On Tuesday, February 29, the Superintendent's Budget Advisory Committee met and reviewed Staff Recommendations (Superintendent's Cabinet) for balancing next year's budget. We knew reductions were coming, but to what extent was unclear.

We heard figures ranging from $800,000 - $300,000 to be reduced from the Adult School budget.

The Staff Recommendations are now on the table for discussion and they include elimination of all off-site programming, including all classes for Older Adults & Adults with Disabilities ($280,000) and a small subsidy for Inter-City Services ($35,000), which hosts a GED preparation class and a Microsoft Certification class.

While these reductions are very difficult to absorb, they leave programs at Berkeley Adult School unscathed. Rather than eliminate the off-site programs mentioned above, it is our hope to maintain some of our budget for them, and if not, offer them as fee-based Community Interest classes (this scenario would see fees increase from $35 for a 40 hour class to $110).

We'll keep you posted here on future Budget Advisory Committee meetings and outcome of the discussions.

Bay Section Winter Conference & Excellence Awards—"Linking Adults to Opportunities"

The Bay Section Winter Conference & Excellence Awards is being held on Saturday, March 10, 2012. This annual event will be hosted by the Bay Section at Berkeley Adult School from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Another highlight of the conference will be honoring recipients for Excellence in Adult Education in the categories of Excellence in Teaching, Excellence in Support Services, Lifetime Membership, and CCAE Retiree Recognition.

The theme of the conference this year is "Linking Adults to Opportunities".

Schedule

Saturday, March 10, 2012
7:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m.	Exhibitor Set-Up
8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.	• On-Site Registration • Continental Breakfast sponsored by Boston Reed • Visit Exhibitors/Vendors
9:00 a.m.–9:50 a.m.	• Opening Session—Legislative Advocacy Panel Discussion
10:00 a.m.–10:50 a.m.	• Workshop Session 1
11:00 a.m..–11:50 a.m.	• Workshop Session 2
12:00 p.m.–12:50 p.m.	• Box Lunch from The Bread Project • Guest Speaker: CCAE State President, Chris Nelson • CCAE Bay Section Excellence Awards • Visit Exhibitors/Vendors
1:00 p.m.–1:50 p.m.	• Workshop Session 3
2:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.	• Door Prizes

Workshops

Creating a Workplace Readiness Class for Adult ESL and ABE
Julie Feferman, Perez Instructor and Career Technical Education Advisor
Hayward Adult School

Creating a Workplace Readiness Class for Adult ESL and ABEJulie Feferman, Perez Instructor and Career Technical Education Advisor
Hayward Adult School

Leading Adult Learners—Managing GED Students for Success
Damon Tinnon— Teacher, Joe Escalera—Student, Napa Valley Adult School

GED: Pass Now, Prepare for the Future
Renee Clark, Educational Consultant, Steck-Vaughn/HMH
Christine Paynton, ABE/GED/CTE Instructor—Mt. Diablo Adult Education

Proven Strategies for ESL Program SuccessMarilyn Knight-Mendelson, Assistant Principal, Napa Valley Adult School
Susana van Bezooijen, Program Specialist, CASAS

Transitioning Adult ESL with FutureTracy Bailie, ESL Specialist, Pearson Longman

Collaborations for Career Success: Supporting Adult ESL Students Transitioning from Adult School to Community College to Work
Kristen Pursley, ESL Lead Teacher, West Contra Costa Adult Education
Nain Lopez, Program Manager, Catholic Charities of the East Bay Project BMAT
Mey Saeteurn, Program Director, Catholic Charities of the East Bay Project ACCESS

Learn Math and Business Soft Skills Online
Janet Scarpone, Author and Online Professor; Valerie Schmidt, Author and Lead Engineer

CASAS Content Standards and the Common Core State Standards: where do they intersect?
Patty Long, Susana van Bezooijen, CASAS Program Specialists

