Save Your Adult School Blogpost: Call Your Legislators Now!

From Kristen Pursley's Save Your Adult School Blog:

 

Call Your Legislators Now!

 

by kpursley

Please call or email your state legislators today to request that they support stable, dedicated funding for adult schools with a strong Maintenance of Effort requirement to protect current adult school capacity.

Governor Brown’s May Revise of the budget includes stable funding for adult schools.  However, the community colleges are lobbying to have a key protection for adult schools removed: the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirement for school districts that is part of the Adult Education Block Grant that will provide funding for adult schools next year.  The community colleges don’t like the fact that some money will be set aside for adult schools.  They want “flexibility” so they can get access to the money for adult schools.

Flexibility for school districts was what almost killed adult schools last time.  We don’t need to have to fight for our lives against the community colleges now. It’s time we had a reliable stream of funding so we can get down to the business of educating adults.

The governor was extremely generous with the community colleges in the 2015-2016 budget.  They have their own funding independent of the Adult Education Block Grant, which was increased by  $900 million for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.  The Adult Education Block Grant Money set aside for adult schools is only $350 million, and it is the only state money California’s 554 adult schools will receive next year, down significantly from the approximately $700 million adult schools received from the state before the economic crash and the ensuing disaster that was categorical flexibility. Some districts may choose to support their adult schools with  money from their general fund, but that will only happen in well-funded districts and will almost certainly never be more than a very small amount. Many adult schools receive some federal funds, but those are supplemental.  For yet another year, adult schools will receive only enough money to maintain their services at the greatly reduced 2012-2013 level. They are still not being given the money they need to begin rebuilding.

But the community colleges want access to even the small amount of money adult schools have been granted for next year.  The fact is, adult schools need a maintenance of effort more than ever now.  Since 2012-2013, the two year Maintenance of Effort requirement imposed by the state ensured that school districts would not be able to take any more money from their adult schools, and adult schools were relatively stable. Now that the old Maintenance of Effort is sunsetting, adult schools once again face instability.  Four adult schools have closed, and Los Angeles has issued layoff notices to hundreds of adult school teachers.

Community colleges are a vital California institution, and they deserve to be well funded.  However, California needs both adult schools and community colleges to serve adults well.  California's adult schools need to be well funded and well respected.

You can find your legislators at http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

Please  call or write your legislators and ask them to support the Governor’s plan for the Adult Education Block Grant as set  forth in the May Revise. Ask that your legislator support stable, dedicated funding for adult schools with a robust Maintenance of Effort requirement so that neither school districts nor community colleges will be able to flex adult school money.  Nix to flex!   Adult schools deserve dedicated, secure funding.

For more information, see this excellent post on the Adult Education Matters blog:

http://adulteducationmatters.blogspot.com/2015/05/keep-good-news-good.html

See also the message from California Council for Adult Education (CCAE) Legislative Analyst Dawn Koepke, below:

 

May Revise - Stability,  Certainty,  Identity....ProgressWords cannot describe the significant progress we have made together over the last four budget cycles.  Really.  When I began working with CCAE and CAEAA we were facing utter elimination and transfer to the community college system.  And here we are...just three budget proposals and May Revises later....stability, certainty, preserved identity....access for our students.  I'm so pleased with what we've accomplished together these past few years. When we started off 2015 we were provided a good starting point in the Governor's FY 15-16 plan.  That said, there were a number of outstanding concerns and issues that needed to be addressed.  In a proactive fashion, we continued to engage the Department of Finance (DOF), Legislature, Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO), and stakeholders to push for additional changes that would strengthen the good foundation presented to us in January.  Last Thursday, the Governor and DOF released a revised budget plan ("May Revise") that addressed each and every one of the concerns we had shared.  More specifically, the following key items were revised resulting in an incredible plan: ·         Solidifies the maintenance of effort for adult schools for FY 15-16 and ensures base funding in out years for certainty in school district budgeting and stability for adult schools ·         Sets an allocation schedule and process to help ensure stability for adult schools as LEAs develop their budgets each year ·          Allows local consortia to decide how best to distribute and receive funding whether through a local fiscal agent or through existing fiscal infrastructure ·         Elimination of the Allocation Boards and instead providing for local consortia to determine the governance structure best for the region and members ·         Requires all members' funding sources be identified and noted as part of the planning process so as to assist with prioritizing the expenditures of Adult Ed Block Grant funds ·         Established a 3-year planning process, with yearly updates so as to provide out-year forecasting and planning for stability ·         Funds three positions for the California Department of Education to ensure co-equal participation with the Chancellor's office in the AB 86 process and technical assistance for LEAs and adult schools Budget Committees are already moving forward with hearings on the revised plan and preparing to take action.  As a matter of fact, I testified Monday in the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #2 to convey our appreciation to the Administration and DOF for listening to our concerns and addressing them.  Further, we've been in close communication with budget staff in both houses to ensure they know we are incredibly pleased with the May Revise. All of this said, it isn't over until it's over - when the Legislature has approved the plan (by June 15th) and the Governor has signed it (by June 30th).  In this regard, I would note the concerns raised by the LAO and the community colleges with regard to the MOE and ongoing base funding provisions of the May Revision.  As voiced as part of the Assembly hearing Monday, they are concerned that the funding would be locked in without flexibility to adjust expenditures in out years unless the MOE-funded member no longer wishes to provide services consistent with the plan approved by the consortium; that member cannot provide the services that address the needs identified in the adult education plan; or the member has been consistently ineffective in providing the services that address the needs identified in the plan. **Call to Action** In order to ensure that the Legislature moves forward the May Revise version, I urge you to contact your respective Assemblymember and Senator as soon as possible to convey your support for the Governor's May Revise.  To identify your legislator, please see http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/.  Key talking points may include: ·         We appreciate the Legislature's engagement on preserving K-12 based adult education ·         The Governor's May Revise is the culmination of many proactive, solutions-oriented conversations with DOF, the Legislature and stakeholders over the past year that have resulted in a workable path forward for adult schools that ensures stability and access for our students ·         We would oppose any changes to the plan that would erode the stability and certainty DOF provided to the K-12 providers in the trailer bill language associated with the maintenance of effort (MOE) Please begin making your calls now and let's ensure a smooth path forward to the Governor's signature for this incredibly positive, workable proposal.  Strength in numbers!

