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Report: Participation In Kansas Adult Education On The Decline

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Kansas saw a decline in the number of adult education participants last year. Mirroring a nationwide trend, the number of people enrolled in the state’s program was the lowest it has been in five years.

The Kansas Board of Regents' annual report on adult education says more than 7,000 Kansans participated in adult education last year. That’s a decrease of more than 1,000 people since 2014, and nearly twice that since 2010.

Kansas adults enroll in Basic Education and Secondary Education in order to get a driver’s license, prepare for and obtain a GED, or to gain skills for college and a career. Many adult students enroll in English as a Second Language classes to improve their abilities in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Approximately 225,000 Kansas adults lack a high school diploma. Of these, close to 75 percent are of working age. More than 50,000 Kansas adults describe themselves as having limited proficiency in English. Susan Fish, the Regents' director of adult education, says the target population for the classes has declined over the years nationally and in Kansas as many adults who lack high school diplomas age.

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