Narrative: e. 1.

Per section 223 of WIOA, the MPWS uses less than 12.5 percent of AEL funds to carry out State Leadership activities to enhance Missouri's adult education system, including the following endeavors.

Alignment of adult education and literacy activities with other one-stop required partners to implement the strategies in the Unified or Combined State Plan as described in section 223(1)(A).

AEL works collaboratively with the MPWS to align and coordinate services for program participants. State and local cross-training help staff understand intake, eligibility screening, partner referral, and program services.  State AEL staff participate in the Missouri Association of Workforce Development to build connections with the MPWS. State and local AEL staff contribute to DHEWD’s Adult Learner Network (ALN) for post-secondary attainment and AEL is represented in two tactics named in the ALN Strategic Plan.

In addition, the MPWS will focus on developing all components of career pathways to prepare adult students for careers in in-demand occupations. Partnership investments have yielded the implementation of Missouri’s IET Strategic Plan, which develops successful integration of occupational and workplace training into AEL classrooms statewide.

Establishment or operation of a high-quality professional development program as described in section 223(1)(b).

With AEL State Leadership Funds, the MPWS provides essential high-quality professional development to improve educational and career outcomes for the adult student population. Missouri requires certification for every teacher instructing AEL students who must participate in ongoing professional development to maintain their teaching license. The MPWS sponsors a portion of the professional development led by subject matter experts, DESE staff, a pool of AEL-certified teachers, or certified K-12 teachers with expertise in the designated workshop. AEL offers in-person training, virtual live training, and virtual on-demand training.

The MPWS utilizes leadership funds to employ two part-time professional development (PD) specialists who maintain the AEL professional development program and implement strategic changes in the program design. Tactical results include more diversification in program offerings and formats and incorporating embedded CCR standards into all appropriate workshops. The specialists plan and execute the annual AEL Directors’ Conference, an in-person learning opportunity for program leaders. In addition, the MPWS provides a Virtual Learning Management System for access to and tracking AEL instructor PD.

The MPWS has a statewide Adult Education Professional Development Advisory Committee comprising AEL local program directors from each state region. It meets with AEL staff as needed every 2-3 months. The committee members determine regional PD needs by seeking input from all teachers and all local adult education directors. During their meetings, the committee helps develop PD plans and resources, identify future PD needs, identify and implement best practices in PD, coordinate PD activities, and review proposed PD workshops and trainers to ensure that they meet the needs of our teachers and students. The committee also reviews and provides input regarding proposed PD workshops and policy changes.

To back the focus of IET expansion statewide, the MPWS offered professional development and technical assistance in developing Single Sets of Learning Objectives (SSLO) for AEL workplace education and occupational training services. Using the IET Design Camp resources as a foundation, AEL staff walked program staff through the importance of SSLOs and used real-life examples to demonstrate. By working with other team members to develop IET learning objectives based on occupationally relevant materials, local programs can integrate the practice of SSLOs in all AEL classrooms, providing workforce readiness to adult students statewide.

Based on feedback and assessment data, AEL identified the need for additional assessment training for English learners. Using the expertise of experienced adult educators, the MPWS revamped its process for AEL proctor certification to simplify and accommodate the changing needs of local service providers. This allows for stability in assessment data statewide and agility upon the need to transition assessment tools.

Provision of technical assistance to funded eligible providers as described in section 223 (1)(c).

The MPWS provides immediate one-on-one technical assistance to AEL programs facing challenges based on data reviews, conversations, and staff turnover. Multiple former local program administrators are contracted to assist programs in real-time throughout the state, and the AEL state staff serve as on-site guidance when appropriate. The fulfillment of technical assistance can be formal and triggered by monitoring or risk assessment. In many cases, it is informal and based on a question or a discussion.

The MPWS hosts a bi-monthly virtual seminar for AEL administrators, the DESE Download, to disseminate guidance and policy updates to all programs. These sessions support navigating the changing environment and ensure consistent communication within Missouri’s AEL community. Topics include LACES data system guidance, statewide performance data reviews, providing accommodations for students with disabilities, trauma-informed classrooms, and assistance with follow-up outcome surveys. The MPWS also spotlights program directors and successes at each local program and answers direct questions from program directors.

The MPWS provides additional technical assistance and one-on-one training to support the development of IETs with quality skills and credential attainment. Further updates to the data system and its reporting functions allow DESE to share real-time performance comparisons with all service providers throughout the program year and react to trends immediately. The MPWS provides targeted guidance and tools for follow-up outcomes and incentivizes programs to obtain this data.

The MPWS sponsors in-person mentorships provided by experienced local program directors to assist with transitions of new program leadership. This practice allows the transfer of knowledge and utilizes the expertise of front-line leadership to address pressing needs. AEL providers see evidence of shared best practices and strengthened relationships by using visiting directors. Missouri also supports the ongoing mentorship of its local program directors and instructors to ensure continuity and quality in service delivery. In addition to mentorship, the MPWS hosts virtual and in-person training sessions for regional program directors who have held their positions for fewer than three years. Sessions discuss WIOA, performance outcomes, the LACES data system, Missouri AEL policies, and financial procedures. 

Monitoring and evaluating the quality and improvement of adult education activities as described in section 223(1)(d).

The MPWS divides local AEL service providers into three cohorts to distribute on-site monitoring over the three-year grant cycle. Using a risk assessment, state AEL staff determine which programs receive on-site reviews and analyze data identifying specific classrooms for observation based on performance, attendance, and testing. When facing travel concerns, the state monitoring team developed procedures for virtual monitoring. This protocol includes secure file transfers, virtual monitoring of classrooms, and virtual interviews with students and instructors. Even though travel concerns are lifted, maintaining these protocols preserves resources for other uses. Programs in the scheduled cohort not completing a virtual on-site review complete a self-assessment, which DESE AEL staff review and discuss with local programs.

Once the AEL review team collects all necessary information, they examine Self-Assessments or On-Site reviews and supporting documentation. During team meetings, administrators use this opportunity to capitalize on areas of strength within each program and offer suggestions on areas of weakness and risk. The review team identifies two types of risk through a report for each local program after the review. “Areas of Concern” are typically issues that involve non-compliance with requirements in the grant or a state policy, fiscal/accounting concerns, or performance results below state standards and require a plan of action. “Additional Information” is for clarification purposes. Some programs must submit a written response and complete a corrective action plan.

AEL State Leadership Funds assist local service providers in achieving and measuring negotiated performance levels. Investments in student assessment include unlimited access to virtual testing for all programs and improved professional development aligned with performance data. In addition, the MPWS determines policy and procedure updates utilizing performance outcomes including data quality, serving individuals with disabilities, record retention, and assessment requirements.