In California, both community colleges and K-12 school districts can provide adult education. Over the years, colleges and school districts have collaborated and partnered to divide adult education responsibilities and serve communities based on need.
Governor Brown wants one adult education system for California and proposed a plan to align college and K-12 adult education services throughout the state, emphasizing the strengths of each organization to maintain the best-in-class for adult education.
This new alignment is outlined in Assembly Bill 86 (AB 86) and also provides the framework for San Diego Continuing Education (SDCE) and San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) to form an Adult Education Regional Consortium. The consortium is working together on a new plan for adult education in San Diego—one that focuses on seamless transitions from adult education to postsecondary education or the workforce.
“I believe the collaborative will have implications to future generations in 10, 20, and even 30 years down the line,” said Jamil Person, an adult educator at SDUSD and one of the faculty members in the consortium who is working on the regional plan.
Adult students often face challenges to success and the faculty members in the planning group understand those challenges because they are currently teaching adults and have real examples about what is needed to help an adult student succeed. They share the examples in a way that often results in a new or better way to teach.
“It feels quite exciting to be a part of this historical process. We are active participants in molding the future delivery of adult education,” said Person.
Molding is a good word to describe the work because the consortium includes many faculty members who bring expertise and knowledge to the planning table as a foundation for the new plan. After months of discussion and sharing ideas, the plan has taken shape to form a viable, innovative, successful design that will help adult San Diegans succeed in their educational goals.
“During the work, our esteemed faculty became emboldened to use their skills and talents outside of their programs,” explains Rachel Rose, a faculty member at SDCE and member of the planning group. “This cross disciplinary collaboration immediately evoked the augmentation of transition pathways and student services within and across disciplines, which means that in the short 7 months the group has been working together, each individual has already contributed to increasing support for students currently being served.”
A draft of the comprehensive plan was delivered to the State Chancellor’s office on December 31, 2014 and the final plan is expected to be prepared in March.
“The new plan will be something significant that I will reflect upon,” said Person, “and say proudly to myself ‘I was a part of that’.”