Assemblywoman Patty López introduced a bill to restore funding to adult education
AB 1846 will allocate $250 million from the General Fund to adult programs
There are 5.2 million adults in California without a high school diploma or GED
Assemblywoman Patty López introduced a bill to restore funding to adult education
HÉCTOR NAVEJASnhavejas@vidaenelvalle.com
By CYNTHIA MORENO cmoreno@vidaenelvalle.com
SACRAMENTO
Minerva Molina left her native Torreón, Coahuila, México to pursue the American Dream. She has been divorced for 23 years and is a single mother of three kids. She speaks English as a second language and has two jobs to support her family. Hit the link to read more.
As AB 1846, Assembly Member Patty Lopez' bill to increase funding for Adult Education to pre-crash levels begins to wend its way through committees, that's a good question to ask.
And the answers are important to share with legislators.
Since a picture speaks a thousand words, consider sharing this information with photographs.
Samples below.
Assembly Member Patty Lopez,
long-time supporter of Adult Education,
before she was elected to the State Legislature
Student Leaders Adriana and Maria
value Adult Education for the many opportunities.
SMAS ESL Conversation Students had a lot to say
about why they value Adult Education!
Student Leaders Denise and Cristina
recognize the empowerment factor.
Teacher Tia and Staffer Nita
treasure working with ESL students from around the world.
Ambrosio started ESL classes
at San Mateo Adult School in 2006.
Now he helps manage the School Garden
and shares his extensive knowledge
of organic farming with students.
GED & High School Diploma Students
acclaim the teaching
ESL Student Ayako shares a powerful testament in answer to the question, "Why do you love your Adult School?"
"It’s my home. When I came here I was lonely and disoriented. I came to this school and met other people like myself. I learned that it’s okay to be feel confused and to be homesick. The school is flexible and there are no grades. There’s no competition among students. Some are good in speaking and some in grammar. We can help one another. It’s good to see students going forward to college or work. I feel encouraged and know maybe I can do something in the future."
Long-time supporter of Adult Education
Assembly Member Patty Lopez
before she was elected to the Legislature
Thanks to Assembly Member Patty Lopez, we have the chance to increase funding for Adult Education by $250 million to pre-collapse levels. This funding is crucial to meet the needs of our people.
The bill was released on Wednesday, February 10. This date is the beginning of a 31 day public comment period for the bill.
This means the next 3 weeks are a critical time period for speaking up about the value of Adult Education and the need for more money to fund it.
Contact your state representatives. Find them here. Encourage your co-workers, administrators, community members, and students to do the same.
Here is an announcement from John Mears with more details about the bill and the need for us to take action on it now.
Dear colleague,
At a press conference yesterday -- Wednesday, February 10th at 10:30 a.m. -- Assemblywoman Patty Lopez announced the introduction of AB 1846, which would increase funding for adult education in California to pre-recession levels. It would add $250 million to California's Adult Education Block Grant, currently at $500 million. Here is a video of the press conference in the Capitol building: https://youtu.be/BGgtZRkmAas
Now begins the urgent and crucial work of building support for this legislation.
Folks, this bill could make a huge difference for all of us, for our students and for our communities, but to be frank, passing the bill will require broad-based support statewide from other legislators, from community organizations, from faith-based groups, and from businesses, students, and labor unions -- just for starters. We need to reach out to everyone and anyone who can help us pass AB 1846.
In particular, we will need letters of support from individuals and businesses that benefit from our programs. We will also need well groomed, well mannered, well spoken people, especially students, to visit state lawmakers who have district offices within driving distance.
The next few months could very well decide whether adult education in California is restored to full capacity, or continue to suffer the slow death of a thousand cuts. We have a chance to make history. Let's do this!
John Mears, Chair Adult Education Task Force with California Assemblywoman Patty López (39th District)
PS: Regarding the letter-writing campaign started earlier, we now have over 1,000 student letters, but we need more. Keep those letters coming!
Adult Education Task Force meeting
John Mears, Asm Patty Lopez on the left
Mathew Kogan on the right
The issue of how to manage credentialing for Adult Education within the parameters of the new Regional Consortia system is complicated. It's also urgent because we are in the midst of a growing teacher shortage as older teachers retire, new programs and schools emerge as funding for Adult Education stabilizes, and a housing crisis in many urban areas pushes old teachers out and dissuades new teachers from moving in. In order to come up with good ways to meet this challenge, we need to hear from a variety of voices. We need to really grasp all that is involved before we settle on a solution we will most likely have to live with for a long time. Click the "read more" link to learn more.
CFT's Adult Education Commission met on January 23rd, 2016. One of the topics for discussion was credentialing. With the new Regional Consortia system, which entails Adult Schools and Community Colleges working together to provide Adult Education, there is a need for clarity and streamlining where credentialing is concerned.
Thanks to the stabilization of funding, Adult Education is coming back in places where it was cut or eliminated. One such place is the western coastline of San Mateo County, which has not had an Adult School since 2009 when cuts first hit and decimated Adult School all across California.
A press release from the office of Assemblywoman Patty Lopez, 39th district:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Caroline Woon
February 4, 2016 (818) 365-2464... Assemblywoman Patty López to Introduce $250 Million Adult Education Bill
SACRAMENTO, CA ‒ On Wednesday, February 10, Assemblywoman Patty López (D-San Fernando) is scheduled to hold a press conference at the State Capitol announcing the unveiling of new legislation which seeks to restore much-needed funds to California’s ailing adult education system.
The following piece was written by San Mateo Adult School student Lucy Ochoa. Ms. Ochoa wrote the piece for a journalism class at U.C. Berkeley. In her home country of Ecuador, she is a journalist.
Adult Education,
Why does it matter?
By Lucy Ochoa
It's 6:30 pm on Thursday, the last day of school before the weekend.
About twenty students rush into a room at the main campus of San Mateo Adult
School, greeting each other in different languages. After signing the
attendance sheet they choose seats behind of one of the long wooden tables that
face the whiteboard.