"Going the Distance with OTAN and USA Learns!"
Kathleen Jain: ESL Distance Learning Coordinator and teacher, Berkeley Adult School
Laura Grossmann: ESL Distance Learning teacher, Berkeley Adult School
Blair Roy: Project Specialist, OTAN

Free courses to link your students to success! 
Penny Pearson, Coordinator, Distance Learning Project, OTAN

Beyond the Deadend: LInking Academics with Career Development and Helping ABE/ASE Students Gain Career Awareness to Attain Career Success
Valerie Clifford, Curriculum Coordinator/Teacher, Campbell Adult and Community Education

Creating a Bridge for Adult Students to Job Training and Post-Secondary Programs
Lynne Nicodemus Vice Principal Pittsburg Adult Education Center

Transitioning to Postsecondary
Lillie Clausen, CALPRO Facilitator

Classroom 2.0: e-Portfolios in the Adult ESL Classroom
Deborah Gordon, Teacher, Oakland Unified School District

• Click here for a complete description of the workshops

Registration

In an effort to be green, the preferred method of registering for the Bay Section Winter Conference & Excellence Awards is online. Registration fee includes morning refreshments, all workshops, exhibitors, awards ceremony celebrating your colleagues, and lunch.

Early Bird Registration (Before or on February 29, 2012)
• $50 CCAE Current Member    • $60 Non CCAE Member

Registration (After February 29, 2012)
• $70 CCAE Current Member    • $75 Non CCAE Member

Workshop Presenter Discount• $25 CCAE Member (Maximum of 2 discounted registrations per workshop)

Guest Attending Awards Luncheon Only• $15 per guest

Payment Methods

To register for the Bay Section Winter Conference & Excellence Awards by PayPal or credit card, click on the "Register by PayPal or Credit Card" button below.

Online conference registration cut off date is March 7, 2012.

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To register for the Bay Section Winter Conference & Excellence Awards by check or purchase order, click on the "Register by Check or Purchase Order" button below to fill out the online conference registration form. After you fill out the conference registration form, you will be redirected back to this page. Please make your checks payable to "CCAE" and mail your conference registration check or purchase order to:

Susie Stanley
Mt. Diablo Adult Education
One Santa Barbara Road,  Ste. #210
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
stanleys@mdusd.k12.ca.us
(925) 682-8000, Ext. 3916

Online conference registration cut off date is March 7, 2012.

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Call for Presenters

The Call for Presenters in now closed. If you have any questions about the workshops please contact:

Bob Harper, Vice President
Campbell Adult and Community Education
1224 Del Mar Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128 
408.626.3402, bharper@cuhsd.org

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Call for Exhibitors and Vendors

You can support the Bay Section Conference & Excellence Awards as a sponsor and/or an exhibitor. The theme of the conference is "Linking Adults to Opportunities." The conference will be held at Berkeley Adult School, 1701 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley, California.

The cost to participate is:

• $200 for one table, recognition in conference guide, and one lunch

• $300 for two tables, recognition in conference guide, and two lunches

• Additional lunches may be purchased for $15.00 each

• $40 for exhibitor workshop presentation. The fee is waived for current CCAE institutional members. Please submit your workshop presentation proposal by filling out the online Call for Presenters form. If the presentation will not be possible, due to space or time constraints, this fee will be refunded.

Reserve your space by clicking the appropriate button below. The deadline for exhibitor and vendor registration is February 29, 2012.

If you have any questions please contact:

Debbie Norgaard
President
Liberty UHSD Adult Education
929 Second St., Brentwood, CA 94513
925-634-2565, Ext. 1073
norgaard@libertyuhsd.k12.ca.us

We truly appreciate your support.  We look forward to seeing you at the conference.

A COMPARISON OF THE EDUCATION FINANCE REFORMS

PROVISIONS OF AB 18 (BROWNLEY) AND

GOVERNOR’S WEIGHTED STUDENT FORMULA &

WHY AB 18 SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY ADULT EDUCATORS

Major school finance reform will receive attention and potential action during this 2012 state legislative session. Adult educators need to focus on two specific funding proposals. The Governor’s Weighted Student Formula proposal eliminates Adult Education while AB 18 exempts it from categorical program block granting.