Perspective: Gregory Dobie: "You're Not A Real Teacher": Relfections on Adult ESL (from CATESOL News)

How many of us teaching in the field of Adult Education have been made to feel this way?  And very importantly, why?  How does the larger culture perceive who we serve, what we do, and why?   

Adult Ed Teacher Gregory A. Dobie reflects on some of these questions in this CATESOL News article.

Hit the link to read his thoughts.

CATESOL Legislative Advocate Jeff Frost on Gov. Brown's January Adult Ed Budget Proposal

This is obviously late in coming.  I'm posting it because I think it provides good information and analysis.  The May Revise only partly changes Gov. Brown's Budget Proposal for Adult Ed.  We need all the help we can get in understanding the possible ramifications of it.

Also, whatever happens or has happened in Adult Education these last six years, I imagine some day some graduate student or educational policy academic or historian will put it under a magnifying glass.  I certainly hope they do.  When that happens, blogs like this one will be important digs.

Hit the link to read Jeff's analysis.

Keep the Good News Good

The May Revise is generally good news for Adult Schools.  You can read CCAE's assessment of it here.

 

However...

 

Our old frenemies, the Community College system, would like to change some of that good news so that it is "good-er" for them and not us.

 

See:  Community Colleges Board of Governor's Meeting   Go to 58:35 to 1:00:55

 

Community Colleges are worried about being "frozen out" of the new Adult Ed Block Grant money.  Take a listen at  58:35 - 1:00:55 to hear what they say about Adult Ed and the new Regional Consortia system funding.   They fear a maintenance of effort in funding for K-12 Adult Ed will "eat up a lot of the funds available" . . .  in other words, they won't be able to access the money.

 

Reminder:  The Community College system, because it already gets money through apportionment, is worried about dessert, while we are worried about dinner.  (Thanks to San Mateo Adult School Director Larry Teshara for that analogy.)

 

So...

 

We need to take action.

 

Call or email today.

 

Info from CCAE's Legislative Analyst Dawn Koepke here:

 

"All of this said, it isn't over until it's over - when the Legislature has approved the plan (by June 15th) and the Governor has signed it (by June 30th).  In this regard, I would note the concerns raised by the LAO and the community colleges with regard to the MOE and ongoing base funding provisions of the May Revision.  As voiced as part of the Assembly hearing Monday, they are concerned that the funding would be locked in without flexibility to adjust expenditures in out years unless the MOE-funded member no longer wishes to provide services consistent with the plan approved by the consortium; that member cannot provide the services that address the needs identified in the adult education plan; or the member has been consistently ineffective in providing the services that address the needs identified in the plan."

 

 **Call to Action**

 

In order to ensure that the Legislature moves forward the May Revise version, I urge you to contact your respective Assemblymember and Senator as soon as possible to convey your support for the Governor's May Revise.  To identify your legislator, please see http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/.  Key talking points may include:

 

·         We appreciate the Legislature's engagement on preserving K-12 based adult education

·         The Governor's May Revise is the culmination of many proactive, solutions-oriented conversations with DOF, the Legislature and stakeholders over the past year that have resulted in a workable path forward for adult schools that ensures stability and access for our students

·         We would oppose any changes to the plan that would erode the stability and certainty DOF provided to the K-12 providers in the trailer bill language associated with the maintenance of effort (MOE)

 

Please begin making your calls now and let's ensure a smooth path forward to the Governor's signature for this incredibly positive, workable proposal.  Strength in numbers!

 

 

 

CCAE: Good News - and - Call to Action

From CCAE's Legislative Analyst, Dawn Koepke, good news about the May Revise of the Budget -

     along with a call to action (highlighted):

May Revise - Stability,  Certainty,  Identity....Progress

 

Words cannot describe the significant progress we have made together over the last four budget cycles.  Really.  When I began working with CCAE and CAEAA we were facing utter elimination and transfer to the community college system.  And here we are...just three budget proposals and May Revises later....stability, certainty, preserved identity....access for our students.  I'm so pleased with what we've accomplished together these past few years. 

