Adult Education Task Force

Apologies to everybody for neglecting this page during the past few years, when I have been taking a much-needed rest from intense activism.

I'm now very glad to report that I am working with a wonderful national organization called ValueUSA. The founder and executive director of this organization -- Marty Finsterbusch -- is a former adult education student who was not able to do well in high school because of a learning disability. He enrolled in adult education programs and got the help that he needed to enter college.

We are asking all former adult students to send us their stories about the benefits of adult education in their lives. These stories can be written or recorded on digital video. You can post them here on this page, and I can share them with Marty and ValueUSA.

These stories will be used in a national campaign to increase US government support for adult education across our country. The support is increasingly important in a time when lack of education can have disastrous consequences.

We look forward to hearing and reading your stories!

On February 27, 2021, I wrote a letter addressed to President Biden, about the need for more and better educational programs for adults in the USA. I didn't send the letter to President Biden. I sent it to around half a dozen friends and people I know, people working in LAUSD's adult division and in other adult education programs in California. Those people helped me to improve the letter, and to make contact with other people who could help me even more. The network of friends and contacts grew. I found myself corresponding with adult educators across the country, many with PhDs, many who were leaders of schools, programs, and advocacy organizations. In the same spirit that I have found among lifelong learning professionals during my 35+-year career in adult education, the adult educators I connected with were selfless and generous, joining in a common purpose to expand and improve our programs through better funding and coordination from the federal government.

Today our letter was finally approved by the Executive Director of the National Coalition for Literacy. It might still undergo minor changes, and more people will probably sign on, but here (after the "

Adult Education Matters Information and Inspiration to Support and Promote Adult Education

After decades of pushing bachelor’s degrees, U.S. needs more tradespeople As California budgets millions to rebrand long-disparaged vocational education, there are an estimated 30 million jobs in the U.S. that pay at least $55,000 per year and don’t require a bachelor’s degree.

California needs Adult Education! And that can only happen with ADEQUATE funding for Adult Ed. This year - with our efforts - that could happen! 1) Push AB 39 forward 2) Yes on Schools and Communities First Proposition on November Ballot 3) Push increase of funds for Adult Ed 4) Remind Legislators and Governor that funding for Adult Ed is still below 2008 levels - Global Financial Crash. 5) Educate everyone about the value of Adult Education.

Windfall for California K-12 schools, more spending from early to higher ed in Newsom’s first budget Newsom would increase spending for education from early to higher ed, including a path to full-day preschool for every low-income child and full-day kindergarten for all 5-year olds. A surprise for K-12 districts — pension-cost relief — would free up money to spend as they want.

Wearing red for adult education at Reseda High School last night,

Cause for concern.
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2017/jun/26/slow-strangulation-adult-ed-will-mean-1000-fewer-s/

'Slow Strangulation' Of Adult Ed Will Mean 1,000 Fewer Students For Sweetwater Sweetwater Adult School is cutting its classes by 10 percent. They include parenting, English-language, citizenship and career-technical courses.

UTLA Rally at Mariachi Plaza in East L.A. to save adult education in LAUSD

Parking lot rally @ WVOC, photos taken from the roof of the administration building