December Board of Ed: adult ed

the backup is here
Chuang: "some people don't realize is supported by the Department"
how many students do you think are supported (haven't received high school diploma and/or still need ELL support)
"it takes a team of us to make this happen"
"over a million students still in need of services throughout the state of Massachusetts"
currently serving about 12K ESOL (English as a Second Language) and 6400 GED (still needing a diploma) students
high rate of women, of parents, of receiving state services
waitlist of 17,000 ESOL and 2500 for GED
curently fund 70 community adult learning centers across the state, with 12,599 students
10 transitions to college programming, 6 integrated education and training, and 11 integrated English and civics programs, 8 workplace programs
Sagan: what are those who don't have services doing?
A: some are waiting, some are working as it is
are looking at how to reach out to those students as well

a concentration in metro Boston, but programs throughout the state
goal is to build a high-quality, performance-driven system
looking at outcomes, looking towards flexiblity and high quality, a block per-student funding based on student need
completing educational functioning level, attain diploma, enter higher ed, gainful employment
looking at "where the baseline is and where we're headed"

strong college outcomes for those participating
"it isn't just passing the GED...it's participating in our adult basic ed program AND passing the GED"
(there's a self-sorting question here...but "there's something happening")
Framingham study: those participating more likely to register to vote!
return on investment of programs
Q on teachers: most are K-12 teachers, some are retired teachers or other professionals
"need...is so great...it is imperative that our programs hire high quality teachers"
Q money increase? Was a bump up this year, was barely making up
real dollarwise not where it was a decade ago
Q on vocational? newly created workplace programs, "the vo-tech of adult ed"

And a student panel!
Audrey Kelly (from Charlestown Adult Learning Center): "it gave me the realization that I was smart enough to complete my education"
"I knew it wouldn't be easy..."
"I can make things better for my family...now enrolled in college"
hopefully will lead to the medical field
"not only will it better me; it will better my children as well"
Ana Tizol Cantor (Chelsea Public Schools) who came to the U.S. eight months pregnant at the age of seventeen, (she hadn't been able to complete second grade in Guatemala) who speaks of understanding people speaking English on the bus, learning to use the computer, "and shopping online"
working on her high school diploma
children have asked what she wants to study: she wants to study to become a teacher assistant, or a school nurse
"my husband is my big supporter, because he is studying for his diploma; he has one more exam to get it."