July 21, 2006

Programs of excellence awarded to Metropolitan Adult Education Program

The Metropolitan Adult Education Program Adult Basic Skills program has been designated a Programs of Excellence by the California Department of Education for the 2005-06 school year.

“The designation Programs of Excellence is a great honor,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell. “It says that behind the designation, there stands an exemplary program that provides outstanding services to adult learners.”

MAEP was one of five adult school district programs statewide that earned the award and was found to excel in five key areas: curriculum and instruction, learner support services, leadership and planning, learner accomplishment, and community involvement. To receive the Programs of Excellence award, several aspects of the program are reviewed via an application process and officials with the California Department of Education make a site visit.

“Teachers, staff and students have worked extremely hard to achieve academic success and this recognition,” O’Connell said. This is the third Programs of Excellence award for MAEP since the California Department of Education created the award in 1997. MAEP’s High School Diploma program earned the award for the 2004-05 school year and MAEP’s older adult program also earned the Programs of Excellence award for the 2002-03 school year.

Metropolitan Adult Education Program will be formally presented with a Program of Excellence commemorative flag and certificate by the California Department of Education at the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) annual statewide conference in Sacramento in September.

MAEP, a unit of MetroED, provides educational opportunities at 40 locations throughout San Jose and Campbell. A combined total of 35,000 adults are annually served in a variety of day and evening classes, including, English as a Second Language, GED Preparation and Testing, Adult High School Diploma, Older Adult Programs (55+), Career Technical Education, and Adult Basic Education.

For more information on MAEP or to view the Metropolitan Education District’s fall schedule, visit www.metroed.net or call 723-6450. MetroED is the largest career-oriented educational organization in Santa Clara County, comprised of high school and adult occupational, academic and community programs.

MetroED annually provides 50,000 diverse students with the skills to help them be productive, income-earning and tax-paying contributors to Silicon Valley.