 

When we started off 2015 we were provided a good starting point in the Governor's FY 15-16 plan.  That said, there were a number of outstanding concerns and issues that needed to be addressed.  In a proactive fashion, we continued to engage the Department of Finance (DOF), Legislature, Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO), and stakeholders to push for additional changes that would strengthen the good foundation presented to us in January.  Last Thursday, the Governor and DOF released a revised budget plan ("May Revise") that addressed each and every one of the concerns we had shared.  More specifically, the following key items were revised resulting in an incredible plan:

 

·         Solidifies the maintenance of effort for adult schools for FY 15-16 and ensures base funding in out years for certainty in school district budgeting and stability for adult schools

·         Sets an allocation schedule and process to help ensure stability for adult schools as LEAs develop their budgets each year

·          Allows local consortia to decide how best to distribute and receive funding whether through a local fiscal agent or through existing fiscal infrastructure

·         Elimination of the Allocation Boards and instead providing for local consortia to determine the governance structure best for the region and members

·         Requires all members' funding sources be identified and noted as part of the planning process so as to assist with prioritizing the expenditures of Adult Ed Block Grant funds

·         Established a 3-year planning process, with yearly updates so as to provide out-year forecasting and planning for stability

·         Funds three positions for the California Department of Education to ensure co-equal participation with the Chancellor's office in the AB 86 process and technical assistance for LEAs and adult schools

 

Budget Committees are already moving forward with hearings on the revised plan and preparing to take action.  As a matter of fact, I testified Monday in the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #2 to convey our appreciation to the Administration and DOF for listening to our concerns and addressing them.  Further, we've been in close communication with budget staff in both houses to ensure they know we are incredibly pleased with the May Revise. 

 

All of this said, it isn't over until it's over - when the Legislature has approved the plan (by June 15th) and the Governor has signed it (by June 30th).  In this regard, I would note the concerns raised by the LAO and the community colleges with regard to the MOE and ongoing base funding provisions of the May Revision.  As voiced as part of the Assembly hearing Monday, they are concerned that the funding would be locked in without flexibility to adjust expenditures in out years unless the MOE-funded member no longer wishes to provide services consistent with the plan approved by the consortium; that member cannot provide the services that address the needs identified in the adult education plan; or the member has been consistently ineffective in providing the services that address the needs identified in the plan. 

 

**Call to Action**

 

In order to ensure that the Legislature moves forward the May Revise version, I urge you to contact your respective Assemblymember and Senator as soon as possible to convey your support for the Governor's May Revise.  To identify your legislator, please see http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/.  Key talking points may include:

 

 

·         We appreciate the Legislature's engagement on preserving K-12 based adult education

·         The Governor's May Revise is the culmination of many proactive, solutions-oriented conversations with DOF, the Legislature and stakeholders over the past year that have resulted in a workable path forward for adult schools that ensures stability and access for our students

·         We would oppose any changes to the plan that would erode the stability and certainty DOF provided to the K-12 providers in the trailer bill language associated with the maintenance of effort (MOE)

 

Please begin making your calls now and let's ensure a smooth path forward to the Governor's signature for this incredibly positive, workable proposal.  Strength in numbers!

 

 

 

 

LAO Analysis of the May Revise for Adult Ed Budget

The LAO is the Joe Friday of Government.  It is the job of the LAO - the Legislative Analyst Office - to analyze things and then provide "just the facts" and yes, some recommendations, too.

So here they are the May Revise of the Budget for Adult Ed.


 

May 18, 2015

LAO

 

 

Various Improvements in

May Revision Proposal

Improvements Description

Hit the "read more" link to get the facts.

AB86 Webinar on the May Revise

The AB86 Webinar on Friday, May 15th was on the May Revise.

You can listen to it here:

May 15, 2015
DOF on Trailer Bill Language and Adult Education Expenditure Reporting Survey for Fiscal Year 2012-13
- Download the Presentation: PDF | PPTX
- Listen to the Recording

Adult Ed Trailer Bill

The money section  - beginning on page 9 - is highlighted in yellow.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Article 9 (commencing with Section 84900) is added to Chapter
5 of Part 50 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:

Article 9. Adult Education Block Grant Program

84900. The Adult Education Block Grant Program is hereby established under
the administration of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the
Superintendent of Public Instruction.


84901. For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply, unless
otherwise specified:

(a) "Adult" means a person 18 years of age or older.

(b) "Consortium" means an adult education consortium approved pursuant to
this article.

(c) "Executive director" means the executive director of the State Board of
Education.

(d) "Program" means the Adult Education Block Grant Program established by
Section 84900.

84902. (a) The chancellor and the Superintendent are the state officials
responsible for identifying and understanding the educational needs of adults in the
(b) The chancellor and the Superintendent shall use the powers provided by this
article to support the effective provision of services that address the educational needs
of adults in all regions of the state.

(c) In performing duties under this chapter, the chancellor and the Superintendent
shall seek advice from, and coordinate with, other state officials responsible for
programs for adults.

84903. (a) The chancellor and the Superintendent, with the concurrence of the
executive director, shall divide the state into adult education regions and shall determine
the physical boundaries of each region.

(b) When determining the boundaries of the adult education regions, the
chancellor and the Superintendent shall consider factors that impact the provision of
adult education, including all of the following:

(1) Economic and demographic factors, including the locations of regional labor
markets.

(2) The boundaries of regions used to distribute funds for other state programs.

(3) The presence of adult education providers that have demonstrated
effectiveness in meeting the educational needs of adults.

