Board approves CDS code for Duarte Adult School to expand adult-education funding

The Duarte Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously to establish a separate California Department of Education (CDS) school code for the Duarte Adult School, a step district staff said will allow the district to draw a larger share of funding from the regional adult-education consortium.

Mr. Morris, who presented the item on behalf of the district’s adult education program, said the district has operated adult education as a program under other district control and will now receive a separate CDS code. “By receiving the CDS code, we'll be able to receive more of the 5 and a half million dollars that are being funneled through the consortium, and will be a larger part of that,” Morris said, referring to the consortium funding pool.

Nut graf: The board's action converts the district’s adult-education offering into a separately coded school for state funding purposes, which staff said will allow Duarte to expand adult classes, hire additional instructors and increase enrollment and services.

District staff said the program has grown and that by the coming Monday the district expected 27 adult students enrolled in the newly coded Duarte Adult School. Trustees praised the program’s impact, noting examples of multi-generational educational attainment, in which adult learners who complete the program also support their children’s education.

Ending: The board approved the CDS code by a 5–0 vote and directed staff to proceed with program expansion and to report back on enrollment and services as the program grows.