Winter 2025 Newsletter

CAEL, ACE Publish Report and Interactive Online Database Based on 50-State Analysis of CPL Policies

CAEL and the American Council on Education (ACE) have partnered to produce a comprehensive national survey of state and system policies aimed at increasing credit for prior learning (CPL) opportunities. The National Landscape of Credit for Prior Learning: Effective State and System Policies for Success and Equity analyzes more than 360 CPL policies identified in an inventory the organizations completed of all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. The report can be viewed at the ACE website. 

The organizations have also established a new interactive online database that allows users to query the reporting data to review and create customized comparisons of state and system CPL policies. The report and database, accessible to the public, are designed to help policymakers, institutional leaders, accrediting bodies, and industry, military, and veterans' affairs offices better track trends that can help inform their own CPL work.

📅 CAEL and ACE will discuss these resources and their findings during a webinar Jan. 30 at 3 p.m. ET. Don’t miss out – register here.

Join Us for the 2025 CAEL Regional Convening: ‘Reflection And Action: The State of the Workforce Ecosystem

We are excited to invite you to our Regional Convening on March 12. We’ll be in San Diego this year, and similar to our annual conference, we will bring together professionals from across the workforce ecosystem to share best practices and details about upcoming opportunities. CAEL events are designed to foster collaboration and strengthen partnerships across workforce, education, and employment sectors. This Regional Convening offers a unique platform for thought leaders and diverse stakeholders to connect, share insights, and work together to advance economic opportunity through the workforce ecosystem. Register here.

Record Crowds, National CPL Provider Network Highlight CAEL 50th Annual Conference

Record crowds attended CAEL’s 50th annual conference, held in New Orleans Oct. 30-Nov.1 More than 1,000 people helped CAEL celebrate not only its 50^th anniversary but the official launch of CAEL’s newly launched Credit for Prior Learning Provider Network. The network provides adult learners a free, one-stop connection to postsecondary institutions where their prior learning experiences can be recognized. Listing on the network, hosted at cael.org, is complimentary for CAEL members. Non-CAEL member institutions may also participate for a fee. You can also view a wrap-up video of the 50th anniversary conference here.

CAEL Forms National Community of Practice Dedicated to Supporting Veteran Learners, Workers, and Their Families 

During the conference, CAEL also announced its newest community of practice, dedicated to military-connected learners. The community of practice builds on CAEL’s extensive work in support of veterans and their families. The group is free to join for CAEL members. It brings together training providers, postsecondary institutions, employers, workforce organizations, chambers of commerce, and community-based organizations to share best practices, network, and collaborate on ways to better support veteran learners, workers, and their families. Members interested in joining should complete this interest form. The community held its first meeting Jan. 22 and communicates regularly via a dedicated space on the CAEL Member Hub. It will also participate in a half-day Military Community of Practice event on March 11th in San Diego, preceding CAEL’s regional convening (see above).

Special Edition of Annual Impact Report Now Available

2024 capped off 50 years at CAEL, and what better capstone for the celebrations is there than a special edition of CAEL’s Annual Impact Report? Released in December, the report highlights a selection of important milestones from the past five decades, including a compelling adult learner success story, along with a detailed look at CAEL’s impact over the most recent reporting year. You can view it at cael.org.

Leveraging a Lifetime of Knowledge: Guide on Using CPL To Help Older Adult and Veterans Kicks Off New Series of Briefs

Most educators now recognize adult learners as a distinct and valued student identity rather than bucketing them within the “nontraditional student” aggregation. However, even within otherwise inclusive adult learning frameworks, older adult learners are often deprioritized or overlooked entirely. When this occurs, educators, trainers, and workforce developers are also overlooking profound opportunities to improve individual economic mobility as well as regional prosperity. With the support of AARP, CAEL is publishing a series of three briefs that will help policymakers identify strategies for better serving older adult learners and workers and realize the many benefits of doing so. We begin the series with Leveraging a Lifetime of Knowledge: How Credit for Prior Learning Can Help Older Adults and Veterans. The brief delves into the transformative potential of credit for prior learning (CPL) for older adults and veterans, shedding light on how recognizing prior learning can accelerate the educational and career goals that deliver the greatest impact for this key adult learner subpopulation. Its detailed analysis includes a review of best practices for institutions looking to implement CPL policies effectively.

CAEL, NAYEC Issue Report Supporting CPL Expansion for ECE Higher Ed Programs

Led by Director of Initiatives Dr. Alicia Myrick, CAEL is working with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to increase credit for prior learning (CPL) opportunities within early childhood education (ECE) programs. The effort is part of a partnership between the two nonprofits in support of higher education systems and state legislatures. The collaboration will result in a series of webinars and reports. The first report, Credit Where Credit is Due - Expanding Credit for Prior Learning in ECE Higher Education Programs, is now available. 

Designing Opportunity for Working Adult Learners

A research partnership with Stanford Pathways Network (pathways.stanford.edu) and Strada Education Foundation marks yet another opportunity for CAEL to scale its thought leadership impact. The partnership has produced the joint initiative Designing Opportunity for Working Adult Learners, offering a series of research briefs providing data-driven insights for postsecondary education providers, employers, and other organizations serving working/adult learners. The first in the series focuses on adult learner mindsets about college and related implications for designing educational programs.

Build Better Careers Kicks Off in Fourth Region

CAEL has officially launched Build Better Careers in the Washington, D.C. area. Employ Prince George's, Inc., a workforce development nonprofit in DC’s Maryland suburbs, is our principal Build Better Careers partner there. Build Better Careers is a $15.7M program funded by the Truist Foundation. It is already up and running in the Charlotte, Memphis, and South Florida regions. Build Better Careers marshals the collective strength of a diverse coalition of national and regional partners. They include colleges and universities, nonprofits, service providers and workforce development boards. Each shares a dedication to improving equitable access to rewarding education and career pathways.

Sign Up for Next Professional Development Cohorts

Registration is now open for the next cohorts of CAEL’s professional development opportunities. The following courses, which have been freshly updated for 2025, begin Feb. 24 and include:

• From the Ground Up: Building the Foundations of a CPL Program
• Career and Education Advising
• Assessing Prior Learning
• The Workforce Ecosystem: Building Partnerships for Community Growth

Member and group discounts apply to all courses.

This spring, CAEL will be introducing two new classes: Adult Learners Are Not Unicorns! Create a Disciplined and Successful Adult Learner Recruitment Strategy, and From Passion to Pitch: Empowering CPL Champions to Advocate, Align, and Amplify Their Programs. Be on the lookout for more information about these new training opportunities.

As a reminder, in addition to instructor-led training, CAEL offers eight microcourses that are open to all members. Follow CAEL’s professional development and training page or sign up to receive future announcements.

CAEL Members: Join Us For CAEL Connecting, Your Monthly Virtual Networking Resource

Expand your network, gain new insights, and discover exciting opportunities during our monthly CAEL Connecting events. No matter your role or background, you're invited to join us for energizing and inspiring conversations around a key topic. This month, we covered marketing to adult learners. In February, we’ll be focused on work-based learning. You can find details about past and upcoming events at the CAEL Member Hub.

Building the Learning and Employment Ecosystem at 1EdTech’s Digital Credentials Summit

Digital credentials must work for everyone to reach their full potential, including adult learners, which means collaborating with all stakeholders. 1EdTech’s Digital Credential Summit brings together K-20 education leaders, employers and edtech innovators to work toward creating a better path to the future for all learners. 

Join CAEL and other leaders working to advance the learning and skills ecosystem and education-to-work initiatives at the 1EdTech’s Digital Credentials Summit, March 3 - 5, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona.