RE: The role of Adult Education

I agree that adult education serves a population that is unique.  True our students are often short term learners and that many do not earn a degree, however, a sizeable portion of our clients do earn a high school diploma, gain work skills that are used immediately and improve their work status because of what we offer.  Many of our clients are new to the US and they learn about our system from their teachers, educational, political and social.

One key thing for the majority of our learners is we are a part of their community.  We are associated with their children's school, are just down the street, have a program for their elderly parents or some other very personal option.  Our very availability is what makes us unique for our unique clientel.

Our learners are very concerned about the possibility of being forced into the Jr. College system.  It's far from their neighborhoods, will cost money, is competitive and more threatening.  Those that are daunted will not go to school at all.  They will not gain the skills needed to enter the workforce or to move up in the workplace.  What is the cost to us all as a society if even a portion of us remain socially disenfranchised?