Kenny Tamarkin's Blog

MCAE Introduces Organizational Membership and Leadership Circle

abetech — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:22:48 +0000

The Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education (MCAE) is now offering organizational memberships for $200 and membership in the MCAE Leadership Circle for $500. These new memberships provide a way for organizations, including local Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs, to show their support for MCAE and ABE in Massachusetts. Go to the MCAE website, www.mcae.net or email MCAE Executive Director Kenny Tamarkin at KTamarkin@mcae.net, for more details.

New ABE Working Conditions Blog

abetech — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:09:06 +0000

The Working Conditions Committee of the Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education has just started a new blog, Making a Living(?) in Adult Education. The hope is that it will be a catalyst for a discussion of Working Conditions for ABE practitioners. The URL is www.mcae.net/mcaeblog.

Champion of Adult Basic Education Retiring from Massachusetts Legislature

abetech — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:56:38 +0000

After many years as the champion of Adult Basic Education (ABE) in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Dan Bosley has announced that he will not be seeking reelection. The Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education wants to thank Representative Bosley for his years of service and support. He was a friend and advocate for those needing ABE services.

Reducing ESOL Waitlists a Priority for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick

abetech — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:48:03 +0000

On Tuesday November 17, at the New Americans Thanksgiving luncheon at the Massachusetts State House, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick accepted a report with 131 recommendations from the New Americans Agenda Policy Group. In his speech, the Governor emphasized the importance of reducing waiting lists for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes, which was one of the recommendations.

I applaud the Governor for his attention to the concerns of Immigrants and his understanding of the crucial role of ESOL instruction. Currently the state spends approximately $1,700 per student per year on ESOL instruction. Approximately 16,000 people are currently on waitlists for state and federal funded ESOL instruction in Massachusetts. At the current rate of spending, $27 million would have to be found to fund this expansion. I can’t think of any other investment that the state can make that offers a more promising return then investing in the skills levels of our residents.

Testimony Regarding the Massachusetts Workers’ Pathways to Self Sufficiency Act (SB37)

abetech — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:31:21 +0000

Submitted by Kenneth Tamarkin, Executive Director, Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education at the State House, Boston, MA, September 15, 2009
I am Kenneth Tamarkin, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education (MCAE), the organization that represents Adult Basic Education (ABE) in Massachusetts, and on behalf of that organization, I am here today to testify in support of SB 37, the Workers’ Pathways to Self Sufficiency Act. I want to thank Senator James Eldridge, Representative Linda Dorcena Forry, and the co-sponsors of this bill for crafting legislation that will simultaneously aid low-income individuals in need and improve the quality of the Commonwealth’s workforce.
In Massachusetts, we have many residents who desperately want and need, but are unable to afford education leading to a degree or certificate that could open the door to a living wage job. Currently, the Educational Grants program is the only grant program in the state to provide support to learners that attend college less than half time to receive financial assistance and to use a part of that assistance for living expenses. Many adult learners have responsibilities that make it impossible to attend college more than half time and do not have the financial resources or income to pay for living expenses while attending classes. This legislation provides a solution for these learners by recapitalizing the Educational Grants program.
MCAE strongly supports investing $1.5 million in pilot funding for targeted services to help Education Rewards students complete a degree or certificate. Massachusetts already has small transitions programs in most of the state’s community college that are often the difference between a learner successfully completing a program or dropping out. We hope and expect that this new funding would build on those existing successes and help more learners complete their certificates or degrees.
MCAE also supports the sections of the legislation that refers to Transitional Assistance for Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) recipients. If a TAFDC recipient needs Adult Basic Education (ABE) or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), the current work requirement policy creates a huge barrier to that individual gaining the education and training they need to qualify for a living wage job by enrolling in and attending a certificate or degree program. This legislation would double the amount of time that education and training can be used to fulfill the work requirement for TAFDC. This change would give recipients the opportunity to permanently escape poverty and increase their contributions to our communities. We need to help more people who only current options are low wage/low skill jobs move to self-supporting/taxpaying careers.

Tax Hike Was Needed for Important Services

abetech — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:26:54 +0000

Following is the text of a letter to the editor I wrote that was published by the Andover Townsman on July 30, 2009.

Tax hike was needed for important services

Editor, Townsman:

The current financial crisis has brought into sharp focus our local and state government needs for more revenues. While some people still cling to the myth that the Massachusetts state and local tax burden is high, according to the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, last year that burden ranked 36th in the nation, far from the third-highest tax burden of 30 years ago. Even with the new taxes that are being implemented this coming year, Massachusetts will still likely have lower taxes than most other states.

State and local officials, including Gov. Deval Patrick and our State House legislative delegation of Sen. Sue Tucker, Rep. Barbara L’Italien, and Rep. Barry Finegold had the political courage to support increased revenues. While all of us support ongoing vigilance and effort to reduce waste, our financial shortfall is too large to be totally handled by increased efficiency.

Even with new revenues, this year’s state and local budgets are facing enormous challenges, and government services that we tend to take for granted are under threat. No one likes to pay taxes, but taxes are needed to pay for such things as safe roads and bridges, effective schools, fire and police protection, care for the elderly and disabled, and parks and recreation. Taken together, all these services enhance our quality of life and serve the public good.

Support HR 3238 Adult Education and Economic Growth Act of 2009

abetech — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:59:39 +0000

An excellent piece of Adult Education legislation has been introduced by Representatives Kennedy and Hinojosa. HR 3238, the Adult Education and Economic Growth Act of 2009, will create new opportunities to move Adult Basic Education forward. It provides for support for integrated basic skills and workforce training. It supports staff development for adult education practitioners. It provides funds and direction for upgrading the technological capacity of Adult Education. And it provides a needed increase in federal funding for the woefully underfunded Adult Education system.