AB 1112: Adult education: consortia: parenting education: family literacy education.
- Session Year: 2015-2016
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2015-03-26
(1)Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district maintaining secondary schools to establish and maintain classes for adults, as specified. Existing law authorizes specified classes and courses to be offered by school districts and county superintendents of schools for apportionment purposes from the adult education fund, including, among other subject matters, classes and courses for adult programs in parenting education.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law requires specified noncredit community college courses and classes to be eligible for program-based funding from the state, including, among other subject matters, parenting education courses and classes.
This bill would specify that, for the purposes of funding from the adult education fund or from program-based community college funding, as described above, parenting education includes family literacy education, as specified.
Existing
(2)Existing law requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the State Department of Education, pursuant to funding made available in the annual Budget Act, to jointly provide 2-year planning and implementation grants to regional consortia of community college districts and school districts for developing regional plans to better serve the educational needs of adults. Existing law requires the grant funds provided under this program to be used by each regional consortium to create and implement a plan to better provide adults in its region with all of the following: elementary and secondary basic skills; classes and courses for immigrants eligible for educational services in citizenship and English as a second language, and workforce preparation classes in basic skills; education programs for adults with disabilities; short-term career technical education programs; and programs for apprentices.
This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide for both of the following: that the funding distributed to local educational agencies through adult education consortia, as described, continues to be available to pupils who are minors participating in high school credit recovery pursuant to designated provisions; and that no more than 10% of the apportionment received by a local educational agency for adult education will be used for pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, as specified additionally require the plan to better provide adults in the region with parenting education, including, but not necessarily limited to, parent cooperative preschools and classes in child growth and development and parent-child relationships, and family literacy education, as specified.
To the extent that this bill would impose new duties on school districts and community college districts that participate in these regional consortia, it would constitute a state-mandated local program.
(3)The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
Existing law requires adult schools and evening high schools to consist of classes for adults. Existing law authorizes minors to be admitted into those classes pursuant to policies adopted by the governing board of the school district if those minors meet certain eligibility requirements.
Existing law requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the State Department of Education, pursuant to funding made available in the annual Budget Act, to jointly provide 2-year planning and implementation grants to regional consortia of community college districts and school districts for developing regional plans to better serve the educational needs of adults.
This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide for both of the following: that the funding distributed to local educational agencies through adult education consortia, as described, continues to be available to pupils who are minors participating in high school credit recovery pursuant to designated provisions; and that no more than 10% of the apportionment received by a local educational agency for adult education will be used for pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, as specified.
(a)For purposes of this chapter, the following classes and courses are authorized to be offered by school districts and county superintendents of schools for apportionment purposes from the adult education fund:
(1)Adult programs in parenting, including, but not necessarily limited to, parent cooperative preschools, and classes in child growth and development, parent-child relationships, and parenting, and family literacy education, which may include support to children and schoolaged youth with limited English proficiency backgrounds in the households of participating adults.
(2)Adult programs in elementary and secondary basic skills and other courses and classes required for the high school diploma. Apportionments for these courses and classes may only be generated by students who do not possess a high school diploma, except for remedial academic courses or classes in reading, mathematics, and language arts.
(3)Adult education programs in English as a second language.
(4)Adult education programs for immigrants eligible for educational services in citizenship, English as a second language, and workforce preparation classes in the basic skills of speaking, listening, reading, writing, mathematics, decisionmaking and problem solving skills, and other classes required for preparation to participate in job specific technical training.
(5)Adult education programs for adults with disabilities.
(6)Adult short-term career technical education programs with high employment potential. Any reference to vocational education or programs in adult education means career technical education or programs in adult education.
(7)Adult programs for older adults.
(8)Adult education programs for apprentices.
(9)Adult programs in home economics.
(10)Adult programs in health and safety education.
(b)No state apportionment shall be made for any course or class which is not set forth in subdivision (a).
SEC. 2.Section 84757 of the Education Code is amended to read:84757.(a)For purposes of this chapter, the following noncredit courses and classes shall be eligible for funding:
(1)Parenting, including, but not necessarily limited to, parent cooperative preschools, preschools and classes in child growth and development and development, parent-child relationships, and family literacy education, which may include support to children and schoolaged youth with limited English proficiency backgrounds in the households of participating adults.
