Editor:
If K-12 education was meeting the needs of Arizona’s citizenry, would the state have an annual drop-out rate of 23,000, as stated recently in The Arizona Republic? Would approximately 800,000 adults in Arizona be without a high school diploma? As the debate about the quality of K-12 education, and the impact of funding, continues, two valuable education programs that address the needs of high school drop-outs and under-educated adults are in danger of elimination.
According to the Arizona Association for Lifelong Learning, last year over 43,000 Arizona adults were served by adult education programs and GED testing. Fourteen thousand, five hundred (14,500) GEDs were awarded during the 2008/2009 program year.
Despite the apparent need for these programs, and their successful record in assisting adults to earn a high school diploma, Governor Brewer has recommended that funding for these programs be eliminated.
It is well and good to focus on improving K-12 education, if that can realistically be done while cutting K-12 funding. But let’s not abandon the high school dropouts and undereducated adults of Arizona who struggle to complete their education without appropriate support, which, incidentally, is required by Arizona State Statute.
Adult education and GED testing are critical to the future of Arizona citizens, families, and communities. Arizona can’t afford to ignore these valuable programs.
Karen Wartick
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2 comments:
Our system cuts funding for childrens' and adults' education. Our Veterans programs are struggling and the homeless are growing in population. At this time, I wonder how irrational it would be to limit our spending on extracurricular activities, like the wages we encourage our professional athletes and hollywood celebrities to earn. Or, perhaps our town should follow suit and invest in a football team as opposed to a college and roundabout. After a while, Payson should be able to afford to buy back the bridge, fund our own citizens educations and wellbeing, and to heck with the rest of them.
Apples plus oranges equal bananas.
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