The Adult Education Budget

Budgeting can be a challenge for all administrators, regardless of the size of the adult school. However, budgeting for a small adult school with its limited adult education funds can be particularly challenging. It requires attention to detail, some creative thinking, and fairly accurate estimation skills. If an administrator understands the intent of the Education Code’s budget language as it relates to adult school programs, budgeting activities can be as flexible as necessary to respond to community needs within the ten authorized program areas.

Adult school funds must be spent on appropriate adult school expenses, and the district must establish and maintain a separate fund for all adult school transactions. Money must be expended according to EC 52616.4.

Historically, the adult school base revenue limit has been calculated at a lower level of the revenue per ADA received by K-12 schools. Adult Education’s revenue limit requires innovative practices to secure supplemental income. Increase of the base revenue limit is legislated through annual Budget Act language and is based on a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). The CDE apportions each adult school a maximum amount of the revenue funds that it may earn each year based on the ADA “cap.” When schools do not meet cap, the unused dollars are returned to the state general fund. Adult school administrators must track ADA and monitor expenses to ensure that expenses do not exceed income.

Improper use of a district’s adult education funds could result in the requirement for the school district to repay double the amount that had been improperly charged to adult education. This amount shall be used only for improvement of the adult education program.

Please click on the link below to read more about Augmenting the Adult School Budget.

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