The Pleasanton Adult and Career Education department of the Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) strives to provide relevant and meaningful learning opportunities for adults in the Pleasanton community that align with the PUSD Strategic Plan. The organization's core program areas are English as a Second Language (ESL), Adult High School Diploma and Equivalency, Adults with Disabilities, Career Education, Parent and Guardian Education, and Community Education.

"Our goal is to be an integral part of the lifelong learning options for our community members," says Beth Cutter, Assistant Director of Adult and Career Education, who has been an educator since 2006 and in her current role since 2016. "Although we have a growing fee-based community education program, our ESL, high school diploma/equivalency program, and adults with disabilities classes are free to our students. None of our classes require Pleasanton residency. Our high school diploma/equivalency program, combines tailored online learning with in-class support from awesome teachers. Completing a high school diploma or its equivalent is within everyone's reach."

Adult learners may be excited by the many new community education classes available for Fall 2019. New cooking classes include specific techniques, such as making gnocchi, as well as themed culinary evenings, such as making dishes for Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead holiday. Classes will be offered in conversational Korean, Spanish, and Italian. Other new and unique classes include Bullet Journaling, Java, HTML, iPhoto, iPad Tips and Tricks, Home Maintenance 101, Broadway Dance, and Sewing.

"We even have a class for new couples to build a strong foundation in their relationship," notes Cutter. Whatever the focus of any given class, "our classes are small so that students have a rich learning experience."

Pleasanton Adult and Career Education offers a paid internship program for adults with disabilities. The program, which started in the 2018-2019 school year, runs for eight months. Those chosen for internships work at the Pleasanton Unified School District office or at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pleasanton at The Club. The program was developed to address the need for additional training opportunities for adults with special needs to support their transition to the workforce. Employers interested in supporting such internships are invited to join the Tri-Valley Inclusion Business Advisory Council by contacting the Pleasanton Adult and Career Education office.

Pleasanton Adult and Career Education served nearly 1,000 students during the 2018-2019 school year. Registration is currently open for the community education classes, most of which begin in September. Registration for the high school diploma and equivalency program is on-going. The next registration period for ESL students will fall in December 2019/January 2020 for Spring 2020 classes. The best way to access information about classes is through the department's website, which includes student handbooks in Simplified Chinese and Spanish as well as English. The department also has office staff who speak English, Spanish, and Mandarin.

For more information about Pleasanton Adult and Career Education, please visit www.adulteducation.pleasantonusd.net.