(2)Elementary and secondary basic skills and other courses and classes such as remedial academic courses or classes in reading, mathematics, and language arts.
(3)English as a second language.
(4)Classes and courses for immigrants eligible for educational services in citizenship, English as a second language, and work force preparation classes in the basic skills of speaking, listening, reading, writing, mathematics, decisionmaking and problem solving skills, and other classes required for preparation to participate in job-specific technical training.
(5)Education programs for persons with substantial disabilities.
(6)Short-term vocational programs with high employment potential.
(7)Education programs for older adults.
(8)Education programs for home economics.
(9)Health and safety education.
(b)No state apportionment shall be made for any course or class that is not set forth in subdivision (a) and for which no credit is given.
SEC. 3.Section 84830 of the Education Code is amended to read:84830.(a)The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the State Department of Education shall, pursuant to funding made available in the annual Budget Act, jointly provide two-year planning and implementation grants to regional consortia of community college districts and school districts for the purpose of developing regional plans to better serve the educational needs of adults.
(1)Eligibility shall be limited to consortia consisting of at least one community college district and at least one school district within the boundaries of the community college district, either of which may serve as the consortiums fiscal agent, as determined by the applicant consortium.
(2)If a community college district chooses not to participate in a consortium, a neighboring community college district may form a consortium with school districts within the boundaries of the nonparticipating community college district.
(3)Consortia may include other entities providing adult education courses, including, but not necessarily limited to, correctional facilities, other local public entities, and community-based organizations.
(b)Grant funds provided pursuant to this section shall be used by each regional consortium to create and implement a plan to better provide adults in its region with all of the following:
(1)Elementary and secondary basic skills, including classes required for a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate.
(2)Classes and courses for immigrants eligible for educational services in citizenship and English as a second language, and workforce preparation classes in basic skills.
(3)Education programs for adults with disabilities.
(4)Short-term career technical education programs with high employment potential.
(5)Programs for apprentices.
(6)Parenting education, including, but not necessarily limited to, parent cooperative preschools and classes in child growth and development and parent-child relationships, and family literacy education, which may include support to children and schoolaged youth with limited English proficiency backgrounds in the households of participating adults.
(c)(1)The classes and courses described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b) shall distribute basic information on American government and civics that includes, but is not limited to, instruction on all of the following:
(A)Federal, state, and local government.
(B)The three branches of government.
(C)The importance of civic engagement.
(D)Registering to vote.
(2)It is the intent of the Legislature that, consistent with the requirements of Sections 51225.3 and 52555, students enrolled in classes and courses described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b) in which instruction in American government and civics is appropriate shall receive instruction in American government and civics.
(d)Each regional consortiums plan shall include, at a minimum:
(1)An evaluation of current levels and types of adult education programs within its region, including education for adults in correctional facilities; credit, noncredit, and enhanced noncredit adult education coursework; and programs funded through Title II of the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, known as the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (Public Law 105-220).
(2)An evaluation of current needs for adult education programs within its region.
(3)Plans for parties that make up the consortium to integrate their existing programs and create seamless transitions into postsecondary education or the workforce.
(4)Plans to address the gaps identified pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2).
(5)Plans to employ approaches proven to accelerate a students progress toward his or her academic or career goals, such as contextualized basic skills and career technical education, and other joint programming strategies between adult education and career technical education.
(6)Plans to collaborate in the provision of ongoing professional development opportunities for faculty and other staff to help them achieve greater program integration and improve student outcomes.
(7)Plans to leverage existing regional structures, including, but not necessarily limited to, local workforce investment areas.
(e)The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the State Department of Education may identify additional elements that consortia must include in a plan.
(f)(1)On or before March 1, 2014, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the State Department of Education shall submit a joint report to the Legislature and the Governor. This report shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, both of the following:
(A)The status of developing regional consortia across the state, including identification of unserved geographic areas or emerging gaps in regional program delivery.
(B)The status and allocation of grant awards made to regional consortia.
(2)The report shall be submitted to the Legislature as provided in Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(g)(1)On or before March 1, 2015, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the State Department of Education shall submit a joint report to the Legislature and the Governor. This report shall include, but is not limited to, both of the following:
(A)The plans developed by regional consortia across the state.