(c) Until otherwise determined by the chancellor and the Superintendent, the
physical boundaries of the adult education regions shall be the same as the physical
boundaries of the regions established for purposes of providing planning and
implementation grants pursuant to Section 84830.

84904. (a) The chancellor and the Superintendent, with the concurrence of the
executive director, shall approve one adult education consortium in each adult education
region.

(b) Until otherwise determined by the chancellor and the Superintendent, the
consortia to which planning and implementation grants were apportioned pursuant to
Section 84830 shall be deemed approved for purposes of this section.
84905. The chancellor and the Superintendent, with the concurrence of the
executive director, shall approve, for each consortium, rules and procedures that adhere
to all of the following conditions:

(a) Any community college district, school district, or county office of education
located within the boundaries of the adult education region shall be permitted to join
the consortium as a member.

(b) As a condition of joining a consortium, a member shall commit to reporting
any funds available to that member for the purposes of education and workforce services
for adults and the uses of those funds.

(c) A member of the consortium shall be represented only by an official
designated by the governing board of the member.

(d) (1) Decisionmaking procedures are specified that ensure that all of the
following conditions are satisfied:

(A) All members of the consortium shall participate in any decision made by
the consortium.

(B) A proposed decision is considered at an open, properly noticed public meeting
of the consortium at which members of the public may comment.

(C) The consortium has provided the public with adequate notice of a proposed
decision and considered any comments submitted by members of the public, and any
comments submitted by members of the public have been distributed publicly.

(D) (i) The consortium has requested comments regarding a proposed decision
from other entities located in the adult education region that provide education and
workforce services for adults.

(ii) The consortium has considered and responded to any comments submitted
by entities pursuant to clause (i).

(iii) For purposes of this subparagraph, entities that provide education and
workforce services to adults include, but are not necessarily limited to, local public
agencies, departments, and offices, particularly those with responsibility for local public
safety and social services; workforce investment boards; libraries; and community-based
organizations.

(E) A decision is final.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, a decision includes approval of an adult
education plan pursuant to Section 84906 and approval of a distribution schedule
pursuant to Section 84913.

(e) The members of the consortium may decide to designate a member to serve
as the fund administrator to receive and distribute funds from the program.
84906. (a) As a condition of receipt of an apportionment of funds from this
program for a fiscal year, the members of a consortium shall have approved an adult
education plan that addresses that fiscal year.
(b) An adult education plan shall include all of the following:

 PAGE 6

(1) An evaluation of the educational needs of adults in the region.

(2) A list of the following:

(A) Entities that provide education and workforce services to adults in the region.

(B) Entities that are impacted by, or that have a fundamental interest in, the
provision of those services.

(3) A description of the services provided by entities listed pursuant to paragraph (2).

(4) An evaluation of current levels and types of education and workforce services
for adults in the region.

(5) An evaluation of the funds available to the members of the consortium and
the entities listed pursuant to paragraph (2), including funds other than those apportioned
pursuant to this article.

(6) Actions that the members of the consortium will take to address the
educational needs identified pursuant to paragraph (1).

(7) Actions that the members of the consortium will take to improve the
effectiveness of their services.

(8) Actions that the members of the consortium, the entities listed pursuant to
paragraph (2), and other interested parties will take to improve integration of services
and to improve transitions into postsecondary education and the workforce, including
actions related to all of the following:

(A) Placement of adults seeking education and workforce services into adult
education programs.

PAGE 7

(B) Alignment of academic standards and curricula for programs across entities
that provide education and workforce services to adults.

(C) Qualifications of instructors, including common standards across entities
that provide education and workforce services to adults.

(D) Collection and availability of data.

(9) A description of the alignment of adult education services supported by this
program with those described in other education and workforce plans guiding services
in the region, including plans pertaining to the building of career pathways and the
employment of workforce sector strategies and those required pursuant to the federal
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Public Law 113-128).

(10) A description of the ways in which each of the entities identified in paragraph
(2) contributed to the development of the plan.

(c) The members of a consortium shall approve an adult education plan at least
once every three years. The plan shall be updated at least once each year based on
available data.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), for the 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18
fiscal years, a regional plan developed pursuant to Section 84830 shall satisfy the
requirements of subdivision (a).

84907. No later than July 31,2015, the chancellor and the Superintendent, with
the concurrence of the executive director, shall certify, for each school district and
county office of education, the portion of the state funds determined to be expended
for adult education pursuant to paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of Section 42238.03
that was expended for the following:

PAGE 8

(a) Programs in elementary and secondary basic skills, including programs
leading to a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate.

(b) Programs for immigrants eligible for educational services in citizenship,
English as a second language, and workforce preparation.

(c) Programs for adults with disabilities.

(d) Programs in career technical education that are short term in nature and have
high employment potential.

(e) Programs for apprentices.

84908. (a) If the total amount certified for all school districts and county offices
of education pursuant to Section 84907 is less than the amount appropriated by the
Legislature for the program, the chancellor and the Superintendent shall do both of the
following:

(1) Apportion funds, no later than August 30,2015, to school districts and county
offices of education, provided that a school district or county office of education shall
receive an amount equal to the amount certified for that school district or county office
of education pursuant to Section 84907. As a condition of receipt of an apportionment,
a school district or county office of education is required to be a member of a
consortium.

