Facts
California is in a Growing Workforce Crisis
There are two million jobs that require a skilled workforce with training and certification in education and healthcare.
- In California public schools, where 77% of K-12 students are students of color, only 37% of teachers are educators of color. Diversifying the teaching workforce is vital for equitable learning environments and improved educational outcomes for all students. Source: https://www.latimes.com/
california/story/2023-04-16/ californias-shortage-of- diverse-teachers-is-hurting- students-educators-say
- According to the California School Boards Association, we need approximately 100,000 new teachers to provide high-quality education for our state’s students. Source: https://www.csba.org/Advocacy/
EducationLegalAlliance/~/ media/CSBA/Files/Advocacy/ELA/ 2015_CaliforniasChallenge- FundingAdequacyReport
- To ensure that the teaching population is reflective of California student demographics, adult learners from underserved communities need access to affordable, flexible online education.
- Growing shortages of essential health care workers to fill the daily needs of patients – including a shortage of over 40,000 registered nurses. Source
5.1 MILLION California adults over 25 years old intend to enroll in higher education within the next two years.
Yet current college capacity does not meet our state’s workforce demand and needs — forcing more Californians to leave the state. Source:https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/higher-education-in-california-expanding-college-access-october-2019.pdf
California is Failing Adult Learners
- The need to overcome financial barriers and provide 24/7 flexibility in educational courses are the biggest changes needed to enable California adults to return or enroll in a higher education program.
- Nearly 80% of respondents believe that California adult learners with families, work, and other responsibilities need a flexible 24/7 online college education that works for them and meets their needs at their own pace. Source: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-01-30-to-better-serve-adult-learners-eliminate-the-barriers-between-work-and-learning
- If these barriers are addressed, 50% of these adult learners expressed strong interest in returning or enrolling in higher education.*
Time to Prioritize Higher Education Opportunities for Adult Learners
- Eliminate barriers for financial support by creating an Adult Learner Workforce Opportunity Grant specific to adult learners who need 100% flexibility to earn a degree or credential.
- The grant will open opportunities to adult learners who need financial relief and the flexibility to learn around their work and family schedules.
For more information, go to www.CAL-Network.com/.
*Heart+Mind Strategies completed n=1065 interviews with a representative sample of Californians with some or no college matching age, gender, and ethnicity of the US Census for California. Additional oversample interviews were conducted with key groups, including: veterans, single mothers/fathers, foster children, rural residents, low-income rural residents, Asians, 1st and 2nd generation immigrants. Respondents participated via an online survey conducted June 15 to July 20, 2021.