This year’s California Adult Education Program Summit 2025 took place September 24–26, 2025, at the Anaheim Marriott in Anaheim, California.
We were thrilled to showcase our CAC Foundations Success initiative at the Summit, where our own Xitlali Cabadas and Denise Sony Guerra‑Sanson presented the details of our pilot Foundations Success program.
Even more exciting — we were recognized as a model program at the conference!
Returning to education as an adult learner presents unique challenges, especially in independent study environments where self-direction and confidence matter more than ever. Our Foundations Success program was designed precisely to address those challenges: to create a safe, welcoming space where adult learners feel they belong, build resilience, and manifest academic skill-building.
During the 2023–24 academic year, the program supported over 80 newly enrolled adult learners. We highlighted how we built relationships, enhanced retention, and fostered goal-setting habits in an independent study context. At the Summit, our team shared insights about:
- The program’s structure, including orientation, mentorship, peer-community building, and academic skill supports.
- Essential strategies for relationship-building: personal check-ins, cohort connection, and scaffolding independence.
- Outcomes: how belonging and skill-growth drove persistence, academic engagement, and momentum toward goals.
You can find additional details about the program on our website.
A huge thank you to our incredible team who attended and represented us — your leadership and passion continue to make our adult education programs a model of innovation and heart.
