7/29/2019 BBJ-Feb-2013 BAS

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FEBRUARY 2013 BURBANK BUSINESSJOURNAL

C H A M B E R N E W Sur an u t c oo s areer ec n ca ucat on ene ts

Community in Many Ways

SUPERINTENDENTS MESSAGE:

By r. Jan Britz

Photo by Harvey Branman

Dr. Jan Britz

Burbank Adult School (BAS),urrently in its 85th year (1928-2013),

ffers a broad and unique array of edu-

ational options and support services

or students seeking to develop and

pgrade skills in order to be competitive

n todays challenging job market. These

ptions include not only providing aca-

emic and career classes, but also cus-

omized college and career counseling

ervices tailored to meet the needs of

ndividual students in order to facili-

ate their transitions to post-secondary

nd/or career opportunities. BAS is a

part of the Burbank Unified School

istrict (BUSD) and focuses on the

ollowing core instructional program

reas: English as a Second Language

ESL); Adult Basic Education (ABE);

dult Secondary Education (ASE);

areer Technical Education (CTE); and

arenting Education. In 2011-12, BAS

erved 5,950 students.

BAS Career and Technical Education

CTE) program, combined with the high

chool diploma and GED programs ac-

ount for 44% of the schools total student

nrollment. There are currently over 40

TE classes offered in career fields such

s: health occupations; computer courses;

igital arts and web design; administrative

ffice skills; arts, media and entertain-

ent; photography; electrician apprentice;

andscaping; solar photovoltaic installer;nd computer networking and repair. CTE

raining programs offered by BAS are

designed to address regional workforce

skills needs by offering classes that

paral lel the needs of local employers

and industries in the Verdugo region

as identified by available labor market

information (LMI).

According to the U.S. Department

of Labor, training for middle-skill

jobs will continue to be in signif icant

demand for the foreseeable future.

These jobs typically require some form

of specialized post-secondary training

(e.g., industry certification, credential,

certificate, etc.) but less than a college

degree. Among the key advantages of

the BAS program are the following:All BAS CTE courses are taught by

State-certified and industry professionals

ho are required to hold current teach-

ing credentials in their respective subject

areas. All courses provide intensive,

short-term training and are aligned with

State and industry standards for Career

and Technical Education.

Many of BAS CTE courses pre-

pare students to take industry-certified

licensure exams.

Course fees, comparable to other

educational programs in the region, are

very affordable.

The BAS campus offers an ac-

cessible and student-friendly learning

environment.

Recently, BAS received a WIA

Title II Promising Practice award from

the California Department of Education

(CDE) and the Comprehensive StudentAssessment System (CASAS), for its

highly successful work in providing

college/career transition and counseling

ervices. The project was supported with

funding from a Federal Policy to Perfor-mance (P2P) grant. It is now sustained

through a Federal Workforce Investment

(WIA) grant and other funds. Students

can receive individualized college and

career counseling support and assistance

ith planning and monitoring transition

activities. Tied to this effort, BAS has

cultivated strong partnerships with lo-

cal community colleges and the Citys

Workforce Connection center in order

to bridge needed resources for adult

education students.

t is the schools plan to continue to

tudy the citys changing demographics

as well as the changing educational and

orkforce development needs, so that

appropriate and meaningful programmingcan continue to be created and aligned to

the needs of the community.

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