Narrative: f.

Missouri Title II strongly commits to local programs’ success producing quality student outcomes based on WIOA core indicators of performance. Missouri DESE AEL staff provides continuous monitoring, evaluation and assistance in activities that help improve outcomes. Missouri DESE AEL employs a four component monitoring system for ongoing real-time assessment of local service providers.

1. Desk Review: Each month, the DESE AEL team reviews financial and program enrollment/performance data of each local service provider. This real-time review evaluates budgets, actual expenditures, cost per student, persistence of student attendance and combined WIOA performance measures. This process allows DESE AEL to provide immediate technical assistance in areas of concern as opposed to waiting until end-of-year reporting. Local service providers also have access to a dashboard displaying all data reviewed by DESE AEL.
2. Self-Assessment: Based upon a risk assessment, local programs must submit a self-assessment to DESE AEL ensuring compliance with grant/contract requirements.
3. On-Site Monitoring: DESE AEL regularly evaluates the quality of providers on-site each year based on a revolving schedule and risk assessment. The reviews ensure that local programs follow state and federal guidelines, performance measures are on target, program operations are efficient and instruction is effective. In addition to mentoring from experiences local program staff, on-site reviews include
   • fiscal/program management and reporting;
   • teacher certification and professional development requirements;
   • data entry and management;
   • student assessment procedures;
   • student intake and orientation process;
   • teaching/classroom observation;
   • instruction;
   • recruitment and retention;
   • facilities;
   • local program policies; and
   • documentation and record retention requirements.
4. Corrective Action: If monitoring reveals areas of noncompliance or concern, the local service provider must submit a corrective action plan for approval by DESE AEL.

In addition to technical assistance provided through the review process, DESE AEL delivers high quality professional development to improve Missouri’s adult education instruction. All of Missouri’s AEL teachers must maintain certification which requires at least 20 hours of PD a year.

DESE AEL provides professional development that:

1. Incorporates essential components of reading instruction as it relates to adults.
2. Includes instruction related to the specific needs of the adult learner.
3. Supports instruction provided by volunteers and paid teachers within the adult education program.
4. Provides dissemination of information about models and promising practices related to such programs.

The PD Advisory Committee, comprised of AEL educators from programs throughout the state, works in cooperation with DESE AEL staff to establish professional development offerings. The committee provides leadership in the development of statewide PD based upon needs of the programs and is focused on improving instruction and programmatic practices. DESE AEL’s PD program is designed to improve instruction (in accordance with local activities) in an effort to increase successful student outcomes; therefore, DESE AEL also uses performance measure data to identify PD needs and evaluate the success of offerings on adult instruction. Workshops are delivered face-to-face and virtually.

PD workshops focus on improving adult education instruction pursuant to local activities required under section 231(b). This includes training in such areas as reading instruction, math, writing, differentiated instruction, active instruction, effective teaching strategies, and program procedures/processes. To establish a strong foundation of instruction, all new teachers must attend specific workshops for beginning adult education teachers. Additionally, all teachers must attend a workshop on practical applications of CCRS in the adult classroom.

DESE AEL regularly monitors and evaluates professional development to ensure the quality of information presented, the effects of PD on student outcomes, and overall effectiveness of PD staff and programs. DESE AEL uses the following:

1. Summary evaluations completed by participants at all trainings to measure the effectiveness of the PD, learning objectives and whether additional training is needed.
2. Pre-/post-workshop activities for new teachers to measure whether learning objectives have been achieved and to determine whether continued training is needed.
3. Annual review of trainers may be conducted by DESE AEL.
4. Periodic reviews of programs to observe execution of strategies/processes and knowledge acquired through professional development training.
5. Collection of student data to determine profession development training impacts student outcomes.