(2) (A) (i) With the concurrence of the executive director, approve a schedule
of allocations to each consortium, no later than October 30,2015, of any funds that
remain after funds have been apportioned pursuant to paragraph (1).

PAGE 9

(ii) The chancellor and the Superintendent shall determine the amount to be
allocated to each consortium pursuant to this paragraph based on that adult education
region's share of the statewide need for adult education.


(B) Using the schedule approved pursuant to subparagraph (A), the chancellor
and the Superintendent shall do one of the following for each consortium:


(i) Apportion funds to a fund administrator designated by the members of a
consortium beginning no more than 30 days after approval of the schedule pursuant
to subparagraph (A).



(ii) Apportion funds to members of a consortium beginning no more than 30
days after receipt of a final distribution schedule from that consortium.
(b) If the total amount certified for all school districts and county offices of
education pursuant to Section 84907 exceeds the amount appropriated for the program,
the chancellor and the Superintendent shall apportion funds to school districts and
county offices of education, provided that a school district or county office of education
shall receive an amount equal to the amount certified for that school district or county
office of education pursuant to Section 84907 multiplied by the amount appropriated
for the program, divided by the total amount certified for all school districts and county
offices of education pursuant to Section 84907.
(c) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2016, and, as of January 1,
2017, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before
January 1, 2017, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is
repealed.
84909. (a) This section shall apply commencing with the 2016-17 fiscal year.

PAGE 10


(b) The chancellor and the Superintendent, with the concurrence of the executive
director, shall approve, no later than February 28 of the prior fiscal year, a preliminary
schedule of allocations to each consortium of any funds proposed in the Governor's
Budget for the program.

(c) The chancellor and the Superintendent, with the concurrence of the executive
director, shall approve, within 15 days of enactment of the annual Budget Act, a final
schedule of allocations to each consortium of any funds appropriated by the Legislature
for the program.

(d) The chancellor and the Superintendent shall determine the amount to be
allocated to each consortium based on the following:


(1) The amount of funds apportioned to the members of that consortium in the
immediately preceding fiscal year.


(2) That adult education region's share of the statewide need for adult education.
(3) That consortium's effectiveness in meeting the educational needs of adults
in the adult education region based on available data.
(e) Using the final schedule approved pursuant to subdivision (c), the chancellor
and the Superintendent shall do one of the following for each consortium:
(1) Apportion funds to a fund administrator designated by the members of a
consortium beginning no more than 30 days after approval of the final schedule of
allocations.
(2) Apportion funds to members of a consortium beginning no more than 30
days after receipt of a final distribution schedule from that consortium.

PAGE 11

84910. The chancellor and the Superintendent shall, when approving a schedule
of allocations for a fiscal year, also present preliminary projections for the amounts
that would be allocated in the subsequent two fiscal years. This preliminary presentation
shall not constitute a binding commitment of funds.

84911. To determine the need for adult education, the chancellor and the
Superintendent shall consider, at a minimum, measures related to adult population,
employment, immigration, educational attainment, and adult literacy.

84912. The chancellor and the Superintendent shall apportion funds appropriated
for the program in a given year in compliance with all of the following:

(a) No more than one-twelfth of the total amount appropriated shall have been
apportioned by the end of July.

(b) No more than one-sixth of the total amount appropriated shall have been
apportioned by the end of August.

(c) No more than one-quarter of the total amount appropriated shall have been
apportioned by the end of September.

(d) No more than one-third of the total amount appropriated shall have been
apportioned by the end of October.
(e) No more than five-twelfths of the total amount appropriated shall have been
apportioned by the end of November.

(f) No more than one-half of the total amount appropriated shall have been
apportioned by the end of December.

(g) No more than seven-twelfths of the total amount appropriated shall have
been apportioned by the end of January.

 PAGE 12
(h) No more than two-thirds of the total amount appropriated shall have been
apportioned by the end of February.

(i) No more than three-quarters of the total amount appropriated shall have been
apportioned by the end of March.

