WCCUSD Older Adult Program to lose funding

Release Date: February 16, 2019

Contact Information:
Kristen Pursley
President, Adult School Teachers United
(510) 741-8359
(510) 387-6357 (cell)
kpursley@pacbell.net

ADULT SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR OLDER ADULTS TO CLOSE

Adult school programs that serve over 200 older adults in the cities of El Cerrito and Richmond will close this June unless something is done to save them. Christ Lutheran Senior Center and St. John’s Senior Center in El Cerrito, as well as the Sakura Kai senior center for Japanese-speaking seniors, are all at risk due to a 2013 decision by the state government to cease funding adult school programs for older adults (adults over the age of 55) out of the education budget. Other cities in California may soon lose their Older Adult programs due to lack of funding as well. Legislators promised to find other funding for these programs, but never did so, leaving these programs to close immediately or struggle. Those that have been struggling are beginning to run out of time. Adult School Teachers United, the union that represents adult school teachers in the West Contra Costa Unified School District, along with other local organizations, such as the Concilio Latino and Pinole Progressive Alliance, are asking the State of California to find the funding it promised for these programs in order to save them.
Some adult schools were forced to close their Older Adult programs as soon as the state funding for them was cancelled, but others, feeling an obligation to students they had served for years, scrambled to keep their Older Adult programs open with whatever other funding they could find. However, funding for adult schools in California is very tight; there hasn’t been any substantial increase since before 2008. With rising costs and stagnant funding, West Contra Costa Adult Education, which runs the programs in Richmond and El Cerrito, has reluctantly made the decision to close the programs down.
The program was originally slated to close in December, but the West Contra Costa Board of Education intervened to keep the program from closing mid-year. The programs have been told by the Board, however, that they must find funding if they are to continue beyond June.
Adult school programs for Older Adults are a good investment for the state. They combat isolation, which is one of the most serious challenges facing older Americans. Studies have repeatedly shown that programs where older adults learn new things, socialize and stay active in civic life, actually save the state money by helping seniors stay healthy and active longer. Healthy, active seniors need fewer government services and also make significant contributions to their communities through volunteer work.
Whatever reason the state had for pulling the funding for adult school programs for seniors, it wasn’t really economic. Community colleges can still run similar programs with state funds, and these programs are more expensive because community college teachers make more money. Many community colleges do not have Older Adult programs, as they are primarily institutions of higher learning concerned with offering college level courses for credit. When an adult school Older Adult program closes down, there is no guarantee that a nearby community college has a similar program, or is willing to start one. Even if a community college is willing to pick up an Older Adult program, it is more expensive to start a new program than keep an existing one going.
Adult School Teachers United and Pinole Progressive Alliance have started a letter writing campaign to ask state legislators to provide the funding that was promised to Older Adult programs. They will be requesting meetings with legislators and getting the word out to the media. For more information, see the Save Your Adult School blog at https://saveouradultschool.wordpress.com/2019/01/13/californias-broken-promises-to-older-adult-students/