* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Mitchell
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
In Support of State Legislation - House Bill 150/Senate Bill 231 - Education - Funding Formula for Adult Education and Literacy Grants
FOR the purpose of supporting this legislation that would require the State Department of Education to provide competitive adult education grants beginning in fiscal year 2008 for specified eligible adult education providers, that funding for State adult education grants be provided in the State budget, and provide for the manner of calculation of the amount of a specified State adult education grant available for each county for distribution to specified adult education providers; urging the Honorable Chair and Members of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Honorable Chair and Members of the Baltimore City Delegation to the 2007 Maryland General Assembly to support passage of the legislation; and petitioning the Governor to sign the measure into law.
Body
Recitals
This legislation seeks to increase Maryland's investment in adult education by establishing a funding method that will ensure that Maryland has a sustainable and adequate adult education and literacy program, as well as adhere to the Superintendent's Panel on Excellence in Adult Education report that recommended that the State increase its investment in adult education by $26 million over the next 5 years.
According to the Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF), which is an independent network of service providers, employers, and community members concerned about low-wage, low-skill employment, the insufficient number of jobs that pay family-supporting wages, and the impact of these issues on the economic development and revitalization of the Baltimore region, there are nearly 1 million Marylanders in need of adult education services, and nearly 1 in 5 Maryland adults lacks a high school diploma or GED. Adult education includes basic literacy, GED services, and English for Speakers of Other Languages.
Maryland contributes less for adult education than nearly every other state. While Maryland spends just over $2 million on adult education or $77 per adult student, the average East Coast state spends nearly 6 times as much. The federal government, has proposed drastic cuts to adult education funding for the Fiscal Year of 2006. Maryland has historically received 80% of its adult education funding from the federal government, and the 2007 federal budget shows that this funding will be cut by 74%. This dependance on federal funding puts all of Maryland's adult education programs at risk.
The fact is that adult education programs pay off. Adults with a high school diploma earn $7,216 more per year than those who have dropped out of high school, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Maryland adult education students increase their earnings as much as 18-25% for minimum wage workers within 18 months. Adults who increase their education levels are better able to compete for higher-skilled jobs that pay family-supporting wages.
Investing in the workforce will not only earn higher wages for those who become more educated, but it will also help to keep Maryland businesses competitive. In a recent survey of businesses conducted by the University of Baltimore, nearly two-thirds of the respondents cited difficulty in finding qualified workers. In addition, businesses benefit from increased productivity, comprehension skills and job satisfaction among workers who complete adult education programs. We simply cannot let Maryland's Adult Education Programs lose funding and fall by the wayside. In these times, it is more important than ever that we support and continue to fund the programs that help educate our adult population, and make the Maryland work force as strong as it has ever been.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body supports this legislation that would require the State Department of Education to provide competitive adult education grants beginning in fiscal year 2008 for specified eligible adult education providers, that funding for State adult education grants be provided in the State budget, and provide for the manner of calculation of the amount of a specified State adult education grant available for each county for distribution to specified adult education providers; urges the Honorable Chair and Members of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Honorable Chair and Members of the Baltimore City Delegation to the 2007 Maryland General Assembly to support passage of the legislation; and petitions the Governor to sign the measure into law.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Honorable Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee is respectfully requested to include this resolution as part of the Committee record of support for legislation proposals to create funding for adult education programs in Maryland.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Governor, the Mayor, the Honorable Chair and Members of the House Ways and Means Committee, the Honorable Chair and Members of the Baltimore City Delegation to the 2007 Maryland General Assembly, the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of State Relations, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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