AB 18 WOULD DETERMINE
ADULT EDUCATION’S FUTURE
Assembly Bill 18 (Brownley) was completely amended on June
19, 2012 to establish the California School Finance Commission to recommend
alternative methods for funding K-12 education. This commission would review
school finance reforms as proposed in AB 18 and the Governor’s Weighted Student
Formula. Both proposals sought to collapse most categorical programs into a per
pupil general funding model without restrictions. Prior to amending, AB 18
designated Adult Education as a separate stand-alone program with its own
funding stream.
AB 18
stipulates that the commission work is to be done during the one month of
January 2013. This means that its 13 members would need to be identified by
January, and preliminary work would have to be done before convening the group.
The commission appointments shall consist of the following:
- Six members by the Governor
- Three members by the Assembly Speaker
- Three members by the Senate Rules Committee
- The State Superintendent, or his/her designee, as chair
The recommendations emanating from this commission’s work
could determine whether Adult Education funds remains flexible or is a separate
program.
THOSE WHO COUNT ON
ADULT EDUCATION
As funding formulas are reviewed it is important to state
the value of Adult Education in meeting California’s needs:
- High School Diploma and GED: California adult population includes 5.3 million adults without a high school diploma or GED.
- Immigrants: Immigrants lacking a high school diploma or GED are 15 % less likely to become naturalized citizens.
- Post secondary Preparation: Twenty-seven percent of those aged 18-44 is unprepared academically for college or middle skill jobs.
- Education and Crime: High school dropouts are 5 to 8 times more likely to be incarcerated.
WHAT TO DO
The focus needs to be two-fold: Push for the passage of the
revenue initiatives, Proposition 30 to prevent further cuts; and make sure that
the AB 18 Commission recognizes the value of Adult Education by presenting a
recommendation to continue its funding as a unique and stand alone program.
