There were many defining moments for ETCN, but none as dramatic as when the world came to a halt in the spring of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Facing challenges and obstacles that continued to mount, our campuses were forced to change systematically. From immediately pausing in-person instruction and moving classes online, to training teachers and staff how to support our students who were now facing challenges and tribulations that were yet to be known, we met the challenge.
Our students, teachers, and staff demonstrated incredible resilience by adapting learning and instruction in ways no one could have imagined. Offering drive-thru orientations and registrations and textbook pick-ups for students without internet access were some of the creative solutions used to overcome barriers to learning. Our goal remained the same throughout the year by continuing to offer high quality, low-cost classes, programs and student support resources.
BytheNumbers
Shifting focus to online learning, ETCN continued to support students in all aspects of their educational journeys which resulted in positive outcomes across all campuses.
8,326
Student learners across all ETCN campuses
1,029
Certificates awarded in Career Training programs
750
New jobs secured or raises earned in current jobs
171
Students transitioned to college
OurSchoolsOurReach
Our network of five adult schools and Palomar College, together with our business and community partners, continued to provide access to classes and programs to our diverse student population across North San Diego County in a new way.
With the implementation of more remote learning opportunities, students continued to receive personalized academic support in a virtual setting. For many students struggling with job and income loss, as well as housing and other basic necessities, ETCN provided resources and information to connect students and their families with community services.
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StayingAheadoftheCurve
In a report published in August 2020, the San Diego-Imperial Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research (COE) analyzed jobs that appeared resilient during the pandemic. Occupations that experienced employment growth or sustained employment levels were also analyzed during the Great Recession (2007-2009), which are considered recession-resilient jobs. These recession-resilient jobs were then compared with online job postings between March and June 2020 to determine which occupations were also pandemic-resilient jobs.
In analyzing the top resilient jobs in North San Diego County, it was confirmed that ETCN schools are offering courses related to all of the top 10 most resilient jobs at one or more of our campuses.
We are proud to collaborate with partners in our community to provide our students with the opportunity to gain real-world experience, guiding them to rewarding careers.
Back in early 2020 when COVID created chaos, Poway’s adult students were both generous and kind to suggest that they make masks as volunteers to help Palomar Hospital.”
Laurie Edwards-Tate, MS, Director, Board of Palomar Healthcare District, Chair of Community Relations Committee and Past Secretary of the Executive Board
Our involvement with the curriculum development and hands-on training implementation for the pre-apprenticeship program at San Marcos Adult School/Palomar College has helped to prepare the workforce we need for tomorrow.”
Mike LaBruno, Career Connections Outreach Specialist, Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters
By participating in ETCN events I am able to inform students about jobs within the hospitality industry and positions we have available in our division.”
Dollie Catale, Recruiting Manager for Wyndham Vacation Ownership in Southern California
TurningDreamsIntoReality
From English as a Second Language (ESL) and high school diploma programs, to technical training and medical certification programs, we continued to support our students in achieving their academic and career goals.
It would have been easy to give up on studying for my HiSET exam when COVID shut down in-person learning. But my teachers encouraged me to keep going. I can’t believe I finally passed the exam!Shaniesta G., Escondido Adult School
I earned a degree in civil engineering in my home country 26 years ago, but I could not find a job anywhere here without knowing the language. Now, not only have I improved my English language skills, my teachers and counselors have helped me to find a new career with a great company.Atila P., Poway Adult School Student
I was an active member of the Marine Corps for 17 years, but medical issues forced my retirement. Now I’m on track to a new career in cybersecurity and am enjoying the challenge.David D., Vista Adult School Student
TheKickstartOurEconomyNeeds
Funding for Adult Education schools comes from both the state and federal level: The California Adult Education Program (CAEP), which is funded by the California Department of Education and the Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges (CCCCO), and the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
California Adult Education Program (CAEP)
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
California Adult Education Program (CAEP)
CAEP provides adult education funding to regional consortia based on that adult education region’s share of the statewide need for adult education.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Legislation designed to help get Americans into high-quality jobs and help employers hire and retain skilled workers.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 introduced challenges for many of our adult students including populations that may not have struggled in the past with job and income loss, homeschooling of children, food and housing insecurity, caring for family members, and risks as essential workers. Additionally, many students found themselves with lack of access to hardware devices and internet services, both of which became major barriers to remote learning.
Collectively, ETCN organized ways to help students by lending devices and finding resources for low-cost Wi-Fi. Our schools saw opportunities to incorporate both remote learning and hybrid learning (remote and in-person) to serve more students at a time of increased need and demand. Moving forward, our staff will continue to gain more training and support while there is still much need for increased sustainable public funding. We remain committed to maintaining flexibility to adapt to the new economy and reality moving forward.
RethinkingTomorrow
These have been, and continue to be, unprecedented times. Our students are once again taking classes, with essential courses – those required for degree advancement that can only be conducted in person – starting to come back to campus in carefully designed physical spaces that help stop viral transmission.
ETCN is committed to addressing the urgent needs presented by the COVID-19 crisis and the current focus on social injustices. These rapidly unfolding events have caused us to reframe our proprieties for the foreseeable future.
These include:
Serving students in a distance learning environment and meeting their learning needs.
Using data from county-wide resources to assist in responding to student support needs.
Preparing to handle any potential budget reductions, as the COVID-19 epidemic may continue to drastically change the state’s budget outlook.
Examining our role in addressing structural racism through increased equity and inclusion.
In this, and many other ways, we are adapting our teaching to tackle the new challenges brought on by the pandemic, but our mission remains the same – helping our students pave the path to a brighter tomorrow.
