2026 Iowa Adult Education & Literacy Conference

This session explores practical strategies for improving employer onboarding and long-term engagement in worksite ESL programs. Participants will review and discuss tools and support practices designed to increase employer follow-through, employee retention, and overall program satisfaction. Through examples, shared resources, and guided discussion, attendees will explore approaches for setting clear expectations, strengthening employer buy-in, streamlining processes, and building responsive partnerships that support both workforce needs and adult learner success. Participants will leave with adaptable tools, templates, and implementation ideas for a variety of worksite ESL settings.

Beginning in the fall of 2026, all individuals pursuing an HSED will be required to earn a score of 60% or higher on the civics test issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. It is easy to see this exam as an exercise in rote memorization; yet, the requirement to teach this content provides an opportunity for students to engage in meaningful discussion of the country’s past, present and future. Through this session, participants will explore the difference between politics and civics with an emphasis on the concept of civic culture; examine how evidence-based strategies such as interleaving and retrieval practice can support exam preparation; and, connect test questions to foundational historical documents and the perennial challenges of self-government. Time will be reserved during the session for students to test out lesson plans and explore available resources.

This session focuses on how to create powerful connections between education and employment. Participants will share models, partnerships, and strategies that lead to real workforce outcomes.