COMMUNITY IS IMMUNITY

Below is a petition in support of Adult Ed.'s broad mission written by George Porter, adult ed advocate and instructor at Berkeley Adult School.  

Here is what you can do to stand up for community education:

   1) READ THE PETITION

   2) Send an email to Alliance4CAS@gmail.com stating that you agree with the position.  You can copy and paste this:  

I agree with George Porter's petition requesting that designated funding be provided for the following adult ed programs:

1. Adult Basic Education
2. English as a Second Language
3. Adult Secondary/GED
4. Citizenship
5. Career/Technical Education
6. Adults with Disabilities
7. Health and Safety
8. Home Economics
9. Parent Education
10. Older Adults

Please include your name, city of residence (actual address if you feel comfortable with that) and any personal credentials that you feel are relevant. For example:

AT THE LEAST -

Jane Doughtery
resident, Oakland CA

IF YOU WANT TO PUT MORE -

Jane Doughtery
1234 Liberal St.
Oakland, CA

- 39 year Oakland resident
- retired city planner
- homeowner
- taxpayer
- member of (name of organization)

   3) Upon receipt of your email, we will add your name and information to the list of supporters.

______________________________________________

       Want to sign on? 

Just follow the instructions above. 

The petition is below.

SUPPORT ADULT EDUCATION'S BROAD MISSION - provide designated funding for all 10 programs

   We, the undersigned, are alarmed and disappointed that the Governor's
proposed budget fails to provide the designated funding needed to
support the Adult Education system's broad mission and strongly feel this
will be detrimental to the weal of the State as a whole. Though we fully
appreciate the need for increased focus on basic skills and workforce
development, it is myopic and counterproductive to simply ignore our
long-lived investment in educational programs that promote effective
participation by adult learners in a wider variety of circumstances.

   The value of programs that help ensure an active, healthy, economically
savvy and civically engaged older population (Older Adult), of programs that
instruct parents regarding our most up to date understandings of child-
rearing methods and offer opportunities to practice these (Parenting),
of programs that provide consumer and financial education as well as
help develop the computer and communication skills needed to fully
participate in our digitalized age (Life Skills) should not be
underestimated. There is much more to good citizenship than simply
gathering the skills needed for effective workplace participation then
paying the taxes on the wages these garner. From the pocketbook to
interpersonal relations to civic volunteerism to the voting booth,
the programs that the Governor's budget now ignores have historically
promoted the wise, personal and social decisions that are needed if
California is to remain strong.

   On 3/5/13 a bill was introduced (SB173) that would have narrowed the
mission of non-credit, Adult Education to basic-skills, immigrant
integration and workforce development. The bill failed to make it
through committee until that provision was removed and it was further
amended in Appropriations and on the Assembly floor in ways that
encourage sustaining the broad goals. On 9/25/14 the Governor signed
off on this final version and, in good faith, at the very least the
current level of support for all 10 programs should be indefinitely
maintained through designated funding. The need to shift the emphasis
of resources in Adult Ed. has already been accomplished during the
flexible funding grant period. Indeed, if anything the programs now
missing from the proposed budget suffered too greatly during that time and
policy guidelines should be developed that will allow these to wisely grow.

   Clearly these educational programs help create strong, healthy and
productive civically engaged citizens who, in turn, work together to
create strong, healthy and productive civically engaged communities,
municipalities, counties and state. The legislative intent of
Education Code Section 84830 is "to expand and improve the provision
of adult education". This section, too, was signed into law by the
Governor and nothing in it suggests that any of the funding for these
already drastically reduced programs should be cut further still. For
all Californian's sake see the world through two eyes not just one,
give these programs their due, give them the designated funding they
deserve.

visit a4cas.org for more information
there are many links on the Resources page of our website