U) No more than five-sixths of the total amount appropriated shall have been
apportioned by the end of April.
(k) No more than eleven-twelfths of the total amount appropriated shall have
been apportioned by the end of May.
84913. (a) Funds apportioned for the program shall be used only for support
of the following:
(1) Programs in elementary and secondary basic skills, including programs
leading to a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate.
(2) Programs for immigrants eligible for educational services in citizenship,
English as a second language, and workforce preparation.
(3) Programs for adults with disabilities.
(4) Programs in career technical education that are short term in nature and have
high employment potential.
(5) Programs for apprentices, including apprenticeship and preapprenticeship
training activities. These activities shall be conducted in coordination with one or more
apprenticeship programs approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards for
the occupation and geographic area.
(b) A consortiun may use no more than 5 percent of funds allocated in a given
fiscal year for the sum of the following:
(1) The costs of administration of these programs.
(2) The costs of the consortium.
PAGE 13
84914. (a) As a condition of receipt of an apportionment from the program, a
consortium shall approve a distribution schedule that includes both of the following:
(1) The amount of funds to be distributed to each member of the consortium for
that fiscal year.
(2) A narrative justifying how the planned allocations are consistent with the
adult education plan.
(b) (1) For any fiscal year for which the chancellor and the Superintendent
allocate an amount of funds to the consortium greater than the amount allocated in the
prior fiscal year, the amount of funds to be distributed to a member of that consortium
shall be equal to or greater than the amount distributed in the prior fiscal year, unless
the consortium makes at least one of the following findings related to the member for
which the distribution would be reduced:
(A) The member no longer wishes to provide services consistent with the adult
education plan.
(B) The member cannot provide services that address the needs identified in the
adult education plan.
(C) The member has been consistently ineffective in providing services that
address the needs identified in the adult education plan and reasonable interventions
have not resulted in improvements.
(2) For any year for which the chancellor and the Superintendent allocate an
amount of funds to the consortium less than the amount allocated in the prior year, the
amount of funds to be distributed to a member of that consortium shall not be reduced
by a percentage greater than the percentage by which the total amount of funds allocated
to the consortium decreased, unless the consortium makes at least one ofthe following
findings related to the member for which the distribution would be reduced further:
(A) The member no longer wishes to provide services consistent with the adult
education plan.
(B) The member cannot provide services that address the needs identified in the
adult education plan.
(C) The member has been ineffective in providing services that address the needs
identified in the adult education plan and reasonable interventions have not resulted
in improvements.
(c) A distribution schedule shall also include preliminary projections of the
amount of funds that would be distributed to each member of the consortium in each
of the subsequent two fiscal years. The preliminary projections shall not constitute a
binding commitment of funds.
84915. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to coordinate programs that support
education and workforce services for adults.
(b) No later than January 31, 2016, the chancellor and the Superintendent shall
submit to the Director of Finance, to the State Board of Education, and, in conformity
with Section 9795 of the Government Code, to the Legislature a plan approved by the
chancellor and the Superintendent to distribute funds from the following programs to
the consortia:
PAGE 15
(1) (A) The federal Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (Title II of the
federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act).
(B) The plan for allocating funds under this paragraph shall comply with the
criteria enumerated in subsection (e) of Section 3321 ofTitle 29 of the United States
Code related to base disbursement of these funds.
(2) The federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Public Law
109-270).
84916. (a) To inform actions taken by the Governor and the Legislature related
to adult education, the chancellor and the Superintendent shall submit to the Director
of Finance, to the State Board of Education, and, in conformity with Section 9795 of
the Government Code, to the Legislature, by September 30 following any fiscal year
for which funds are appropriated for the program, a report about the use of these funds
and outcomes for adults statewide and in each adult education region. The report shall
include at least all of the following:
(1) A summary of the adult education plan operative for each consortium.
(2) The distribution schedule for each consortium.
(3) The types and levels of services provided by each consortium.
(4) The effectiveness of each consortium in meeting the educational needs of
adults in its respective region.
(5) Any recommendations related to delivery of education and workforce services
for adults, including recommendations related to improved alignment of state programs.
PAGE 16
(b) (1) The chancellor and the Superintendent may require a consortium, as a
condition of receipt of an apportionment, to submit any reports or data necessary to
produce the report described in subdivision (a).
(2) The chancellor and the Superintendent shall align the data used to produce
the report described in subdivision (a) with data reported by local educational agencies
for other purposes, such as data used for purposes of the federal Workforce Opportunity
and Innovation Act (Public Law 113-128).
(3) The Employment Development Department and the California Workforce
Investment Board shall provide any assistance needed to align delivery of services
across state and regional workforce, education, and job service programs.
84917. Notwithstanding any other law, a school district, county office of
education, or community college shall become a participating member of a consortium
pursuant to this article as a condition of receiving funds from any of the following
programs or allocations:
(a) The Adults in Correctional Facilities program.
(b) The federal Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (Title II of the federal
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act).
(c) The federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Public Law
109-270).
(d) Local Control Funding Formula apportionments received for students who
are 19 years of age or older.
(e) Community college apportionments received for providing instruction in
courses in the areas listed in subdivision (a) of Section 84913.
05/13/15 02:33 PM RN 15 15041 03 PAGE 17
(f) State funds for remedial education and job training services for participants
in the Cal WORKs program.
SEC. 2. This act is a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill
within the meaning of subdivision (e) of Section 12 of Article IV of the California
Constitution, has been identified as related to the budget in the Budget Bill, and shall
take effect immediately.
-0
05/13/15 02:33PM RN 15 15041 03 PAGE 1
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
Bill No.
as introduced, --
General Subject: Adult Education Block Grant Program.
(1) Existing law requires adult schools and evening high schools to consist of
classes for adults. Existing law authorizes minors to be admitted into those classes
pursuant to policies adopted by the governing board ofthe school district if those
minors meet certain eligibility requirements.
Existing law requires the Chancellor ofthe California Community Colleges and
the State Department of Education, pursuant to funding made available in the annual
Budget Act, to jointly provide 2-year planning and implementation grants to regional
consortia of community college districts and school districts for developing regional
plans to better serve the educational needs of adults.
This bill would establish the Adult Education Block Grant Program under the
administration of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the
Superintendent of Public Instruction. The bill would require the chancellor and the
Superintendent, with the concurrence of the Executive Director of the State Board of
Education, to divide the state into adult education regions and approve one adult
education consortium in each adult education region, as specified.

PAGE 2
The bill would require the chancellor and the Superintendent, with the
concurrence of the executive director, to approve, for each consortium, rules and
procedures that adhere to prescribed conditions. The bill would require that, as a
condition for the receipt of an apportionment of funds from this program for a particular
fiscal year, members of a consortium to have approved an adult education plan, as
specified.

