CFT Resolution 4 "Ensure Adult Education Exists in Best and Fullest Capacity" Passes at the CFT 2016 State Conference

In mid January, CFT Local 4681 of San Mateo Adult School wrote and passed a resolution about Adult Education.  You can the Local 4681 resolution in full here.   Local 4681 then took their resolution, titled, "Resolution to Ensure that Adult Education Exists in Best and Fullest Capacity" to the CFT Adult Education Commission on January 23rd.   The Adult Education Commission considered it, made some alterations to it - primarily shortening it - kept the same title, and then passed it.

CFT Adult Education Commission members at their January 23rd, 2016 meeting.

Chair Jack Carroll is in the center bac.  Lily Adlawan, center front,

is the Local 4681 member who brought the resolution to the meeting.

Kathy Jasper, in the red Adult Education Matters t-shirt, is an AEC member

and also a CFT Vice President in the CFT State Executive Council.

Both resolutions - different with the same name and the same intention - were submitted to the CFT 2016 State Convention. 

At the convention, Local 4681 President Bruce Neuberger, Vice President David Doneff, and myself, Secretary Cynthia Eagleton met with members of the Adult Education Commission and agreed on a compromise position.  Resolution 3, the Local 4681 version, was withdrawn from consideration.  Resolution 4, with one amendment (the line, "and especially, more money for high need areas" in the "be it resolved" section), was submitted and passed in the Professional Issues: Early Childhood/K12 Committee and then voted first to the floor of the General Assembly - where it was resoundingly passed on Saturday, March 12th.

Hooray!

Thanks to all who worked to write and pass this resolution.  May it bring increased understanding of the value of Adult Education and increased support.

Notice that in the "be it resolved" section it advocates for the passage of legislation which supports any of these points.

AB1846, here we come.

Here is the resolution as passed, in full:

Hit the link to see it.

Resolution to Ensure that Adult Education 
Exists in Best and Fullest Capacity

Whereas education is a human right for people of all ages; and

Whereas Adult Schools have been serving the people of California from every community, including those with the greatest needs and least resources, for over 150 years; and

Whereas, during the last recession, Adult Education was the only branch of public education in California which was nearly eliminated through a combination of funding cuts and allowing districts to take any and all adult school funds for other purposes (categorical flexibility); and

Whereas there is no increase for Adult Education, even though Governor Brown’s January 2016 Budget Proposal increases public school funding by $2.4 billion over the current year and more than $24 billion higher than at the depth of the recession, directing $71.6 billion, the greatest portion of California tax revenue, to education; and

Whereas the previous adult education funding usually included a yearly COLA and the new funding does not include a COLA to accommodate annual increased costs; and

Whereas, the need for adult education to mitigate rising income inequality has increased, and

Whereas there are 15.3 million adults in the areas targeted by the state for adult education and the system currently serves about 1 million, leaving 14 million unserved; and

Whereas adult schools once had a mission to provide a broad education to all adults, state funding has been narrowed to seven programs with a focus on workforce development; and

Whereas the future of California depends not only on the number of people employed but also on their physical and mental health; civic, community and family engagement; and ability to think critically and prepare for 21st century political, economic, social, and environmental change, it is crucial that Adult Education be available to all adults and well-funded with a broad mission,

Therefore be it resolved that the CFT advocate for:

●       Increased funds for adult education sufficient to meet the need and, especially, more money for high need areas,

●       A broad mission of education in which adult schools promote the skills necessary to meet the challenges of the 21st-century and serve the whole person, the whole family, and therefore the community and the society, as an important, equal, and self-sufficient branch of public education,

●       The passage of legislation which supports any of these points.