Adult school prepares students with no-cost college, career and technical training that can reap big rewards
Each year, more than 1,000 students enroll at Lompoc Adult School and Career Center (LASCC), the only comprehensive provider of adult education in Lompoc, Calif.
LASCC, which is funded primarily by the state’s California Adult Education Program (CAEP) provides personalized education at the rate of about $1,000 per student.
For the school’s students, the more important number may be zero, which is the cost to attend LASCC.
“All of our services and enrollment are free for adults,” says Elaine Webber, the school’s principal.
In addition, each student can receive a free computer through the school’s partnership with the organization Partners in Education.
“We’re the best deal in town,” she says.
“We map out a path for students to what I call the six-figure club. Our students need to know that there is a way to get to a six-figure job.”
Elaine Webber, Principal, Lompoc Adult School and Career Center
LASCC primarily serves the working poor and adult children of the working poor in Lompoc. According to school statistics, English as a second language (ESL) classes and courses to obtain a high school diploma comprise about 90% of enrollment.
To meet the needs of their adult students, the school offers flexible, self-paced programming.
“Students can go as fast as they want to on the track to a high school diploma. We’re not a one-size-fits-all school,” Webber says.
LASCC provides options to take classes online or on campus, in the mornings or in the evenings.
Once students earn their high school diploma, they can move on to college or to LASCC classes that provide training for technical and entry-level careers. Students can choose from careers like paraeducator, medical assistant, phlebotomist and EKG technician, among others.
With an eye to each student’s future needs, Webber and her staff go beyond career training to create a path to financial security.
“We map out a path for students to what I call the six-figure club,” Webber says. “Our students need to know that planning is the way to get to a six-figure job.”
Webber notes that this emphasis on a career path is a newer approach to adult education. In 1963, when LASCC was founded, the purpose of adult schools in California was serve community interest.
All of that changed when adult school funding and focus in the state was restructured by then-Gov. Jerry Brown, circa 2012, with success now measured in outcomes rather than attendance.
“A different lens is being applied to adult learning,” Webber says. “Our goals now are to transition students to college and career, technical training or entry-level careers. Everything is now data-directed, and we have to provide evidence that there’s a need and opportunities for jobs.”
Webber and her staff work to achieve a broad range of goals that are always evolving, from supporting students effectively to exploring new technologies.
“We’re in a constant cycle of improvement,” she says.
One of the primary goals of LASCC is to provide one-on-one, personalized support to every student.
“This is unique to our school. We provide extensive counseling to each student, helping to determine which path is the right one for them,” Webber says. “We know it’s hard for adults to continue with their studies, whether they’re moving, having children or undergoing other kinds of stress or life changes.”
For Webber, who has been with LASCC for almost 25 years, the work is its own reward.
“I love helping students change their lives. And adult education is a nurturing, transformative environment for our students,” she says. “We make such a difference for people in their life journey.”
For more information on the Lompoc Adult School and Career Center visit https://adulteducation.lusd.org/.
Written by Jill Spear
| Regions | Classes & Topics |
|---|---|
| South Coast California | English as a Second Language – High School |