The bill, for the 2015-16 fiscal year, would require the chancellor and the
Superintendent, with the concurrence of the executive director, to approve a schedule
of allocations, and to apportion funds, to each consortium in accordance with prescribed
calculations. The bill, for the 2016--17 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, would
require the chancellor and the Superintendent, with the concurrence of the executive
director, to approve, within 15 days of the annual Budget Act and in accordance with
prescribed criteria, a fmal schedule of allocations to each consortium under the program.
The bill would require the chancellor and the Superintendent to submit to the
Director of Finance, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature, no later than
January 31, 2016, a plan approved by the chancellor and the Superintendent to distribute
funds from specified federal programs to the consortia for purposes of the program
proposed in this bill. The bill would also require the chancellor and the Superintendent
to submit an annual report including specified data about the use of funds for the
program and the outcomes for adults statewide and in each adult education region.
(2) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing
for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.
PAGE 3
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local
program: no.

Governor Brown's May 2015 Budget Revise

Here it is -  Governor Brown's May 2015 Budget Revise

Click here for Department of Finance California Budget Page - full details of the budget are coming

Note:  Friday, May 15th, at 12 noon,  the AB86 Webinar will be on the Adult Ed budget with representatives form the Department of Finance.

Adult Education

The May Revision maintains $500 million Proposition 98 General Fund to establish the Adult Education Block Grant program to provide funds for adult education to school districts and community colleges. This proposed program will coordinate efforts of various entities — such as schools, community colleges, universities, local workforce investment boards, libraries, social services agencies, public safety agencies, and employers — to provide education and training more effectively.

The May Revision strengthens this proposal, substantially informed by feedback received from stakeholders.

Significant Adjustments:

• Eliminate Allocation Boards within Each Consortium — Each consortium will be required to create rules and procedures regarding how it will make decisions, based on state guidelines that require consortia to seek and respond to input on proposed decisions from interested stakeholders and to make decisions publicly.

• Require More Robust, but Less Frequent, Planning — Each consortium will develop a comprehensive plan for adult education in its region at least once every three years, with annual updates.

• Provide Greater Funding Certainty — The Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges will certify maintenance of effort levels by July 30, and will determine the allocation of any remaining block grant funds to consortia by October 30. Beginning in 2016, the Superintendent and Chancellor will provide preliminary allocations to consortia shortly following the release of each Governor’s Budget, and final allocations, along with preliminary projections for two future years, shortly after each Budget is enacted. At the consortia level, allocations to districts will be at least equal to their distribution from the previous year, with limited exceptions. Further, use of a local fiscal administrator is no longer required.

• Integrate Adult Education Programs and Funding Streams — The Superintendent and Chancellor will, by January 31, 2016, develop and submit a plan to distribute Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title II and Perkins funding using the consortia structure in future years. School districts, county offices of education, and community college districts that receive other specified state funds or  federal funds for adult education must be participating members of an adult education consortium.

K‑12 Budget Adjustments Significant Adjustments:

• Career Technical Education — The Governor’s Budget proposed $250 million in one‑time Proposition 98 funding in each of the next three years to support a transitional Career Technical Education (CTE) Incentive Grant Program. School districts, county offices of education, and charter schools receiving funding from the program would be required to provide a dollar‑for‑dollar match each year. The May Revision proposes an additional $150 million in 2015‑16 for the first year of this transition program, an additional $50 million in 2016‑17, and a reduction of $50 million in 2017‑18. This adjusted schedule of funding will better allow schools to transition to entirely using their own discretionary funds by 2018‑19. The May Revision also proposes a series of other changes to the Administration’s January proposal on CTE, including:

 • Increasing the minimum local‑to‑state funding match requirement to 1.5:1 in 2016‑17 and 2:1 in 2017‑18, to assist local educational agencies’ transition in supporting CTE with their Local Control Funding Formula apportionments and other existing resources after this program expires.

 • Eliminating Career Pathways Trust from the list of allowable sources of local matching funds.

 • Directing the Department of Education and the State Board of Education to give funding priority to applicants administering programs located in rural districts or regions with high student dropout rates.
• Quality Education Investment Act Transition Funding — An increase of $4.6 million one‑time Proposition 98 General Fund to provide half of the final apportionment of Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) funding to selected school districts in 2015‑16 that do not qualify for concentration grant funding under the Local Control Funding Formula. This funding will help ease the transition off QEIA funding for districts with isolated concentrations of English learners and students who qualify for free or reduced‑priced meals.

• Simon Wiesenthal Center — An increase of $2 million Proposition 98 General Fund for the Los Angeles County Office of Education to contract with the Simon Wiesenthal Center to support the Museum of Tolerance’s “Tools for Tolerance” training programs. These funds allow the center to partner with schools throughout the state to advance anti‑bias education, inclusion, and equity through professional development programs.

• Local Property Tax Adjustments — A decrease of $123.3 million Proposition 98 General Fund in 2014‑15 for school districts, special education local plan areas, and county offices of education as a result of higher offsetting property tax revenues. A decrease of $224 million Proposition 98 General Fund in 2015‑16 for school districts, special education local plan areas, and county offices of education as a result of higher offsetting property tax revenues.

