A democratic society needs and values an educated population.

We recognize the value of life-long learning and have statutes that require the state Department of Education to provide adult education services. In 2010-11, the 11 Community Schools for Adults received $8.5 million. In the 2012-13 school year, there will be two schools with a combined budget of $2.5 million.

McKinley and Waipahu Community Schools will coordinate all services on Oahu and the neighbor islands. While some classes will continue, the reductions will have a devastating effect on many who have no other educational alternatives.

There is a perception that the adult schools offer frivolous programs that can easily be abandoned as beyond the scope of public education. There are cultural and other special interest classes that are fully covered by tuition; however, the majority of students are studying basic education and English as a Second Language, and preparing for the General Education Diploma or the Competency Based Diploma.

During the 2010-11 school year, 9,058 students were enrolled in one or more of these programs. More than 1,953 were ages 16 to 18 who had dropped out of high school, but who were endeavoring to complete an adult diploma program. The majority are under age 21.

Adult education programs in Hawaii have been an important safety net for students who are not able to complete high school through traditional classes. Some of these are students who enter our system too late to complete four years of high school requirements before they turn 18. Some are immigrants who must learn English before they can study high school subjects. Others are students who have experienced failure in elementary or middle school and reach high school when they are too old to fit in with ninth-grade classmates.

Adult education programs give hope to these at-risk youth, provide remediation and diploma programs for youth and adults, and offer a pathway to meaningful employment for thousands in our community who might otherwise become burdens on our limited social and legal resources. In 2011, 15 percent of our high school graduates (2,035) earned diplomas from one of our Community Schools for Adults. These diplomas allow graduates access to entry-level jobs, union apprentice programs and higher education.

The consequences of the anticipated reduction in services will be felt by everyone in the community. Youths who are already alienated from the mainstream and who lack hope for their future will be less likely to develop into productive citizens. The cost of educating our citizens is far less than the cost of maintaining adults who are not self-sufficient or who fall into the criminal justice system. The budget reduction will limit access to education for those who are most in need.

The adult schools now work closely with the high schools to provide transitional services and diploma programs to older youth. They also work with the community partners including Adult Friends for Youth, Alu Like, the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, the Hawaii Hotel Association and Honolulu Community Action Program. Classes are offered to farm workers and hotel employees at their work sites, and at-risk youth are transformed into high school graduates and employable adults in classrooms close to their homes.

Education is the "hand up" that lifts us all into productive, contributing adult lives. For some, this hand needs to be offered outside of the traditional K-12 educational structure.

Adult education is a small investment for the greater good of our community. If we fail to make this investment, we will be deciding to further marginalize thousands of our citizens who will be a greater cost to us over the years. It is important that those making this decision spend some time thinking through the long-term consequences that we will all experience.