(B)Recommendations for additional improvements in the delivery system serving adult learners.
(2)The report shall be submitted to the Legislature as provided in Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(h)It is the intent of the Legislature to work toward developing common policies related to adult education affecting adult schools at local educational agencies and community colleges, including policies on fees and funding levels.
(i)It is the intent of the Legislature to provide additional funding in the 201516 fiscal year to regional consortia to expand and improve the provision of adult education.
SEC. 4.If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
SECTION 1.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide for both of the following:
(a)That the funding distributed to local educational agencies through adult education consortia as described in Section 84830 of the Education Code continues to be available to pupils who are minors participating in high school credit recovery pursuant to Sections 52500.1 and 52523 of the Education Code.
(b)That no more than 10 percent of the apportionment received by a local educational agency for adult education will be used for pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, as referenced in subdivision (e) of Section 52616.17 of the Education Code.
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to provide for both of the following:
(a)That the funding distributed to local educational agencies through adult education consortia as described in Section 84830 of the Education Code continues to be available to pupils who are minors participating in high school credit recovery pursuant to Sections 52500.1 and 52523 of the Education Code.
(b)That no more than 10 percent of the apportionment received by a local educational agency for adult education will be used for pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, as referenced in subdivision (e) of Section 52616.17 of the Education Code.
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Date
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Status
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| Feb 27, 2015 | Introduced. To print. |
| Mar 1, 2015 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 31. |
| Mar 2, 2015 | Read first time. |
| Mar 26, 2015 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ED. Read second time and amended. |
| Mar 26, 2015 | Referred to Coms. on ED. and HIGHER ED. |
| Apr 6, 2015 | Re-referred to Com. on ED. |
| Apr 9, 2015 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED. |
| Apr 28, 2015 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted. |
| Jan 31, 2016 | Died pursuant to Article IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. |
| Feb 1, 2016 | From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Apr 28, 2015 | Reconsideration. | Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education |
Passed |
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| Apr 28, 2015 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education |
Failed |
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| Apr 8, 2015 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Higher Education] | Assembly Standing Committee on Education |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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|---|---|---|
| California EDGE Coalition | ** Against | Apr 28, 2015 |
| One individual | ** Against | Apr 28, 2015 |
AB 1112
Page 4
Date of Hearing: April 28, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Jose Medina, Chair
AB 1112
(Lopez) – As Amended March 26, 2015
SUBJECT: Adult education: consortia: parenting education: family literacy education
SUMMARY: Authorizes adult programs, California Community Colleges (CCC) noncredit courses and classes, and the adult education regional consortia, established pursuant to Education Code (EC) Section 84830, to provide family literacy education. Specifically, this bill:
Expands parenting education provided by adult education programs administered by school districts and CCC noncredit courses to include family literacy education, which may include support to children and schoolaged youth with limited English proficiency backgrounds in the households of participating adults.
Specifies that the grant funds provided to regional consortia to create and implement adult education plans shall include parenting education, including, but not necessarily limited to, parent cooperative preschools and classes in child growth and development and parent-child relations, and family literacy education, which may include support to children and schoolaged youth with limited English proficiency backgrounds in the households of participating adults.
EXISTING LAW:
Authorizes both the CCC and K-12 systems to offer and receive state funding for adult education courses (EC Sections 41976 and 84757).
Authorizes the following classes and courses to be offered by the school districts and county superintendent of schools for apportionment purposes from the adult education fund and prohibits state apportionment to be made for any course or class not specified in law:
Adult programs in parenting, including parent cooperative preschools, and classes in child growth and development, parent-child relationships, and parenting;
Adult programs in elementary and secondary basic skills and other courses and classes required for the high school diploma;
Adult education programs in English as a second language;
Adult education programs for immigrant eligible for educational services in citizenship, English as a second language, and workforce preparation classes in the basic skills of speaking, listening, reading, writing, mathematics, decisionmaking and problem solving skills, and other classes required for preparation to participate in job specific technical training;
Adult education programs for adults with disabilities;
Adult short-term career technical education programs with high employment potential;
Adult programs for older adults;
Adult education programs for apprentices;
Adult programs in home economics; and,
Adult programs in health and safety education (EC Section 41976).
