The recent crisis in adult basic education funding was resolved favorably due to exceptional advocacy efforts by the ABE community across the state. These recent events have a great deal to teach us about our roles and responsibilities as practitioners in a deeply important, yet usually invisible educational arena.

Recap
Just before Thanksgiving, back in November 2001, the state budget process, long overdue, had reached its final stage in the legislative conference committee. Dan Bosely, a state representative from North Adams and a long-time supporter of ABE, became alarmed when he was informed that the committee had voted to cut ABE funding in half. Bosely immediately alerted the Department of Education, and word went out to the field through the Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education. Within hours, hundreds of calls from practitioners around the state went out to state representatives, senators, and other important public figures in an attempt to keep funding for ABE intact. These calls initiated a massive, concerted, and highly effective advocacy effort resulting in an unusually successful restoration of 97.7 percent of proposed cuts.

Clarifications
Before reflecting on the advocacy strategy and why it was successful, it is important to clarify some of the confusions that arose along the way. These confusions clouded peoples' understanding of the budget process. (Note: If technical fiscal details feel too overwhelming, please skip this section and go right to the next subhead. No one will fault you.)

First, the legislature was five months late in finalizing a state budget for FY 2002. That means that ACLS had already spent almost 50 percent of its anticipated appropriation. Therefore, a 50 percent cut would mean that all services would end by January 31, 2002.

Second, the figure of a 50% cut wasn't even correct. The proposed cut really represented a 44 percent cut. How did that happen? Last year, the line item appropriation for ABE was $30.2 million. The legislature voted to increase that amount to $34 million. That's the number that was officially recorded in the legislature's budget documents. When then-Governor Paul Cellucci vetoed the proposed increase, the line item was back to $30 million. The legislature never took up the override and never updated the ($34 million) on their books! When the legislature left only $17 million in the ABE budget, they thought they were cutting 50 percent of the budget allocation of $34 million.. However, they actually cut $13 million (30-17=13), so it was a cut of 44 percent. Whew.

Successful Strategy
The ABE community staged an impressive, thorough campaign to restore funding. Continual pressure -- in the form of rallies, calls, visits, letters, and emails -- convinced legislators of the importance of ABE funding. This campaign illustrated that rallies alone-while vibrant in their collective appeal-are not enough to get the most effective political results. Students illustrated the importance of adult education services with life stories, putting a human face on ABE. "You are talking about all my dreams," one student implored to his representative. From November 29 through mid-December when the budget was amended, public outcry continued. A volunteer public policy committee organized an effective feedback mechanism, using email and Web sites. People were updated daily. As a result of this massive effort, where everybody across the state did his or her part, Governor Swift, to her credit, laid the groundwork for restoring $12.5 million to ABE through a supplemental budget she filed: First the legislature considered restoring $10.1 million (90 percent of what we had to start the year) but was rapidly convinced to restore the full $12.5 million (a 97.7 percent restoration!).

How the Cut Was Taken
The total cut -- 2.3 percent or $700,000 -- has been applied by DOE/ACLS across all services: instructional, administrative, and SABES support. For equity purposes, the cut was applied to both federal and state funded ACLS programs. This approach reduced cuts to 2 percent across the board including all instructional programs, SABES, the DOE/ACLS administration budget, etc. ACLS left it up to individual programs how to apply their cuts.

What's Ahead
The work is not over. This year's budget process is likely to proceed more quickly, since it is an election year. The Governor has filed her budget, which begins the FY 2003 budget process. In it, she proposes that DOE/ABE receive $32 million -- a $2.5 million increase. She also proposes a $2.5 million appropriation for ABE services at Community College developmental education programs. Once the House and Senate craft their budgets, they will go to the conference committee for a vote, then to Governor Swift for approval and/or vetoes.

The ABE community must continue its vigilance on budget issues. It's important to continue to educate elected officials about the value and integrity of the services we provide. Proactively, that means using media coverage whenever we can to highlight our students and their successes. Without strong and continual advocacy, the visibility of ABE and the needs of our students will inevitably be diminished.

Implications
The necessity for strong educational outreach and advocacy for our students has never been clearer. It's a good time to reflect on what it means to work within an educational arena whose students are marginalized from public discourse. Our students are immigrants, the working poor, single mothers on public assistance, refugees, high school drop-outs. Part of our job responsibilities must, therefore, involve political action -- that is, making sure that the work in ABE is visible, valued, and sufficiently funded so we can continue to do our work and students can continue to get the services they deserve. We need to prepare ourselves to again roll up our sleeves and work in solidarity for continued success.

Lenore Balliro, the editor of Field Notes, has worked in the ABE field for over 18 years.