P1 1WHEREAS, The week of March 22, 2015, to March 28, 2015,
2inclusive, is observed as “Adult Education Week,” recognizing
3the unique accomplishments of California adult schools; and
4WHEREAS, The Assembly of the State of California
5acknowledges that adult schools that are provided by K-12 school
6districts offer quality programs to meet the ever-changing economic
7and workforce development and lifelong learning needs of our
8diverse state; and
9WHEREAS, The first recorded adult education class in
10California was held in the basement of St. Mary’s Cathedral in
11San Francisco in 1856. The class was authorized by the San
12Francisco Board of Education to teach English to Irish, Italian,
13and Chinese immigrants. John Swett, who was the first volunteer
14teacher for the class, later became a Superintendent of Public
15Instruction; and
16WHEREAS, Adult schools, which work in collaboration with
17community centers and libraries, are a primary community resource
18for the teaching and instruction of adult literacy; and
19WHEREAS, Adult schools provide a way for adults to complete
20secondary-education studies and obtain a high school diploma at
21their own pace and to prepare for and transition to postsecondary
22education and career training; and
P2 1WHEREAS, Adult schools provide to high-school-aged students
2critical opportunities to recover credit and stay on track for
3graduation, to prevent dropping out, and to bring recent dropouts
4back to school; and
5WHEREAS, Adult schools provide instruction to those in the
6state who take English as a second language and citizenship courses
7and play a key role in immigrant integration and the path to United
8States citizenship, which is important for our diverse community
9during this time of immigration reform; and
10WHEREAS, To break the cycle of illiteracy and to support
11educational equity for all our children, we must focus on educating
12parents and adult schools provide programs in family literacy at
13elementary schools in conjunction with community-based
14organizations; and
15WHEREAS, Historically, adult schools have been called on to
16assist the state as it dealt with significant social, political, and
17economic issues, such as providing job training programs during
18the Great Depression and training for skilled and underskilled
19workers during World War II; and
20WHEREAS, Adult schools provide short-term career and
21technical training for adults seeking changes or enhancements in
22their career pathways; and
23WHEREAS, Adult schools offer varied, market-based education
24programs to enhance the lifelong learning opportunities in the
25state; and
26WHEREAS, The California State Assembly applauds Governor
27Brown for making adult education a priority by dedicating $500
28million in Proposition 98 funds for the Adult Education Block
29Grant program; and
30WHEREAS, Adult schools in California still face their biggest
31challenge, forcing funding that was previously reserved for adult
32education to be used in other areas of education, resulting in many
33adult schools decreasing in size, and the actual closing of some
34adult schools; now, therefore, be it
35Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
36week of March 22, 2015, to March 28, 2015, inclusive, be
37recognized as Adult Education Week, and the teachers,
38administrators, classified staff, and students of adult education
39programs statewide be honored for their efforts and
40accomplishments; and be it further
P3 1Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
2of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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