Prohibits the local governing board of a community college district (CCD) maintaining a noncredit course from requiring an adult enrolled in such a course to pay nonresident tuition or any fee or charge of any kind for a class in English and citizenship for foreigners, a class in an elementary subject, a class designated as granting high school credit to an individual without a high school diploma or other adult basic education programs and courses, as specified (EC Section 76380).
Authorizes a school district governing board to require a fee of an adult enrolled in a class for adults and prohibits the total of the fees required and revenues derived from average daily attendance from exceeding the estimated cost of maintaining such classes. Current law also prohibits the imposition of a charge of any kind for a class in English and citizenship or a class in an elementary subject, nor for any class which is designated as granting high school credit when the class is taken by a person who does not hold a high school diploma. To note: for a class in English and citizenship, a fee may be charged only until July 1, 2015 (EC Section 52612).
Prohibits the CCC from requiring an adult enrolled in a noncredit course to pay nonresident tuition or any fee or charge of any kind for a class in English and citizenship for foreigners, a class in an elementary subject, a class designated by the governing board as a class for which high school credit is granted when the class is taken by a person who does not hold a high school diploma, or any class offered by a CCD pursuant to Sections 8531, 8532, 8533, or 8534 (EC Section 76380).
Charges the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) and the California Department of Education (CDE) to jointly implement an adult education planning process; authorizes the CCCCO and the CDE to distribute $25 million to regional consortia to develop plans with the shared goal of better serving the educational needs of California's adult learners; and, specifies that the following five areas are to be addressed in the plans:
Elementary and secondary basic skills, including classes required for a high school diploma;
Classes and courses for immigrants in English as a second language, citizenship, and workforce preparations;
Education programs for adults with disabilities;
Short-term career technical education programs with high employment potential; and,
Programs for apprentices (EC Section 84830).
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: This measure was heard and approved by a vote of 5-2 in the Assembly Education Committee relating to issues within its jurisdiction on April 8, 2015.
Background. Adult education in California is part of a large, complex, and diverse multi-provider system. It is a vital and integral part of the larger educational system that provides adults with the skills and education that enable them to earn a high school diploma or a general educational development (GED) certificate, become American citizens, acquire specific job skills, learn English, and/or become independent and productive parents and members of their community.
Adult Education and Community College Noncredit. Adult education instruction is offered primarily at adult schools and community colleges. Some programs are also offered at community based organizations, libraries, correctional facilities, and the California Conservation Corps. California adult education schools offer the following ten programs:
Adult Basic Education;
English as a Second Language;
High School Diploma or Adult Secondary Education, including GED certification;
Citizenship Preparation;
Career Technical Education;
Adults with Disabilities;
Health and Safety;
Parent Education;
Home Economics; and,
Courses for Older Adults.
State apportionment. The majority of funding for adult education and community college noncredit comes from state apportionment. The state provides approximately 90 percent of the total funding for adult education and community college noncredit programs. State apportionment funds are distributed to adult schools through average daily attendance. Funding for community college noncredit is based upon a formula per Full Time Equivalent Student (FTES). The remaining financing, approximately 10 percent, is provided by federal funds.
AB 86 Regional Consortia. The Governor, in January 2013, proposed in his 2013-2014 budget, shifting the coordination and administration of all adult education programs to the CCC. The K-12 adult education program would be eliminated, but CCC could contract with school districts to provide instruction. Due to concerns about the timing and structure of the proposal, the Governor's May 2013 revision of the budget withdrew the proposal and instead maintained the current system for two years while allocating $30 million for planning grants awarded to regional consortia comprised of CCC and K-12 districts for the purpose of creating plans to integrate existing programs and determine how best to serve adult students within regions throughout the state. The budget adopted by the Legislature reduced the planning grants to $25 million and adopted trailer bill language in AB 86 (Chapter 48, Statutes of 2013).
AB 86 specified that the plans developed by the regional consortia shall only include the provision of the following programs:
Elementary and secondary basic skills (GED);
Classes and courses for immigrants (citizenship, English as a second language);
Education programs for adults with disabilities;
Short-term career technical education programs; and,
Programs for apprentices.
Excluded are four programs that are authorized to be offered through adult schools and CCCs, including 1) parenting education; 2) programs for older adults; 3) home economics; and 4) health and safety programs. The Governor's 2015-16 budget proposes to allocate $500 million for the adult education block grant, which will be used to fund the programs included in the AB 86 regional consortia plans.
