skills taught in ABE classrooms. 
• Survey for ABE Reading teachers
• Survey for ABE Math teachers

• The US Department of Education Office of Career, technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) has issued new COVID-19 guidance for states and local programs. (Read a summary of the guidance here.) 

• The national Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) is leading advocacy for $200 million in additional federal funding to help the field deal with the challenges of COVID-19 in addition to seeking $692 million for the next WIOA appropriation for ABE. Please add your support to these asks here.

 

Stay Connected to MCAE

 

There are some easy ways for you to be an active part of the MCAE community this year.

• Join MCAE as an Organizational, Leadership, or Individual Member to help us offset the cost of cancelling NETWORK this year. As a member you'll get early access to some resources and next year's NETWORK conference. 

• 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.