News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TC NR 09 09 15 Adult Education Allocation Announced
September 11, 2015
West Kern Adult Education Consortium Awarded $750,000 Allocation
In 2013, Assembly Bill 86 appropriated $25 million to distribute to regional consortia to develop plans to strengthen adult
education programs within California. Locally, a West Kern Consortium was established and is jointly led by Maricopa
Unified School District, Taft Union High School District, and the West Kern Community College District (Taft College).
The Consortium along with its partners developed a plan in 2014/15 which focuses on the adult education needs in
western Kern County, with specific priority for education services relating to English as a Second Language, literacy, shortterm career technical training, citizenship preparation and basic skills needed for academic and career success.
The plan was submitted to the state in March 2015. Then the waiting began for a state budget released in June and Adult
Education allocation decisions to be announced in late summer.
In early September, the state announced the funding allocations for all consortiums across California. The West Kern Adult
Education Consortium learned it will receive $750,000 to put its plan into action.
The plan developed by the Consortium is based on data gathered in a Regional Economic Profile and Business Survey
conducted by BW Research Partners. The report indicates that 25% of all residents over the age of 25 in western Kern
County lack a high school diploma or high school equivalency. Further, the study showed that among this group, only 20%
hold a two-year degree as compared to 38% of those age 25 or older in California as a whole.
“Currently, adult education in western Kern County is fragmented and in many cases, non-existent,” says Dr. Dena P.
Maloney, Superintendent/President of Taft College. “The scale of need for adult education in western Kern County
exceeds the current offerings already in place. By implementing the Adult Education plan developed by the consortium,
residents in western Kern County will have greater access to educational services needed in today’s economy.”
Others agree. “The recent news regarding our allocation for funding adult education is very exciting,” states Dr. Blanca
Cavazos, Superintendent of the Taft Union High School District. “Our analysis showed that literacy, ESL and basic skills are
high priorities for our region. These funds will help us expand current programs and implement new services to improve
these areas.”
Upon news of the allocation award, the Consortium leadership is planning an all-partner meeting to lay out the next
steps in the process. It will build upon existing programs and services already in place provided by the Consortium
Partners, and new approaches tested out during pilot projects over the summer. One such program was offered by the
West Kern Regional Occupational Center and hosted at Maricopa High School over the summer.
“The AB86 pilot project for culinary arts provided needed training for those wishing to work in the culinary industry,”
states Dr. Scott Meier, Superintendent of the Maricopa Unified School District. “By combining the instructional
expertise of the ROP with the facilities at Maricopa High School, we were able to expand the reach of the Adult
Education pilot program. This is a great model for the future.”
To learn more about the Adult Education project in western Kern County, please contact Joe’ll Chaidez, AB86 Project
Director at Taft College. Joe’ll can be reached at 661. 763.7962 or via email at jchaidez@taftcollege.edu. More
information on the AB86 project and the West Kern AB86 Consortium is available at www.westkernab86.com.
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