This measure adds parenting education to the courses to be offered through the regional consortia plans and expands parenting education to include family literacy education, with special focus on support for adults with children and schoolaged youth with limited English proficiency. Additionally, this measure also expands parenting education programs previously offered through adult education categorical funds and noncredit adult education courses offered by CCCs to include family literacy education.
Committee considerations. As stated above, the budget language refocused adult education on elementary and secondary basic skills, classes and courses for immigrants, short-term career technical education programs, and programs for apprentices. The AB 86 Consortia submitted their final report to the Legislature in March of this year (per AB 86) based on its plans for the aforementioned categories. The Committee may wish to decide if it is appropriate to add another category to the AB 86 Consortia, thus taking away from the very recent directive the Legislature and Governor agreed upon.
The 2015-2016 budget trailer bill calls for $500 million for the AB 86 Consortia to implement its programs, via an education block grant. If the author's intent is to add parent education and family literacy into the eligible programs funded by the AB 86 Consortia, instead of this measure, the author may wish to explore adding parent education and family literacy through the budget process.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file.
Opposition
California EDGE Coalition
One Individual
Analysis Prepared by: Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960
AB 1112
Page 4
Date of Hearing: April 8, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Patrick O'Donnell, Chair
AB 1112
(Lopez) – As Amended March 26, 2015
[Note: This bill is doubled referred to the Assembly Higher Education Committee and will be heard by that Committee as it relates to issues under its jurisdiction.]
SUBJECT: Adult education: consortia: parenting education: family literacy education
SUMMARY: Authorizes adult programs, California Community Colleges (CCC) noncredit courses and classes, and the adult education regional consortia, established pursuant to Education Code (EC) Section 84830, to provide family literacy education. Specifically, this bill:
Expands parenting education provided by adult education programs administered by school districts and CCC noncredit courses to include family literacy education, which may include support to children and schoolaged youth with limited English proficiency backgrounds in the households of participating adults.
Specifies that the grant funds provided to regional consortia to create and implement adult education plans shall include parenting education, including, but not necessarily limited to, parent cooperative preschools and classes in child growth and development and parent-child relations, and family literacy education, which may include support to children and schoolaged youth with limited English proficiency backgrounds in the households of participating adults.
EXISTING LAW:
Authorizes the establishment of adult school programs and specifies eligibility criteria, programmatic requirements, and the manner in which school districts' adult education revenue limit per unit of average daily attendance (ADA) shall be determined.
Authorizes the following classes and courses to be offered by the school districts and county superintendent of schools for apportionment purposes from the adult education fund:
Adult programs in parenting, including parent cooperative preschools, and classes in child growth and development, parent-child relationships, and parenting.
Adult programs in elementary and secondary basic skills and other courses and classes required for the high school diploma.
Adult education programs in English as a second language.
Adult education programs for immigrant eligible for educational services in citizenship, English as a second language, and workforce preparation classes in the basic skills of speaking, listening, reading, writing, mathematics, decisionmaking and problem solving skills, and other classes required for preparation to participate in job specific technical training.
Adult education programs for adults with disabilities.
Adult short-term career technical education programs with high employment potential.
Adult programs for older adults.
Adult education programs for apprentices.
Adult programs in home economics.
Adult programs in health and safety education.
Prohibits state apportionment to be made for any course or class not specified in law.
Authorizes the governing board of a school district to require a fee. For a class in English and citizenship, a fee may be charged only until July 1, 2015. Prohibits the total of the fees required and revenues derived from the ADA from exceeding the estimated cost of all such classes maintained.
Defines "adult" as a person 18 years of age or older for a person who is not concurrently enrolled in a regular high school program.
Charges the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) and the California Department of Education (CDE) to jointly implement an adult education planning process; authorizes the CCCCO and the CDE to distribute $25 million to regional consortia to develop plans with the shared goal of better serving the educational needs of California's adult learners; and, specifies that the following five areas are to be addressed in the plans:
Elementary and secondary basic skills, including classes required for a high school diploma.
Classes and courses for immigrants in English as a second language, citizenship, and workforce preparations.
Education programs for adults with disabilities.
Short-term career technical education programs with high employment potential.
