This letter from OAEF - Older Adults Education Forever - was sent to Paul Steenhausen of the Legislative Analyst Office, and Chris Furguson of the Department of Finance, as well as numerous representatives in the California Legislature, on August 3rd, 2023. RE:  Adult Education Funding Concerns On November 16, 2022 California Council for Adult Education (CCAE) and California Adult Education Administrators Association (CAEAA) sent a letter to you expressing concerns about adult education program coordination and suggesting changes to adult education funding. We are an organization of ad ..read more

Hi Folks, Some kind of update felt in order so here it is: It's been over ten years since I started this blog in March of 2012. (Here's the first post!)  Big Changes in Adult Education in California A lot has gone on in Adult Education over those years - since February of 2009, really  - cuts and closures, restructuring, narrowing of the mission, the Regional Consortia system, the recognition that equity needs to be centered in Adult Ed work, and lots more - some of it good, some of it bad, some of it mixed, some of it with the potential to be all those things - and more.  ..read more

 Happy Black History Month! Happy Valentine's Day! And do you know of Septima Poinsette Clark?  Her contributions to human rights, civil rights, voting rights, labor rights, the teaching profession, public education, and Adult Education were profound - yet, as is so often the case with the contributions of Black women, they are rarely discussed in the classroom.  And by classroom, I mean not only K12 and college classrooms but also teaching training programs - specifically those for Adult Education teaching and administration credentials.  We currently face a teaching short ..read more

 From COABE: Equity in Adult Education: The Importance of Cultural Competence and Inclusion Date: Friday, February 11th  |  2:00 - 3:00 pm (ET)  |  REGISTER Presenters: Sudie Whalen Equity, Not Equality: Practical Racial Justice Strategies to Increase Awareness Date: Wednesday, February 23rd  |  2:00 - 3:00 pm (ET)  |  REGISTER Presenters: Veronica Parker ..read more

In California, the bulk of funding for Adult Education - especially for Adult Schools - is through the state. Only a relatively small portion of funding is from federal sources. In many other states, the reverse is true. What happens on the federal level determines funding realities for Adult Ed in many parts of the US and influences policy for Adult Ed in every state. This letter - written by John Mears in conversation with many others - is an important summary of why it is so important that Adult Ed be seen, valued, and funded.  About Mr. Mears:  John Mears has taugh ..read more

 Good news!  More folks are interested in and having discussions about Adult Ed and equity.   New resources, articles, and webinars are happening and as I find them, I'm adding them to this live doc.  If you know of more events, resources, webinars, discussions, etc. please leave a comment here and I will them to the doc ..read more

  Introducing COABE's State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship Deadline to apply: 1/31/21 COABE is looking for activists and leaders to champion the cause of adult education WIOA Title II programs. The State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship (SAAEF) is a hands-on advocacy training program for adult educators, adult learners, and friends of adult education. During the yearlong program, fellows will learn how to work with the media, their communities, and policymakers to create change benefiting adult learners and adult education programs. The Fel ..read more

Good news!  The new and very much needed focus on equity in Public Education is reaching Adult Education.  Long overdue and a very good thing.   Here are two opportunities to learn more - and - to participate in a survey that will lead to a statewide Racial Equity Initiative for the Adult Ed System. The CAEP (California Adult Ed Program) Office held a series of #AdultEducation webinars on implicit bias, talking about race, and action steps in its Advancing Equity Professional Learning Series. Listen to recordings and download handouts here: https://lnkd.in/db5s8Ch CD ..read more

An understanding of social justice and equity is crucial to providing meaningful and effective Adult Education.  Crystal Korbas from Pleasanton AE is conducting a survey of CA adult education teachers and admins to learn more about adult ed teacher preparation and professional development related to social justice and equity.  More info / link to survey: https://forms.gle/gxvWHDuZMnUnHyE69 Please take the survey and share with your colleagues in Adult Education!   ..read more

San Mateo Adult School Student Shelley Cheng shares her letter to Governor Newsom: Dear Governor Newsom, I am Shelley Cheng, from China. My family moved to the U.S. two and a half years ago because my husband’s job brought him here. Now my daughter is in a public high school in Burlingame, and I am an ESL student at San Mateo Adult School in California. I deeply appreciate the strong actions that you and your administration have taken on protecting California populations from the spread of COVID-19. Today, I wrote this letter to you to ask you and your administration to protect the funding ..read more