Adult education expands on Coastside

“It’s very unique to see both school districts joining forces and working together to continue offering educational opportunities in our community,” said Puente de la Costa Sur Education Director Noel Chavez.

The opening of La Costa Adult School comes several years after Cabrillo Adult School was closed amid the recession. At the time, adult schools around the state shuttered as school districts used funds that had once been dedicated to adult education to avoid making cuts in other areas.

School districts that have maintained adult schools were mandated to continue doing so for two years through the passage of Assembly Bill 86 in 2013. That bill also set aside $25 million in planning and implementation grants to be allocated to regional consortia made up of community college districts and school districts. The state has directed these districts to work together to create regional plans for better serving adults’ educational needs.

Districts must use grant funding toward improving five types of education programs: courses for immigrants, classes for disabled adults, courses needed for a high school diploma or equivalency, apprenticeship, and career technical education programs with high employment opportunity.

An additional $500 million was earmarked for adult education in the 2015-16 state budget.

Half Moon Bay adult school offerings will consist of English as a Second Language classes in the beginning. They will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays in room C115 at Cunha through June 9. The number and level of classes will depend on how many students come for the first day on Monday. The beginning level class will be called “Literacy,” through which students will learn how to write the alphabet and speak simple sentences, as well as develop conversation skills.

All ESL classes will teach reading, writing, grammar and computer literacy, among other skills. Childcare will be included for parents attending ESL classes as space allows.

In Pescadero, existing classes at Puente will be offered alongside a couple of new ones as part of La Costa Adult School. Starting Jan. 19, there will be three levels of ESL classes, a high school equivalency course and a class for elementary and secondary education that will be held Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Puente.

Beginning Feb. 23, a Cañada College instructor will begin teaching a class called “Language Skills for Workforce Careers,” which had been offered at the resource center in previous years. A new Spanish literacy course for Spanish speakers will also be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning March 7.

All classes are free and open to any resident age 18 and over. There is no pre-registration for classes.

For more information about La Costa Adult School, visit lacostaschool.org or call 712-7140. Questions about classes at Puente may be directed to Education Director Noel Chavez, (650) 879-1691 ext. 322 or nchavez@mypuente.org.