State education officials are criticizing a proposal by Gov. Linda Lingle to help balance the state budget by reducing payments for state adult education to $2.7 million from $5.4 million. Lingle adult education
plan criticizedBy Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.com
State school board member Shannon Ajifu said Lingle's proposal "made absolutely no sense."
The reaction from Pat Hamamoto, state schools superintendent, was equally skeptical.
The 50 percent reduction would have "a significant impact on direct instructional services for those most in need of the free service," Hamamoto said.
"The majority of adults who participate in adult basic education, English literary and adult secondary classes are on a fixed income ... or senior citizens," Hamamoto said in a letter to the school board.
She also warned that the budget cut would also reduce the Department of Education's ability to teach adult basic education, literacy and civics by half.
"Such a reduction may impact the number of participants served and the program's capacity to provide optimal learning conditions," Hamamoto said.
Budget cuts might also jeopardize federal matching funds, if the program is cut in half, Hamamoto added.
Lingle had argued that the adult education program was teaching country line dancing and karaoke singing, services that were not essential parts of state government.
Supporters of the program, however, noted that the enrichment programs offered by adult education charged a fee and were almost all self-supporting.
State Department of Education
Office of the Governor