RE: Adult Education Governance and Volunteers

Volunteer programs, typically offered by community-based and faith-based organizations, participate in the federal adult education program and receive funding for adult basic education, ESL, ESL-citizenship, and adult secondary programs in which there is demonstrated learner achievement. Of the total student enrollments in the federal program, 78 percent of the student enrollment comes from adult schools and less than 7 percent from the community colleges. 

All eligible agencies identified in federal law must have direct and equitable access to the funds, and CDE thereby funds only adult schools and community colleges, but also community-based organizations, and library/literacy providers. Each agency receiving federal adult education funds must meet the data standards established by the National Reporting System (NRS). The NRS provides an opportunity to see the data results of our respective programs and to use that information to improve or retain specific instructional programs. The data show that adult schools in the K-12 system have demonstrated significant learner gains. 

Of course, when examining where the governance rests for adult education, the Master Plan will need to be cognizant of both state and federal fund sources.