Speakers urge Fairfax County School Board to keep funding for Adult and Community Education

Aliyah Day Tony Zhu, a public commenter, urged the Fairfax County School Board to continue funding Adult and Community Education (ACE), saying the program serves large numbers and plays a measurable role in local workforce development. She said ACE served about 10,136 learners in fiscal 2025, including 4,286 adult ESOL students and 3,757 driver-education students, and supports more than 225 hourly instructors and 127 business partners.

"ACE generated approximately $3,150,000 in tuition income last year and $3,400,000 in grant income, totaling over $6,000,000 in combined revenue," Aliyah Day said, and added that ACE is forecasting a deficit of about $600,000 despite recent operational improvements.

Holly Hazard, chair of the adult and community education advisory committee, told the board that ACE is a "small line item with an outsized return," and asked the board to treat ACE as part of the school operating fund so staff costs and salaries for the 26 full-time positions that administer ACE are covered. Hazard highlighted ACE's role in training for HVAC, medical specialties and other high-demand fields and said local employers rely on the program's graduates.

Both speakers said ACE has improved internal operations, citing a modern registration system, marketing savings and short-term revenue-generating outreach, but argued that efficiencies alone will not close the program's projected gap without board action. They asked the board to prioritize ACE in final budget decisions to preserve workforce training and adult education access in Fairfax County.

The board will consider the superintendent's proposed FY2027 budget, including ACE funding, at its Feb. 26 regular meeting.