Perspective: Kristen Pursley on Keeping ESL & Citizenship Free

From Kristen Pursley's Save Your Adult School blog:

Adult School English as a Second Language and Citizenship Classes Must Be Offered Free Again – Let’s Keep It That Way!

by kpursley

Under California law, adult school English as a Second Language (ESL) and Citizenship classes must once again be offered free of charge. AB 189, a 2011 emergency measure allowing adult schools to charge for these classes until July 2015, expired this year, and was not renewed or extended.  AB 189 legitimized a haphazard pattern of charging for ESL and Citizenship classes that sprang up in the wake of California’s 2008 budget crisis and the resulting “categorical flexibility” that removed protections on state adult school funds.  While some districts chose not to charge for adult school ESL and Citizenship classes, others worked out their own systems for charging with no overall coordination at the state level or, often, consultation with neighboring districts. The result was a patchwork system of charges  that varied greatly from region to region as to whether students paid,  how much they  paid if there were fees,  and whether they paid by the year, by semester or by class.  This system has now been dismantled, at least for the present, and adult schools are again mandated to offer ESL and Citizenship classes free of charge.

Hit the "read more" link to learn more.

CCAE: At Attempt at Clarity to Avoid Audit Exceptions & Penalties

From CCAE Legislative Analyst Dawn Koepke:

An Attempt at Clarity to Avoid Audit Exceptions & Penalties

We've heard from across the state that you all are working earnestly to implement the new era of adult education; however, you've also shared questions and concerns about the details of moving forward.  I believe we can all agree that the Adult Ed Block Grant provides such great opportunity and yet it is filled with provisions that, arguably, seem to lack clarity or sufficient level of detail.  As with any law or budget passed, we must always consider the intent that led to the details of the policy and budget for clues about how to address such perceived lack of clarity.  We worked hard and were at the front lines of developing the policy framework that led us to this point, so let's revisit what we believe to be true based on those discussions in an effort to provide some clarity on some of the biggest issues/questions we've heard to date.

Hit the link to learn more.

Update from CCAE Legislative Analyst Dawn Koepke: Moving Forward - Fee Authority, Administrative Cap, Concurrent Students & SB 786 (Allen)

Dawn Koepke
Legislative Analyst
California Council of
Adult Education

A legislative update from Dawn Koepke, Legislative Analyst for CCAE (California Council of Adult Education):

Moving Forward - Fee Authority, Administrative Cap, Concurrent Students & SB 786 (Allen)

As we move forward in a post-AB 104 adult education era, we will undoubtedly become aware of components that need to be adjusted and/or reworked.  Some of the initial items we identified mid-summer needing legislative engagement included reinstating fee authority for ESL and citizenship programs and clarifying the interpretation of the 5% administrative cap.

Click on the "read more" link to learn more.

What Happened At Acalanes?

What happens when funding is threatened, reduced, removed, and destabilized for programs paid by the public and designed to serve it? Click on the "read more" link to find out.

Montebello Community Adult Ed Advocates August Newsletter

From the Adult Education Advocates in the Montebello Community


California
Adult Education______________________________________________
                                                A Newsletter on Adult Education in California August 2015


FEES IN ADULT EDUCATION NEED LEGISLATION THIS 2015 SESSION

Legislation on fees in adult education is needed before the Legislature adjourns in September.  At a minimum, the provisions of AB 189 (Eng, 2011) need to be extended since they sunset on June 30th. AB 189 allowed fees in ESL/Citizenship classes, and supported districts as they sought to continue these course offerings.

Click on the "read more" link to learn more.