• Average Daily Attendance — An increase of $94.4 million in 2014‑15 and an increase of $173.5 million in 2015‑16 for school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education under the Local Control Funding Formula as a result of an increase in 2013‑14 average daily attendance (ADA), which drives projections of ADA in both 2014‑15 and 2015‑16.

• Proposition 39 — The California Clean Energy Jobs Act was approved by voters in 2012, and increases state corporate tax revenues. For 2013‑14 through 2017‑18, the measure requires half of the increased revenues, up to $550 million per year, to be used to support energy efficiency projects. The May Revision decreases the amount of energy efficiency funds available to K‑12 schools in 2015‑16 by $6.7 million to $313.4 million to reflect reduced revenue estimates.

• Categorical Program Growth — A decrease of $18.4 million Proposition 98 General Fund for selected categorical programs, based on updated estimates of projected ADA growth.

• Cost‑of‑Living Adjustments — A decrease of $22.1 million Proposition 98 General Fund to selected categorical programs for 2015‑16 to reflect a change in the cost‑of‑living factor from 1.58 percent at the Governor’s Budget to 1.02 percent at the May Revision.

• K‑12 Mandated Programs Block Grant — An increase of $1.2 million Proposition 98 General Fund to reflect greater school district participation in the mandates block grant. This additional funding is required to maintain statutory block grant funding rates assuming 100‑percent program participation.

The Battle for Adult Education in California: Historical Context

From left to right,
Bruce Neuberger,
George & Kristen Pursley
Cynthia Eagleton

At the 2015 Network for Public Education Conference in Chicago, Kristen Pursley, Bruce Neuberger, and I presented a panel entitled, "The Battle for Adult Education."

The Conference was deep and powerful.
An AEM post on the conference is coming soon. 

Cuts and reform in California Adult Education are part of a larger puzzle affecting every piece of Public Education in the US.  To understand what is happening in Adult Education in California - and to influence it in a positive direction - we need to understand what is happening elsewhere - and we need historical context.

Historical context is what Kristen provided at our panel discussion.  Kristen is a lead ESL teacher at West Contra Costa Adult School.  She is a founding member of COSAS - Communities Organized to Support Adult Schools, a group that formed in response to the cuts six years ago and has met weekly since.   She authors the Save Your Adult School blog, a priceless repository of facts and insight about Adult Education. 

Click the link to see her powerpoint:

Perspective: Competing Visions

From left to right: Bruce Neuberger,
George & Kristen Pursley,
Cynthia Eagleton

At the 2015 Network for Public Education Conference in Chicago, Kristen Pursley, Bruce Neuberger, and I presented a panel entitled, "The Battle for Adult Education."
The Conference was deep and powerful.  The keynote speeches and several workshops are available to view online - and I highly recommend that you do so. 

Cuts and reform in California Adult Education are part of a larger puzzle affecting every piece of Public Education in the US.  To understand what is happening in Adult Education in California - and to influence it in a positive direction - we need to understand what is happening elsewhere.

Understandably, that can be overwhelming.  But taking the time to watch a few videos, read an article, or follow grassroots organization like K12 News Network or bloggers like Edushyster or The Jose Vilson or Cloaking Inequality on social media is well worth our time.

Our workshop was lightly attended - we were in the last slot, sandwiched between key programs and the best time to grab lunch - but the folks who came gave us their time and what's more, shared from their own experience.

Sharing information, experience, perspective, and wisdom is so important.   In that spirit, Here's the powerpoint I presented at the conference.  I hope to share Kristen and Bruce's soon, as well.

As noted, this is a Perspective Piece.  In this case, mine.   Click the link to see the slides from the powerpoint.

Same Story - Different Continent

Across the pond from us, in the United Kingdom, Adult Education is undergoing similar reforms and cutbacks.

Check out these blogs and articles for more information:


The Learning Age

The Learning Age:  Adult Education and Austerity

Dancing Princesses blog

"Adult Education is Being Slashed and Burned - This is Too Important to Ignore" - by Lola Okolosie, The Guardian, March 2015

"Ed Reform of Adult Ed in the United Kingdom" - Alan Tucket, The Guardian, October 2014

"150,000 Will Lose Right to an Adult Education" -  The Independent, July 2012

"City Lit Head Deplores Cuts to Adult Education" - The Guardian, October 2010

"Mendelson Slashes Adult Education" - The Guardian, November 2009

"Global Vision or Corporate Welfare: The Privatization of Adult Ed in the New Millenium" Jennifer Sumner

All Out for West Contra Costa Adult School

Even as things are generally improving for Adult Schools and Adult Education, yet another Adult School faces a serious challenge.  This time, it's West Contra Costa Adult School, where Kristen Pursley, author of the Save Your Adult School blog and founder of COSAS (Communities United to Save Adult Schools), works.  Other COSAS members work there, as well.   Many parts -if not all of - the Adult Ed program at WCCAS is under threat of dissolution. 

West Contra Costa Unified School District serves a population where almost 60% of the kids live with one or more foreign-born parent and 25% of the children live in poverty.  (Kidsdata.org)   I think we can safely assume Adult Education is needed.  Supporting adults with language, civic, community, and job skills directly benefits school age children.    What the heck is the West Contra Costa Unified School District thinking?

Visit this Save Your Adult School blog post for a list of Adult School Teachers United concerns.

Hit the "read more" link to learn more.