Article 3. Adult Education Consortium Program of California Education Code >> Division 7. >> Title 3. >> Part 50. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 3.
(a) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and
the State Department of Education shall, pursuant to funding made
available in the annual Budget Act, jointly provide two-year planning
and implementation grants to regional consortia of community college
districts and school districts for the purpose of developing
regional plans to better serve the educational needs of adults.
(1) Eligibility shall be limited to consortia consisting of at
least one community college district and at least one school district
within the boundaries of the community college district, either of
which may serve as the consortium's fiscal agent, as determined by
the applicant consortium.
(2) If a community college district chooses not to participate in
a consortium, a neighboring community college district may form a
consortium with school districts within the boundaries of the
nonparticipating community college district.
(3) Consortia may include other entities providing adult education
courses, including, but not necessarily limited to, correctional
facilities, other local public entities, and community-based
organizations.
(b) Grant funds provided pursuant to this section shall be used by
each regional consortium to create and implement a plan to better
provide adults in its region with all of the following:
(1) Elementary and secondary basic skills, including classes
required for a high school diploma or high school equivalency
certificate.
(2) Classes and courses for immigrants eligible for educational
services in citizenship and English as a second language, and
workforce preparation classes in basic skills.
(3) Education programs for adults with disabilities.
(4) Short-term career technical education programs with high
employment potential.
(5) Programs offering pre-apprenticeship training activities
conducted in coordination with one or more apprenticeship programs
approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards for the
occupation and geographic area.
(c) (1) The classes and courses described in paragraphs (1) and
(2) of subdivision (b) shall distribute basic information on American
government and civics that includes, but is not limited to,
instruction on all of the following:
(A) Federal, state, and local government.
(B) The three branches of government.
(C) The importance of civic engagement.
(D) Registering to vote.
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that, consistent with the
requirements of Sections 51225.3 and 52555, students enrolled in
classes and courses described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of
subdivision (b) in which instruction in American government and
civics is appropriate shall receive instruction in American
government and civics.
(d) Each regional consortium's plan shall include, at a minimum:
(1) An evaluation of current levels and types of adult education
programs within its region, including education for adults in
correctional facilities; credit, noncredit, and enhanced noncredit
adult education coursework; and programs funded through Title II of
the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, known as the Adult
Education and Family Literacy Act (Public Law 105-220).
(2) An evaluation of current needs for adult education programs
within its region.
(3) Plans for parties that make up the consortium to integrate
their existing programs and create seamless transitions into
postsecondary education or the workforce.
(4) Plans to address the gaps identified pursuant to paragraphs
(1) and (2).
(5) Plans to employ approaches proven to accelerate a student's
progress toward his or her academic or career goals, such as
contextualized basic skills and career technical education, and other
joint programming strategies between adult education and career
technical education.
(6) Plans to collaborate in the provision of ongoing professional
development opportunities for faculty and other staff to help them
achieve greater program integration and improve student outcomes.
(7) Plans to leverage existing regional structures, including, but
not necessarily limited to, local workforce investment areas.
(e) The Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the
State Department of Education may identify additional elements that
consortia must include in a plan.
(f) (1) On or before March 1, 2014, the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges and the State Department of Education
shall submit a joint report to the Legislature and the Governor. This
report shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, both of the
following:
(A) The status of developing regional consortia across the state,
including identification of unserved geographic areas or emerging
gaps in regional program delivery.
(B) The status and allocation of grant awards made to regional
consortia.
(2) The report shall be submitted to the Legislature as provided
in Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(g) (1) On or before March 1, 2015, the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges and the State Department of Education
shall submit a joint report to the Legislature and the Governor. This
report shall include, but is not limited to, both of the following:
(A) The plans developed by regional consortia across the state.
(B) Recommendations for additional improvements in the delivery
system serving adult learners.
(2) The report shall be submitted to the Legislature as provided
in Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(h) It is the intent of the Legislature to work toward developing
common policies related to adult education affecting adult schools at
local educational agencies and community colleges, including
policies on fees and funding levels.
(i) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide additional
funding in the 2015-16 fiscal year to regional consortia to expand
and improve the provision of adult education.