Programs for apprentices.
FISCAL EFFECT: The Legislative Counsel has keyed this bill as a state-mandated local program.
COMMENTS: Background. Adult education in California is part of a large, complex, and diverse multi-provider system. It is a vital and integral part of the larger educational system that provides adults with the skills and education that enable them to earn a high school diploma or a general educational development (GED) certificate, become United States citizens, acquire specific job skills, learn English, and/or become independent and productive parents and members of their community. Adult education is provided by a number of delivery systems, but the two main providers are school districts and the CCCs.
In 2008-09, K-12 adult education programs enrolled 1.2 million adult learners in almost 300 adult schools throughout California. The 2012-13 budget allocated $635 million for the adult education categorical program. Adult education schools offer the following ten programs:
Adult Basic Education;
English as a Second Language;
High School Diploma or Adult Secondary Education, including General Education Development certification;
Citizenship Preparation;
Career Technical Education;
Adults with Disabilities;
Health and Safety;
Parent Education;
Home Economics; and,
Older Adult.
Due to budget problems, from the 2008-09 through 2014-15 fiscal years, local educational agencies (LEAs) were allowed to use approximately 40 categorical programs funds for any educational purposes. According to the Legislative Analyst's Office, schools districts diverted between 50 to 60% of the adult education program funds for other general fund uses.
In 2013, the Governor proposed and the Legislature passed a new K-12 funding system that replaced revenue limits with a new base grant – the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). LCFF incorporated most categorical program funds into the base grant and eliminated the categorical programs. School districts choosing to continue their adult education programs would do so using their base funds.
AB 86 Regional Consortia. Also in 2013, the budget provided $25 million for the development of regional consortia comprised of CCC and K-12 school districts for the purpose of creating plans to integrate existing programs and determine how best to serve adult students within regions throughout the state (AB 86 (Budget Committee), Chapter 48, Statutes of 2013). AB 86 specified that the plans developed by the regional consortia shall only include the provision of the following programs:
Elementary and secondary basic skills (GED);
Classes and courses for immigrants (citizenship, English as a second language);
Education programs for adults with disabilities;
Short-term career technical education programs; and,
Programs for apprentices.
Excluded are four programs that are authorized to be offered through adult schools, including 1) parenting education; 2) programs for older adults; 3) home economics; and 4) health and safety programs. The Governor's 2015-16 budget proposes to allocate $500 million for the adult education block grant, which will be used to fund the programs included in the AB 86 regional consortia plans. This bill adds parenting education to the courses to be offered through the regional consortia plans and expands parenting education to include family literacy education, with special focus on support for adults with children and schoolaged youth with limited English proficiency. The bill also expands parenting education programs previously offered through adult education categorical funds and noncredit adult education courses offered by CCCs to include family literacy education.
What is family literacy education? According to the author, this bill is modeled after family literacy programs provided by federal Workforce Investment Act, Title II funding and through the California's Community-Based English Tutoring (CBET) programs. The goal of these programs is not only to provide English instruction to parents, but also to provide parents with the skills that will enable them to assist their children do better in school, especially children with limited English proficiency. For example, the CBET program, which was previously a $40 million categorical program, may teach parents how to help their children with reading, writing, listening, speaking, study skills, homework and effective parenting technique (source: San Bernardino Adult School). Parents must agree to read to their children, help their children with homework and talk with their children about school. A 2011 report by the CDE titled "Linking Adults to Opportunity" stated that "two years of data analysis showed significant improvement among the children whose parents participated in these Adult Education programs. In the Oakland Unified School District, children of CBET parents averaged 19 percent gain on the California English Language Development Test."
Budget trailer bill. In order to expand the programs funded through the regional consortia, the budget trailer bill that will implement the $500 million for the proposal adult education block grant will have to include parent education and family literacy. The author may wish to consider making this request through the budget process.
Arguments in support. The author states, "Due to the elimination of the parent education spending categories, parents no longer have access to family literacy education and the CBET programs through adult education. This bill looks to reinstate parent education as an eligible funding category as studies have shown that children whose parents participated in these programs showed academic improvement."
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Sophia Kwong Kim / ED. / (916) 319-2087
Discussed in Hearing
20MIN
Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education
4MIN
Assembly Standing Committee on Education
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):