BACKGROUND

Assembly Bill 18: Assembly Bill 18 by Julia Brownley was introduced in 2011 as a major education finance reform proposal. AB 18 seeks to accomplish the following:

·         Consolidates most categorical programs into three block grants to provide funding as follows: (1) Basic Funding, (2) Targeted and Equity Funding, and (3) Quality Instruction Funding.

·         Provides school districts with greater flexibility in addressing local needs without the constraints of categorical programs aimed at specific student populations.

Of critical interest, AB 18 presently exempts Adult Education from inclusion in the block grants. As introduced in 2011, Adult Education was included in AB 18’s Basic Funding group. Opposition by Adult educators led to its removal from the block grant.

Weighted Student Formula: Governor Brown’s 2012-13 state budget includes a major policy proposal to change how the state funds K-12 education. The provision proposes to change funding from revenue limits and categorical programs to a weighted formula that provides a set base funding statewide, and adds fiscal support based on English learners and low income students served.

The proposal’s funding would be achieved by combining present base revenue limit funds and categorical programs into one pool, and distributing to all school districts

·         A base per pupil funding statewide

·         An additional 37 percent per pupil identified as English learner or low income.

Of critical importance, Adult Education would be included in the combined pool. Adult Education, thereby, would cease to exist as a categorical program.

Bottom Line: Adult Educators need to advocate for AB 18 in its present form, while also seeking Adult Education’s removal from the Governor’s formula pool.

CCAE Leg Day to be Held on March 5-6

On March 5th, representatives from the adult education community statewide will meet in Sacramento to press for maintaining adult education in California. Categorical flexibility has been a blow to adult education, and now the California Council for Adult Education (CCAE) will take up opposition to the Governor's categorical consolidation budget proposal which is moving forward without setting adult education apart. The Governor proposes to fund all school districts based on a weighted formula that provides a higher rate for students with free and reduced lunch, and for Limited English Proficient students. It does not designate any specific funding for adult education. CCAE views this proposal as disastrous for the future of adult education.

During legislative visits participants will be speaking with members and staff regarding the field's opposition to the Governor's budget proposal and support for the California Adult Education Administrators Association (CAEAA) and CCAE's jointly sponsored bill being authored by adult education champion, Assemblyman Mike Eng.

For more information, please see http://www.ccaestate.org/calendar.html [www].

Obama Requests Level Funding for Adult Education

Photo: C-Span [www]

President Obama announced his 2013 budget request [www] on Monday, Feb. 13. The budget for the Department of Education represents an overall proposed increase of $1.7 billion, for a 2.5 percent increase above the enacted FY 2012 budget. The budget includes $606.3 million to support activities under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act of 1998, which represents level funding.

Of the total, $594,993,000 is available for Adult Education State Grants. Of this latter amount, 1.72 percent is reserved for incentive grants, $15,000,000 is available to the secretary for the Workforce Innovation Fund, and $74,709,000 is available for English literacy and civics education. An additional $11,323,000 is provided for national activities. Although level funding is proposed, the $15,000,000 for the Workforce Innovation Fund is proposed to come from the state adult education grants.

Read more in Federal Budget Updates.

Update on the Strategic Plan

Gordon Jackson, Director of the Coordinated Student Support and Adult Education Division at the California Department of Education (CDE), and Patricia Terry, Administrator of the Adult Education Office at CDE, have held two meetings with adult educators to discuss moving forward with the strategic plan, Linking Adults to Opportunity: Transformation of the California Department of Education Adult Education Program. A working meeting in the south was held at the California Adult Education Administrators Association (CAEAA) conference in Long Beach on February 3. A subsequent meeting was held at the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) offices in Sacramento on February 14 for educators who were unable to attend CAEAA. A conference call line provided additional participation at that meeting. In both meetings, participants were invited to discuss each of the 7 areas of the plan with respect to implementation, specifically achievability, needs and challenges. Mr. Jackson, Dr. Terry and staff will now review and synthesize the input from these meetings and put forward suggested next steps.

