Superintendent’s Panel on Excellence in Adult Education

What Is Adult Education? The Adult Education Program provides access to educational opportunity for out of school youth and adults who need: Instruction for a high school diploma Basic foundation skills in reading, writing, math, and critical thinking English language acquisition To be able to – Earn a high school diploma Continue education/training at postsecondary level Enhance employment/work opportunities Obtain citizenship Be a better parent and help their children succeed

Maryland Goals for Adult Education Universal Access High Standards of programs and individual educational attainment Program/course content aligned to learner, labor market and community needs Active partnerships to build infrastructure for quality adult education service

What was the Charge to the Panel? Review research on elements of quality in adult education Examine the adequacy of resources devoted to adult education in Maryland Analyze the unique adult education cost pressures associated with students with special characteristics, and with the diverse service delivery system Examine the relationship between the need for adult education and the resources Provide the State Superintendent with guidance and recommendations for adequate adult education funding and a funding appropriation formula Develop a base funding unit

The Need for Adult Education 927,264 need literacy skills, a high school diploma, or English Language skills 57% are not in the labor force 69% are in prime work years, ages 16 to 59 25% are at or below 125% of poverty

The Need for Adult Education - Out of School Youth 299,936 out of school youth, ages 16 – ,066 completed 9 or more years of school without earning a diploma 14% are at or below 100 percent of poverty

High Performing Consistently meets and exceeds performance expectations. Has earned federal incentive funds for the state for the past three years. Demand seriously outstrips capacity Current seats for only 3-5% of the target population Annual waiting lists for instruction of 5,000 students Maryland Adult Education

Findings Adult education is an education issue and it’s an economic issue. It prepares workers to help Maryland to succeed in the global economy It equips parents to prepare and support their children to be successful in school It helps reduce future costs in incarceration, welfare, unemployment, and health care costs

Maryland’s investment in adult education is not competitive with other states Maryland ranks 18th out of 18 East Coast states in state investment Maryland falls 90 % below the average Eastern states $428 expenditure per student Virginia had 14,000 students pass the GED Tests in FY04, Maryland had 5,450 Findings

Per student expenditure is inadequate to achieve expected increases in student and program outcomes MD invests only $42 per student, the cost of a GED textbook Average annual contact hours per student is well below the goal Current funding does not support a stable, well qualified, professional workforce for instruction or instructional leadership 27% of administrators are part time 85% of teachers are part time

Findings Adult Education requires partnerships to succeed Federal, State, & Local Government Business Local School Systems, Community Colleges & Community Based Organizations

Findings A proposed 74% reduction Federal funding for FY 07 puts Maryland’s program at risk Eliminates Services in 11 of 24 counties Seats for 18,000 current students Local jobs for 600 teachers Parent instruction at 34 Even Start, Judy Centers, & Family Support Centers The statewide network of professional development for teachers

Findings It’s the state’s role to provide adequate funding to support the achievement of state and national standards and performance outcomes by all the organizations it funds.

What is the Payoff? Learning Gains to Earnings Gains: The Investment in Adult Education Pays Off 76% of students with goal of obtaining a High School Diploma achieved their goal 62% of tested participants made significant educational gains – at least one grade level equivalent 16,503 high school diplomas awarded over the past five years

What is the Payoff? Learning Gains to Earnings Gains: The Investment in Adult Education Pays Off  Wage gains of $1,817 to $2,579 within 18 months of program exit for employed students Every dollar invested in adult education yielded a return of $3.15 to Maryland economy in increased earnings (FY04) Local economies netted $45 million in annual earnings gains (FY04) People with a high school diploma earn $7,216 more a year in wages (U.S. Department of Commerce)

Recommendations Stepping Up To The Plate

Recommendation 1 Increase the Investment in Adult Education Create in statute, a state appropriation formula for adult education

What Investment Is Needed? A research based prototype program 120 instructional hours per learner Enrollment of 40,000 students annually A 50/50 state and local share of the cost (federal funding reducing the required local share) A per student funding of $1,803 Phase in over four to five years Cost: Additional state investment for the fully phased-in appropriation formula - $26.5 Million

Recommendation 2 Consolidate All State Funding for Adult Education

Recommendation 3 Establish a Plan and Incentives to Encourage Workplace Education Partnerships with Business

Recommendation 4 Develop and Publish an annual State Performance Report on the Adult Education Program

Can you support the Panel recommendations and help us to implement them?

Discussion Questions What is the impact of undereducated adults and out of school youth on your business/organization ? How can you “step up to the plate”? How should the GWIB respond to the Panel recommendations?

Superintendent’s Panel on Excellence in Adult Education