Early last month, Mayor Fenty unveiled his budget proposal for the next fiscal year. In it, he proposed many budget cuts for vital services that serve those with low-incomes including adult education. The mayor’s budget proposes to cut almost one million dollars from adult education and family literacy funding for the district. Currently adult education is funded at less than five million dollars and many programs are struggling.
Update:
On May 11th, the DC Council Committee of the Whole with Chairman Vincent Gray made this recommendation:
Adult Literacy and Family Education: The Office of the State Superintendent of Education has proposed a significant reduction in the budget for adult literacy and family education for FY11. These funds support programs that assist District residents in improving literacy skills, earning a GED, training for new job opportunities and breaking the vicious cycle of illiteracy, unemployment and poverty. Nearly 30% of District residents are considered functionally illiterate. The long term implications of continued trends in illiteracy far outweigh the benefit of short term cost savings. As such, the Committee recommends full restoration of proposed reductions.
In light of this recommendation, if you would like to help, we are asking that you email your council member and ask them to support this recommendation to fully restore the proposed reductions to the Adult Education and Family Literacy funds. You can also email DC Council Chairman Vincent Gray and thank him for proposing this recommendation (a sample thank you letter is here). There is a sample draft of an email below that you are free to copy and edit as well as DC council member addresses:
Dear Council Member,
I am a concerned resident and registered voter of your ward and am writing to you today to urge you not to cut funding for adult education and family literacy programs in the District of Columbia. The mayor’s proposed cut of about $965,000 to funds distributed through the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is an abandonment of adult education and will force these programs to significantly cut back on services. Currently most of these programs are considerably understaffed, but are dealing with an increased demand for their services.
On May 11th, the DC Council Committee of the Whole with Chairman Vincent Gray made the following statement regarding Adult Education and Family Literacy in the District of Columbia:
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education has proposed a significant reduction in the budget for adult literacy and family education for FY11. These funds support programs that assist District residents in improving literacy skills, earning a GED, training for new job opportunities and breaking the vicious cycle of illiteracy, unemployment and poverty. Nearly 30% of District residents are considered functionally illiterate. The long term implications of continued trends in illiteracy far outweigh the benefit of short term cost savings. As such, the Committee recommends full restoration of proposed reductions.
I am therefore asking that you support this recommendation and fully restore the proposed reductions that would greatly affect adult learners in the District.
Thank you for your time.
DC Council Members’ email addresses:
Jim Graham (Ward 1): jgraham@dccouncil.us
Jack Evans (Ward 2): jackevans@dccouncil.us
Mary Cheh (Ward 3): mcheh@dccouncil.us
Muriel Bowser (Ward 4): mbowser@dccouncil.us
Harry Thomas (Ward 5): hthomas@dccouncil.us
Tommy Wells (Ward 6): twells@dccouncil.us
Yvette Alexander (Ward 7): yalexander@dccouncil.us
Marion Barry (Ward 8): mbarry@dccouncil.us
{ 5 comments }
Adult literacy is too important to have funds cut. The District of Columbia cannot compete as a ‘world class’ city if they are not concerned about the entire population.
We need adult literacy services in DC. Its about equal access to opportunity.
Please continue the funding for adult education. Many of the students are actually kids with kids. My teenage daughter, Julia, was pregnant at sixteen years old and dropped out of highschool. Today she is nineteen years old and has earned her GED and has been admittted to UDC. She attended GED classes at ARCH and Covenant House. Respectfully submitted, a happy Mom and grandmother.
Adult literacy in the District of Columbia is a must. To even consider the possibility of cutting funds for this program is unthinkable. We know that a literate populace is an informed populace, one that votes and take an active part in government and in the greater society.
PLEASE, PLEASE,PLEASE. . . DO NOT cut funds for Adult Education. I have 2 grandsons that are depending on these funds to get their GEDs. It may be the only hope they have.
{ 9 trackbacks }