The entire plan can be viewed at http://www.otan.us/strategicplanning

Funding Challenges to Adult Education Nationally

CLASP [www], a research agency that provides data and studies to support "policy solutions that work for low-income people," has posted a new fact sheet[pdf] on adult education federal funding and enrollment trends from 1998 to 2012. It shows that federal funding for adult education has declined steadily from 2003 to 2009, and held steady in 2010-12, with an overall decline of 17 percent. Enrollment figures follow the funding decrease, with a 27 percent decrease in enrollment. The study notes that many states have long waiting lists for adult education classes.

Many states, including California and New York, have made significant cuts to adult education or eliminated it from state funding entirely. Florida has implemented tuition for adult education and ESL courses, which has resulted in at 38 percent decline in enrollment.

New OVAE Reports on Postsecondary Bridging and Alignment

The February 9, 2012 issue of OVAE Connections [www], the newsletter of the federal Office of Vocational and Adult Education, announced the publication of several reports of relevance to practitioners in Adult Education. They include:

• Promoting College and Career Readiness: Bridge Programs for Low-Skill Adults[pdf]: describes recent approaches to bridge programs and explores promising practices that contextualize and integrate instruction, and strengthen student support and transition services to improve postsecondary transition and completion.
• Aligning Secondary and Postsecondary Education: Experiences from Career and Technical Education [pdf]: follows the evolution of efforts to align secondary and postsecondary CTE, and outlines several promising CTE practices that may be effective in achieving better alignment for all students.
• Integrating Industry-Driven Competencies in Education and Training Through Employer Engagement [pdf]: describes partnership efforts between community colleges and employers, exploring models promoting curricular change and innovation.

The papers are part of a 2011 Regional Community College Summit [www] and the Community College Virtual Symposium, "Scaling the Community College Summit: Challenges, Solutions and Commitment." The focus of these efforts includes creating bridging programs for low-skilled adults and developing accessible career programs to foster adult student success. The reports are a result of the White House Regional Community College Summit, which was convened in October 2010 by President Obama and Dr. Jill Biden. 

From the OVAE Connections, February 9, 2012 [www] newsletter of the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U. S. Department of Education.

CCAE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

February 13, 2012

Upcoming Important Dates: 

February 24              Bill Introduction Deadline

March 4 – 5               CCAE Leg Day (Sacramento)

April 27                      Policy Committee Deadline (fiscal)

May 11                       Policy Committee Deadline (non-fiscal)

May 25                       Fiscal Committee Floor Deadline

June 1                       House of Origin Deadline

Superintendent Torlakson Provides Strong Support for Adult Education

In a strong showing of support for adult education programs throughout the state, Superintendent Tom Torlakson recently distributed a letter to county and district superintendents and charter school administrators urging them to take a closer look at the value of adult education before considering sweeping adult education funds.  The strong support from the Superintendent and California Department of Education for adult education provides a sense of hope in these challenging fiscal times.

To review the letter, please see http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/el/le/yr12ltr0210c.asp.

Join the Fight for Adult Education at Leg Day

On March 5^th, representatives from the adult education community statewide will descend upon the Capitol in Sacramento to fight for maintaining adult education in California.  While categorical flexibility has been disastrous for adult education, nothing could be more concerning to the community than the Governor’s categorical consolidation budget proposal moving forward without setting adult education apart.  In this regard, we are in the fight of our lives.  All adult education stakeholders across the state are urged to attend and help in the fight to protect adult education.

During legislative visits participants will be speaking with members and staff regarding the field’s opposition to the Governor’s budget proposal and support for CAEAA and CCAE’s jointly sponsored bill being authored by adult education champion, Assemblyman Mike Eng.

