Funding for the Turlock Adult School is expected to undergo a few changes, thanks to a generous grant from the Workforce Investment Act, Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act. The grant, which totals to $482,510, will go towards increasing and enhancing Adult Secondary Education, Adult Basic Education, and ESL Civics.

“We are honored and humbled that we received the fifth largest award in the Central Valley,” said TAS Principal Isaias Rumayor, Jr. “With this grant we are allowed to extend and enhance services to the community and surrounding areas.”

As a result of the additional funding, TAS will now be held accountable to new agencies, including the California Department of Education, the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System, the Outreach and Technical Assistance Network, and the California Adult Literacy Professional Development .

“With this grant, there is a new set of agencies that we are going to become more and more comfortable with,” said Rumayor, Jr. “With this pot of money comes expectations.”

TAS will be subject to accountability requirements, including quarterly fiscal reporting, a technology plan, a professional development plan, a local assessment policy, and quarterly reports on student progress and enrollment.  

With this money, TAS is expected to further the professional development of faculty and staff, fully integrate the student information system ASAP, and track student progress. TAS will also implement standardized assessments for students enrolled in ESL, high school diploma, high school equivalency, and citizen preparation courses.

Turlock Unified Superintendent Dr. Sonny Da Marto pointed out that this grant will also allow the school to hire an assistant principal, a position the school has not seen for six years.

“This is well needed because it is tough there at night trying to get everything done without anyone else as backup,"  said Da Marto.