State funding cut hits PCC's adult education, workforce training programs

And the long-term outlook is uncertain, as programs, services and staffing will need to be cut if state funding isn’t restored as soon as next year, the college said in a written statement.

PCC officials expressed “dismay” in their statement about the funding cut included in the state budget deal struck between the Arizona Legislature and Gov. Katie Hobbs for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

“The loss of this funding is deeply troubling and will have severe impacts on educational access, workforce development, and economic opportunity throughout Southern Arizona,” they wrote. “Achieving the shared goal of meeting Arizona’s workforce demands requires the support of all community stakeholders, including the State of Arizona."

“The College will be forced to tap into emergency funds to sustain services in the short term. Those resources are finite and cannot replace state investment in education,” they said. “Pima Community College has not received state operating support funding for more than a decade, even though the state does provide operating support to nearly every other community college.”

At the same time, they said, proposed reductions to federal funds could also “significantly diminish adult education programs nationwide, further jeopardizing access to these critical services for students and communities.”

The officials said PCC will explore alternative sources of funding and continue negotiating with the Legislature and community partners “to restore these important investments in adult learners and workforce development.”

Pima County has approximately 70,000 adults who don’t have a high school diploma or equivalent credential, the PCC statement said.

The PCC programs focused on adult education and workforce training, called Adult Basic Education for College and Career or ABECC, have led to 650 adults completing their high-school equivalency diplomas and more than 1,700 learners completing entry-level workforce training and beginning career pathways.

“Adult education is often the first step for individuals pursuing a GED, workforce credential, English-language instruction, or a pathway to college and family-sustaining employment," PCC officials wrote. "These programs provide opportunities for thousands of Southern Arizona residents to improve their lives, strengthen their careers, and contribute to the region's economy and workforce.”