CALL TO ACTION! - CCAE and CAEAA "May Revise" Comments
Governor’s May revise, as part of the State’s annual budgeting process, was released on Friday, May 14. The proposal is an amazing improvement for education. Unfortunately, Adult Education was all but left out while most other programs received significant proposed increases. We can’t emphasize enough that this is the Governor’s proposal and the legislature will have its version of the State budget out soon.
So what is in it for Adult Ed?
While the proposal includes a 5.07% COLA for K-12 school districts (through LCFF) the Governor proposes only a 0.2% increase to Adult Ed (through CAEP) bringing the FY 21-22 proposed COLA to 1.7%. The difference in COLA presents a major challenge for K-12 Adult Ed programs, as explained in our recent advocacy efforts (see Talking Points). That said, we can not express how disappointed we are to see the Governor treat Adult Education as a lesser program, again. But a little bit of historical perspective helps us move past this disappointing proposal and focus us on our work ahead. The reality is, the Governor’s office has never been supportive of Adult Education. In fact, some of the most threatening proposals to Adult Education have come from the Governor’s office. But we have overcome these challenges with the support of the legislature. And, it is our hope that the legislature will come to our rescue again.
Our strategy on this issue continues. CCAE and CAEAA Leg Team will continue to work behind the scenes with key legislators and staff. Critical to these efforts are the meetings you have had and should continue to have with your local representatives. Without a doubt, this COLA differential issue is a priority talking point. Please make sure to review the Talking Points document
Take Action ASAP!
We urge all adult schools to follow up with your Senator and Assemblymember ASAP to urge them to address this inequity and affront to the students we serve and those who need access, many of whom are the most marginalized in our state. In your follow-up conversations and meetings, be ready to emphasize the issue and specifically ask for a commitment from them that they will reach out to the Budget Committee Chairs to increase the COLA in this budget cycle. The state should be held accountable for supporting our students!
What is the timeline?
It is critical that everyone in the field do this outreach immediately if we are going to have an impact and be successful in increasing the COLA. The Budget Committees are making final adjustments and decisions now and over the next three weeks before they finalize the budget package and pass it by the constitutional deadline of June 15. Act fast, act now!
What about our other legislative asks (Ed Code Clean up, Carryover language, and timeliness of funding)?
CCAE and CAEAA continue to work with legislative and department of finance staff on these issues and we are happy to report we are making positive strides. Continue to meet with legislators and their staff to explain the importance of their support!
So what is in it for Adult Ed?
While the proposal includes a 5.07% COLA for K-12 school districts (through LCFF) the Governor proposes only a 0.2% increase to Adult Ed (through CAEP) bringing the FY 21-22 proposed COLA to 1.7%. The difference in COLA presents a major challenge for K-12 Adult Ed programs, as explained in our recent advocacy efforts (see Talking Points). That said, we can not express how disappointed we are to see the Governor treat Adult Education as a lesser program, again. But a little bit of historical perspective helps us move past this disappointing proposal and focus us on our work ahead. The reality is, the Governor’s office has never been supportive of Adult Education. In fact, some of the most threatening proposals to Adult Education have come from the Governor’s office. But we have overcome these challenges with the support of the legislature. And, it is our hope that the legislature will come to our rescue again.
Our strategy on this issue continues. CCAE and CAEAA Leg Team will continue to work behind the scenes with key legislators and staff. Critical to these efforts are the meetings you have had and should continue to have with your local representatives. Without a doubt, this COLA differential issue is a priority talking point. Please make sure to review the Talking Points document
Take Action ASAP!
We urge all adult schools to follow up with your Senator and Assemblymember ASAP to urge them to address this inequity and affront to the students we serve and those who need access, many of whom are the most marginalized in our state. In your follow-up conversations and meetings, be ready to emphasize the issue and specifically ask for a commitment from them that they will reach out to the Budget Committee Chairs to increase the COLA in this budget cycle. The state should be held accountable for supporting our students!
What is the timeline?
It is critical that everyone in the field do this outreach immediately if we are going to have an impact and be successful in increasing the COLA. The Budget Committees are making final adjustments and decisions now and over the next three weeks before they finalize the budget package and pass it by the constitutional deadline of June 15. Act fast, act now!
What about our other legislative asks (Ed Code Clean up, Carryover language, and timeliness of funding)?
CCAE and CAEAA continue to work with legislative and department of finance staff on these issues and we are happy to report we are making positive strides. Continue to meet with legislators and their staff to explain the importance of their support!
Adult Education 2021 Ed Code Cleanup & Proposed Reforms
CAEAA, in partnership with CCAE, has identified what we believe to be issues that ultimately result in confusion, frustration, and less services to students across the California Adult Education Program. In response, we are proposing to “clean-up” current K-12 Adult Education Ed Code and implement new Ed Code language that:
- Aligns existing K-12 Adult Education Ed Code with CAEP Ed Code while preserving Ed Code that defines Adult Schools and their operation under a K-12 school districts
- Increases accountability on consortium spending or lack there of while providing grace through a two year planning and implementation window and honoring local regional decision making.
- Increases transparency around Adult Education related funding (received and expended) to provide for more robust consortium conversations around funding.
- Provides a new state level process to deliver funds to directed funded K-12 members on a more timely basis.
- Provides a new performance based accountability model that can be customized by local regions to reflect local priorities.
| Click Here to Download "Adult Education 2021 Ed Code Cleanup & Proposed Reforms Documentosed_reforms_v7.pdf |
