Older Adults Adult Education in the News and in the Budget

In the final part of the budget process, funding for Older Adults Adult Education ( -- to at least some degree), was added into trailer bill AB104.  The new budget was signed by Governor Brown and it goes into effect tomorrow July 1, 2015. 

 The new trailer bill language in AB104 can be found here.

Here are three articles and an announcement from Assembly Member Roger Hernandez' website:

1.  Assembly Member Hernandez Rallies Support for Older Adult Education - Assembly Member Roger Hernandez' website

Today, Assemblymember Roger Hernández (D-West Covina) held a press conference to discuss the importance of keeping older adult education programs a priority in the state budget. Hundreds of supporters came to voice the need to maintain programs which are vital to the success of California’s diverse and multigenerational population available to our senior community throughout the state.  
According to the California Department of Aging, almost one in five Californians will be over age 65 by 2030. With a large generation of baby boomers beginning to retire, older adult programs are instrumental to help keep seniors active and healthy in our communities while also providing societal savings in medical costs.

“The benefits of older adult education classes for seniors are invaluable. These classes provide an opportunity for seniors to improve their mental and physical health.  It provides them a space to be engaged, to participate in their communities, and remain independent,” stated Assemblymember Hernández. “The voice and needs of our seniors should not be lost as California puts its budget priorities forward.”  Read the article in full here.

Assembly Member Roger Hernandez' press conference
about Older Adults Adult Education

2. Older Adults Programs Get Last Minute Funding in State Budget  June 10, 2015, San Gabriel Valley Tribune

"A group of determined seniors were celebrating Wednesday after a state budget committee changed wording that will allow adult schools to keep their older adult programs.
The Legislative Budget Conference Committee decided late Tuesday to include older adult programs on the list of programs eligible for state funding. The programs, including Baldwin Park’s Older Adult Program, had been on the chopping block after they were excluded from Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed budget.

“The action taken by the budget conference committee to restore older adult education funding is a victory for seniors in Baldwin Park, seniors in the San Gabriel Valley and seniors across California,” Assemblyman Roger Hernandez, D-West Covina, said in a statement. “I am extremely proud of the community coming together and making older adult programs a top priority. Without seniors in my district who brought this to my attention directly, this would not have happened. They deserve the full credit.”  Read the article in full here.

3.   LAUSD To Lay Off Teachers in Older Adult Program.  City To Pick Up Slack.  June 17, 2015, LA Times

"In an effort to save $2 million, Los Angeles Unified officials plan to lay off all 18 teachers who instruct wellness classes for older adults.

This year, the program taught 12,392 seniors how to stay physically active and mentally alert with courses such as yoga and memory training."

4.  Last Minute Moves Support Student Discipline, Adult Ed - Cabinet Report, June 24, 2015.

"The list of courses that Adult Education programs may offer is laid out in the final trailer bill language and they include classes for older adults, as has always been the case.
In a major restructuring of how the programs are overseen and funded, Gov. Jerry Brown proposed removing some of the less “academic” type courses often available through Adult Education, including classes for the elderly and some non-credit classes. It appears as though advocates for those groups won out.

For some 150 years, adult education in California has served as a core service to integrating new immigrants into U.S. society as well as a reentry point for high school dropouts and older students who wanted a chance at higher education.

The national recession devastated adult programs, as the state was forced to move money traditionally earmarked for those services to general educational uses. According to the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, which shares jurisdiction over adult education with K-12 schools, overall participation fell by more than 800,000 students between 2008 and 2013.
The budget offers $500 million for adult education that would be distributed based on regional needs by the Community College Chancellor, the state superintendent and the California State Board of Education."