Please be sure to join us for this important day and ensure your voice and support for adult education is heard!

For more information, please see http://www.ccaestate.org/calendar.html.

LAO Releases Education Budget Analysis

The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) recently released its analysis of the education proposals included in Governor Jerry Brown’s FY 2012-2013 budget plan.  For the most part, the report argued in support of the Governor’s education proposals and recommended the Legislature act in accordance with the plan’s overall policy goals.  The LAO, however, took issue and expressed concerns over the almost $5 billion in temporary tax funding assumptions the Governor included in FY 2012-2013 budget calculations.  Recall, the Governor’s proposed initiative would temporarily increase income taxes on the wealthy and raise the sales tax by half a cent. Since the Governor’s tax increase has yet to even qualify for the November 2012 ballot, the LAO recommends the Legislature re-evaluate the Governor’s back-up budget plan, which outlines heavy cuts to school Proposition 98 funding, in the event the measure fails to qualify or is rejected by voters.  The report suggests lawmakers should consider implementing immediate spending cuts that could later be back-filled should the temporary taxes win voter approval.     

For more information, please see http://www.lao.ca.gov/analysis/2012/education/proposition-98-020612.pdf.

PPIC Poll Finds Mixed Review for Brown’s Tax Plan

According to the latest Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report, a majority of California voters (56%) support Governor Brown's tax measure to resolve the state deficit.  That said, the same voters have mixed feelings about the array of proposals that will be before them – notably the tax measures.  As you well know, the Governor is in the midst of a full court press to persuade voters to pass his tax proposal in November.  When voters are provided the details of the plan and the fact that the tax increases would spare education from further cuts, over 60% of likely voters expressed support for the plan.  However, when asked specifically about an increase in personal income taxes, over 60% indicated they were opposed.  The only tax idea that won support in the poll was raising income taxes on the rich, garnering 68% support. 

For more information, please see http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/survey/S_112MBS.pdf.

2012 Legislation

AB 18 (Brownley): Education Finance: Pupil Equity Funding

This bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to make recommendations relating to the changes necessary to support the implementation of comprehensive school-level financial data and to compute an additional amount to be apportioned to the revenue limit to each district.  Additionally, it would provide for school district and charter school funding for instruction to English learners and low-income pupils, class size reduction, provision of professional development training, provision of teacher mentoring, and other purposes.

Location: Senate Education Committee

AB 1618 (Galgiani): Technical Education

The bill, currently a placeholder, would make changes to existing law that is geared toward encouraging the establishment of technical, agricultural, and natural resource conservation schools in those areas of the state where they are needed in order to reduce the number of school dropouts, combat juvenile delinquency, and to provide more skilled and trained workers.

Location: Assembly

AB 1638 (Brownely): Education Finance: Block Grant Funding

This bill, currently a placeholder, would amend existing law regarding block grant funding – expressing the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would simplify school finance by consolidating funding for categorical programs into targeted block grants to promote greater equity, increase local control, and improve instruction.

Location: Assembly

State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, had this to say about Adult Education today (2/10/12, edited): “…we consider Adult Education a vital and integral part of the entire educational spectrum. It is our goal at the Calf. Dept. of Ed. to consider the “whole student” in our daily work of providing technical assistance and oversight of the multitude of state and federal programs we are responsible to administer. It is through Adult Education that the parents of the students within our kindergarten through grade twelve (K -12) schools can gain the education and literacy skills necessary to better their personal situations, thus benefiting all California. It is here that they can advance in their own career, obtain the skills for gainful employment, and become better parents and more active participants in our communities.  In these tight fiscal times, I urge all Superintendents and District Boards of Education to consider this invaluable asset. We hope you execute deep research and evaluation of the benefits of Adult Education before you consider eliminating opportunities for students by sweeping Adult Education funds.”  Read the full letter here.