RE: Adult Education's Flexibility; A Resource to All

I agree with you completely, Bob.  Unless you work in adult education you will never experience the special needs of the students we serve.  We see adults with low self-esteem become able to return to a learning environment and then into a job in the community; immigrants who develop language and vocational skills that enable them to become participating members of our communities; the teen parents who make it; we are a safety net for high school students trying to make that graduation date; we teach parenting skills; older adults are kept both physically and mentally active.  We serve the needs of so many--2.4 million each year--throughout the state in a cost effective system for both the state and the student.  If anything, adult education ought to be recognized as a third education component, not combined with the community colleges.  We serve such different populations.