Nearly one million Maryland adults are in need of literacy skills, a high school diploma, or to become proficient in the English Language and 57% of this target population of adult learners are not part of the labor force, according to findings of the State Superintendent's Panel on Excellence in Adult Education.

"Our goal is to keep Maryland positioned to compete in the global economy," said Ed Hale, Sr., CEO of Baltimore-based 1ST Mariner Bank and Chair of the State Superintendent's Panel. "Without adult education, we're losing ground."

The Panel's report, "Stepping Up to the Future: Adult Literacy Challenges at Work, at Home, and in the Maryland Community," outlines a series of findings and recommendations that illustrate both educational and economic implications for the state and its local communities. The demand for adult education services in the state outstrips availability, and the current waiting list for services-which is about 5,000 statewide-inadequately reflects the full extent of the demand. Since demand already exceeds supply, programs do not actively promote services and recruit learners. They barely have enough staff to manage programs and active waiting lists. Only 3 to 5 percent of the target population of adult learners can be accommodated annually.

Maryland adult education programs include English acquisition, commonly known as English as a Second Language (ESL), Adult Basic Literacy, GED, Family Literacy, and External Diploma Programs. When these programs are made available, through a variety of avenues-from local school systems and community colleges to prisons and stand-alone adult education centers-the learners improved a literacy level or continued in instruction one enrolled; 76% of adult secondary students earned a high school diploma. Maryland has been one of the top performing programs in the country, exceeding the annual targets on performance measures established by the U.S. Department of Education and qualifying for federal incentive funds for three consecutive years based on documented results.

"Every dollar invested in adult education yields a return of $3.15," said State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick, who appointed the Panel. "That's an impressive rate of return for the state and local communities in terms of dollars and cents. But we also see more than the economic value. Parents who achieve a level of success through quality adult education services are more likely to be involved in their own children's education, which has a substantial impact on our pre-K through 12 education efforts."

Recommendations

The Panel's recommendations fall under one broad goal: to increase access for more Marylanders to evidence-based, high quality adult education services. Recommendations include:
   • Increasing the state and local investment in evidence-based adult
      education;
   • Establishing in statute a state funding formula for adult education;
   • Consolidating three existing state funding streams for adult
      education within the Maryland State Department of Education;
   • Encouraging workplace education partnerships with businesses,
      including incentives; and
   • Publishing an annual state performance report on the adult
      education program to document accountability.

The Panel recommends substantial increases in state and local investment to ensure program excellence and expanded enrollment. This means increasing the number of "contact hours" of instruction per learner. Current estimates would call for an additional state investment of $5 million for the first year and $26.5 million for a fully phased-in appropriation over four to five years.

Support for Recommendation and Possible Legislation

"The greatest demand for literacy services (47 percent) are among those newly arrived to our country who are struggling to make a living in our English speaking culture," said State Comptroller William Donald Schaefer. "This is a growing and important population in our state.

I have raised this issue before, but my concerns seemed to get lost in translation. Armed with the findings of the task force, now is the time to make a commitment to doing a better job of helping all Marylanders who need literacy services. It helps the individual and it helps society in the long term through savings in welfare, unemployment, law enforcement and health care expenditures. As Comptroller, I would say this is a wise investment."

Support for the findings and recommendations in the report have been echoed by Sen. Patrick Hogan (D) Montgomery County who plans to sponsor a bill to support the funding structure and additional funding needed to adequately address Maryland's adult basic education needs.

"I have been a long-time supporter of the unique educational need of Maryland's adult learning community," commented Sen. Hogan. "Adult students take classes because they want to, not because they are required to or because their families are pushing them to go to school. Adult education offers an all around, win-win scenario. The individual wins, the family wins, the community wins and the state wins. The only possible negative outcome would be if we did not fund the current and growing number of Marylanders who need quality adult basic education."

Success Stories

Examples of the success of adult education programs can probably best be described through the stories of participants like Maria Avelar and Kerry Branch. Maria came to the United States in 1995 from Mexico with "no English skills at all." Through the help of the adult education services at the Adelphi/Langley Park Family Support Center in Prince George's County, she took English language classes for more than a year, making "medical appointments, school visits, and life in general, much easier." With increased knowledge in her abilities, she found she could help her children more, especially when it came to homework and getting more involved with their school. She now plans to continue using adult education services by focusing on getting her GED and maybe going to college.

Kerry Branch is also a wife and mother. She lives in Montgomery County but is an External Diploma student at Howard Community College. She "spent the last 10 years feeling "frustrated and ashamed" because she left high school with only three and a half credits to graduate. Then she found the External Diploma Program, where she has had the opportunity to further her education. She looks forward to getting her diploma, moving on to college, and then a successful career.

Members of the State Superintendent's Panel include: Ed Hale, Sr., CEO of 1st Mariner Bank; Dr. Linda Burgee, Superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools; Dr. JoAnn Crandall, Professor of Education at the University of Maryland Baltimore County; Christopher Eddings, Publisher of The Daily Record; Maggi Gaines, Executive Director of spark: Partnership for Service; Dr. Gerald Heeger, President of the University of Maryland University College; Fred Mason, President of Maryland and DC AFL-CIO; Frances Miller, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services for Kent County Public Schools; Tom Perez, President of the Montgomery County Council; and Ronald Pugsley, RP Associates Education consultant and Former National Director of Adult Education and Literacy Services for the U.S. Department of Education.

The full report is available at www.marylandpublicschools.org. Click on News Room, then Publications and it is the first report listed.

Comptroller Schaefer Expresses Strong Support for MSDE Adult Education Report