BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Senator Carol Liu, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 1846
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|Author: |Lopez |
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|Version: |May 27, 2016 Hearing |
| |Date: June 15, 2016 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Kathleen Chavira |
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Subject: Adult Education Block Grant Program: report
SUMMARY
This bill expands existing reporting requirements on the use of
Adult Education Block Grant funds, and outcomes for adults, to
include information on the extent to which funds provided to
Adult Education Consortia were insufficient to address demand
for Adult Education.
BACKGROUND
Existing law establishes the Adult Education Block Grant Program
(AEBGP) under the administration of the Chancellor of the
Community Colleges and the Superintendent of Public Instruction
(SPI) to support the effective provision of services that
address the education needs of adults in all regions of the
state. The Chancellor and SPI were required to divide the state
into adult education regions (regional consortia) for this
purpose. Existing law also provides for the use and
apportionment of funds based upon plans developed by the
regional consortia. Existing law also requires, as a condition
of funding, approval of an adult education plan that includes
specified information for that fiscal year. This information
includes an evaluation of adult education needs in the region, a
list of entities that provide these services, an evaluation of
current levels and types of service, and an evaluation of all
funds available to consortium members and other entities, among
other things. (Education Code § 84900- 84913)
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Existing law requires the Chancellor and the SPI to submit
specified information on the use of Adult Education Block Grant
funds, and outcomes for adults statewide and in each region, in
order to inform actions taken by the Governor and the
Legislature related to adult education. (EC § 84917)
ANALYSIS
This bill expands existing reporting requirements on the use of
Adult Education Block Grant funds and outcomes for adults. It:
1) Requires the Chancellor and the SPI to include a summary of
the extent to which Adult Education Block Grant funds
provided to consortia were insufficient to address demands
for adult education within each consortium's service area.
2) Requires the summary to be based upon an assessment by each
consortium.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill. The author notes, California's long
standing commitment to adult education, and notes the
significant cuts to these programs associated with the
recent recession, including the permanent closure of 65
schools between the years 2008-2013. The author also cites
the 2015 Adult Education Regional Planning Report (required
under the provisions of AB 86) which estimated that 15.3
million adults are in need of these programs. The report
made several recommendations including increasing service
levels to meet the demand for adult education.
2) History. In a December 2012 report, Restructuring
California's Adult Education System, the Legislative
Analyst's Office identified several weaknesses with the
existing adult education system, a bifurcated system in
which both K-12 and community colleges offered courses
subject to distinctly different policies. In 2013 the
Governor proposed, and the Legislature approved, AB 86
(Budget Committee, Chapter 48, Statutes of 2013) which
charged the SPI and the California Community Colleges
Chancellor's Office with jointly implementing an adult
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education planning process. AB 86 also appropriated $25
million to distribute to regional consortia, composed of at
least one K-12 Adult and one community college district, to
develop joint plans for serving adult education students in
their region. Across the state, 70 consortia were formed,
representing all 72 community colleges and 320 K-12 school
districts. In September 2014, the Legislature also passed
SB 173 (Liu, Chapter, Statutes of 2014) which required the
California Department of Education and Chancellor's Office
to develop joint recommendations for assessment and
placement practices, accountability, and fees.
Among other things, consortia were asked to develop plans
to address the five program areas specified in AB 86
(elementary and basic skills, English as a second language,
citizenship and workforce preparation for immigrants,
programs for adults with disabilities, short-term Career
Technical Education (CTE) programs with high employment
potential, and programs for apprentices). Each consortium
was also required to identify current adult education
services and service gaps and to develop a joint plan to
address them.
3) Adult Education needs. According to the 2015 Adult
Education Regional Planning Report required by AB 86 and SB
173, there is a significant and growing demand for adult
education in California. The report notes that about 15.3
million adults are in the population groups targeted by the
five AB 86 adult education program areas. These include:
a) 5.2 million adults without a high school diploma
or GED.
b) 8 6.2 million adults with limited English
proficiency.
c) 1.1 million adults eligible for citizenship
courses.
d) 1.9 million adults with disabilities.
e) About 500,000 unemployed adults lacking a high
school diploma,
and over 500,000 young adults (age 20-24) who are
AB 1846 (Lopez) Page 4
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unemployed.
The report notes that other factors driving demand for
adult education include layoffs related to the 2008
recession and immigration reform at the national level.
Immigration reform is projected to add 5.2 million to those
seeking adult education nationally, with 1.5 million of
these individuals in California.
4) Shouldn't we consider all funds? The reforms of adult
education in California were implemented in an effort to
ensure a more coordinated and efficient use of various fund
sources for this purpose at the regional level. This bill,
in an effort to highlight the extensive unmet need for
adult education programs, focuses on the Adult Education
Block Grant exclusively. Current law requires, as a
condition of funding, that consortia plans annually include
an evaluation of funds available to the consortium and
other entities that provide education and workforce
services for adults in the region, including funds other
than Adult Education Block Grant funds. Shouldn't a review
of the sufficiency of funding include examination of all
entities that receive funding for these education and
workforce services?
Staff recommends the bill be amended on page 3 to replace
(a)(6) with the following "A summary, based upon a review
of the annual adult education plan required pursuant to
section 84906, of the extent to which funds provided
pursuant to this article, in combination with funds
available to the consortium and other entities that provide
education and workforce services for adults in the region,
were insufficient to address the demands for adult
education within the service area of the consortium."
SUPPORT
None received.
OPPOSITION
None received.
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