About Us: Members and Partners

The California Adult Education Program (CAEP):
Santa Barbara Adult Education Consortium (SBAEC)

“Preparing adult students no matter where they are in their educational journey.”

The California Adult Education Program, formerly known as the Adult Education Block Grant, is an effort supported by recent state legislation AB104 and AB86, designed to align, leverage and expand tuition-free instructional and programmatic services for adult learners (ages 18+). Its goal is to ensure that adult learners enrolled in local programs move along established pathways to achieve optimum levels of literacy, post-secondary transition and employment in the workforce.

The Consortium includes representatives from local educational agencies, the Workforce Development Board and local industry partners.

SBAEC supports educational opportunities offered to adult learners in the following programs:

  1. Adult Basic and Secondary Education (ABE/ASE) - Elementary and secondary skills, including programs leading to a high school diploma or equivalency certificate.
  2. Adults Training for Child School Success (ATCSS) - Programs for adults, including but not limited to, older adults that are primarily designed to develop knowledge and skills to assist elementary and secondary-aged children to succeed academically in school.
  3. Adults with Disabilities (AWD) - Programs for adults with disabilities.
  4. Career Technical Education (CTE) - Programs in career technical education that are short term in nature and have high employment potential; and includes Pre-Apprenticeship programs.
  5. Programs offering pre-apprenticeship training activities conducted in coordination with one or more apprenticeship programs; and Education for Older Adults/Workforce (EOA/Workforce).
  6. Programs for adults, including but not limited to, older adults that are primarily related to entry or reentry into the workforce.
  7. English as a Second Language (ESL) - Programs for immigrants inclusive of citizenship, English as a second language and workforce preparation.

History & Legislation
The 2013-2014 State Budget appropriated $25 million to the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) to allocate funding for two-year planning and implementation grants. The funds were provided to eligible consortia for the purpose of developing regional plans for adult education. Assembly Bill 86 (AB 86) outlined expectations for consortium development as well as planning and implementation requirements to establish the Adult Education Consortium Program in 2015. The intent of AB 86 was to expand and improve the provision of adult education –via 71 consortia throughout California– with incremental investments starting with the 2015-16 fiscal year.

The Santa Barbara Adult Education Consortium (SBAEC) was formed in accordance with AB 104 legislation enacted in 2015.

With the passage of the AB 104 Budget Bill, AB 86 began the transition from planning to implementation. The 2015-2016 State Budget appropriated $500 million to the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) and the California Department of Education to allocate funding for adult education for the purpose of implementing and expanding AB 86 regional plans. The AB 104 Budget Bill outlines specific requirements for consortia regarding funding and reporting.

In 2018-2019, the Budget Act changed to reflect that these funds are apportionment, not a block grant. The new program name beginning July 1, 2019 became the California Adult Education Program.

The Santa Barbara Adult Education Consortium total allocation since 2016 is $6,547,798.00 with the most recent 2023-2024 allocation of $999.080.00. It renews annually and hosts monthly public meetings for transparency, collaboration, and to plan and implement education programs serving the needs of adults in our region. Since 2016, the Consortium is proud that over 73% of funding continues to be allocated towards programming each year.

Members

Santa Barbara Community College District | SBCCD

  • Consortium Chair Carola Smith
  • Official Representative: Corlei Prieto

Santa Barbara County Education Office | SBCEO

  • Official Representative: Sarah Cameron

Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board | SBCWDB

  • Official Representative: Luis F. Servin

Carpinteria Unified School District | CUSD

  • Official Representative: Gerardo Cornejo

 

Partners*

California Department of Rehabilitation – Santa Barbara District

Economic Development Collaborative: Santa Barbara Small Business Development Center

Goleta Valley Library

Santa Barbara City College 
     Adult High School | GED 
     Career Skills Institute 
     Career Technical Education
     Community Education Center 
     Disability Services and Programs for Students
     English as a Second Language
     Office of Institutional Assessment, Research and Planning 
     Short Term Vocational 
     Student Support Services

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department

Santa Barbara County Employees’ University

Santa Barbara Public Library System

Santa Barbara Unified School District

Special Education & Learning Services

Tri-Counties Regional Center

United Cerebral Palsy Work, Inc. – Santa Barbara County

Workforce One-Stop Career Center - Santa Barbara

* Partners include local public agencies, departments, and offices, particularly those with responsibility for local public safety and social services; workforce investment boards; libraries; and community-based nonprofit organizations. The Santa Barbara Adult Education Consortium is inclusive and invites more qualified partners to the table.