Adult school highlights job‑training gains and $1.9 million Golden State Pathways award

District adult‑education leaders presented an annual report outlining student outcomes, program growth and new grants intended to expand career technical education (CTE) pathways.

Julie, Director of Adult Education, told the board that duplicated enrollment for 2023–24 was just under 5,200 students and that CTE enrollment rose more than 19 percent. "NVLA Adult School is committed to engaging, supporting and empowering all adult learners from diverse backgrounds,” Julie said, summarizing the school's mission and its alignment with state adult‑education goals.

The adult school highlighted student placements and wage outcomes: recent medical‑assistant, certified‑nursing‑assistant and related graduates reported starting wages in the mid‑$20s to low‑$30s per hour. Francisco Preciado, the district’s CTE coordinator, said cohorts have produced high completion and certification rates for medical assisting and CNA programs. The district also reported an increase in hands‑on skills pass rates after curriculum updates.

The board heard that NVLA Adult School won a $1,900,000 Golden State Pathways grant to expand and improve CTE programs. Julie said the grant is one of several recent awards: "Our adult school has also been awarded additional integrated education and training grants, for a grand total of about $2.3 million in new funds to expand healthcare pathways," she said. Staff said the awards will support accelerated integrated education/training (IET) healthcare pathways, expanded externships and services to connect students with employment.

The report also covered accreditation, assessment and supports. The adult school is in year two of a six‑year WASC accreditation cycle and reported that ESL indicators exceeded state targets. Staff described a technology‑advocate model and expanded tutoring and career‑transition services. The board asked about outreach to families and about increasing enrollment; staff said they would continue community partnerships, targeted outreach (including to students at the district high schools) and state‑level publicity tied to the grants.

Students and program graduates spoke in a video shown to the board about how individualized tutoring and placement services supported their job outcomes. "This school gave me the confidence and foundation to return to my passion," Anne Raywold, an adult‑school student, said earlier in the meeting when she received a student award. Board members thanked adult‑school leaders for the report and asked staff to return with updates on implementation of the new grants.