CAEP
CFAD

Produced: May 1, 2025, 04:23 PM UTC - By Lorena Chavez

43 Rancho Santiago Adult Education Consortium
CONSORTIUM APPROVED

2025-26

Fiscal Declaration - Consortium Approved

Consortium Name
43 Rancho Santiago Adult Education Consortium
Funding Channel
Direct Funded
Narrative
The Rancho Santiago Adult Education Consortium’s (RSAEC) planned allocations for 2025–2026 continue to align with the priorities outlined in the Consortium’s CAEP 3-Year Plan and support the goals of the current annual plan. Member districts will maintain a collaborative approach to addressing CAEP objectives by expanding and refining services that meet the evolving educational and workforce needs of our region. RSAEC remains focused on key goals including identifying and addressing regional service gaps, strengthening transitions between adult education and postsecondary or workforce pathways, and improving student persistence and outcomes. Member institutions are advancing strategies that accelerate student progress through integrated education and training models, contextualized instruction, co-enrollment approaches, and coordinated student support services. This year, the consortium is placing renewed emphasis on equity, inclusion, and access, particularly for disproportionately impacted populations such as English Language Learners, opportunity youth, reentry individuals, and students with disabilities. Planned allocations support the development and scaling of short-term career education programs, ESL pathways aligned with in-demand industries, and foundational skills development that supports transitions to college and career. Professional development will continue to be a shared priority. RSAEC members are investing in joint PD opportunities focused on curriculum alignment, digital literacy instruction, trauma-informed practices, and strategies for supporting adult learners in online and hybrid modalities. This work is essential as members strive to provide flexible, student-centered programming responsive to both learner needs and labor market demands. In addition, the consortium is advancing efforts to leverage and braid funding across local, regional, and statewide initiatives to maximize resources and improve outcomes. This includes alignment with Strong Workforce, Perkins, and regional workforce boards, as well as partnerships with community-based organizations and local employers to enhance support services and job placement pathways. Planned allocations also reflect the consortium’s ongoing commitment to building capacity for data-informed decision-making. RSAEC members are working to strengthen the use of student outcomes data to inform program improvement, equity analysis, and resource alignment in accordance with CAEP guidance. Ultimately, the consortium's investments for 2025–2026 are designed to ensure adult learners across the region have equitable access to high-quality programs that lead to meaningful college and career outcomes. RSAEC members are committed to fulfilling the CAEP mission of supporting economic mobility and community prosperity through adult education.
Changes
No Changes

Member Allocations

Member Name (2025-26) (2024-25) (2023-24)
Garden Grove Unified $1,956,523 $1,904,247 $1,888,312
Orange Unified $9,057 $8,815 $8,741
Rancho Santiago CCD $3,925,879 $3,820,985 $3,789,009
Total Allocated to Members $5,891,459 $5,734,047 $5,686,062
Total CAEP Funds $5,891,459 $5,751,695 $5,690,799
Total Remaining $0 $17,648 $4,737
Member Allocation Certification

I certify that this CFAD is true and accurate. Our consortium certifies that the allocations listed correctly represent all funded members and their respective amounts.

Carryover Threshold

Input a percentage of carryover that your consortium agrees will be considered an excessive amount.

Should a member, or members, exceed this carryover percentage upon certification of their Q4 report, they will be flagged as non-compliant with the carryover legislation (EC 84914). One year of non-compliance does not carry a penalty. However, should the same member, or members, have two consecutive years of non-compliance the consortium may agree, by majority vote, to reallocate an amount that does not exceed the carryover to other members.

A consortium does have the ability to opt-out. To do so, simply toggle the carryover threshold button to the off position.

20%

Corrective Action Fiscal Reporting Quarterly Thresholds

If member carryover is over the threshold set below, a corrective action narrative will be required to complete.

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
% of Carryover Threshold

80%

60%

40%

20%

Consortia Report on Governance Compliance of Rules and Procedures v.2

1. Have all community college districts, school districts, county offices of education, or any joint powers authority, located within the boundaries of the adult education region been allowed to join the consortium as a member?

Yes

2. Have all members committed to reporting any funds available to that member for the purposes of education and workforce services for adults and the uses of those funds?

Yes

All members have committed to reporting funds to be reported and evaluated. The board and/or superintendent approved members will submit fiscal reports directly into NOVA, which will then be certified by the RSAEC Executive Director/Dean of Instruction and Student Services and submitted to the state. Each member agency's fiscal office will be required to certify and validate their fiscal data for accuracy. Evaluation of funds will be consistent with funds available pursuant to AB 104, Section 39, Article 9, 84916.

Each consortium agency/district member will bring the approved governing board designation and a copy of the official board meeting minutes to the consortium. In the case of OCDE, the member will bring a signed approval from an elected public official representing the COE as they do not have a board. RSAEC will keep the designated officialsʼ information on file. The RSAEC Executive Director/Dean of Instruction and Student Services will maintain rules and procedures at all meetings and assure that all votes have been submitted by the board approved official for each member agency/district.

RSAEC will assure that all meetings are posted in advance, and they accommodate membersʼ schedules. Reminder emails and calendar invites will be sent to all members. The agenda will be posted on the RSAEC website (www.rsaec.org). Decision making will follow the voting guidelines decided upon by the consortium members. A consent calendar will be available to make sure that everyone has a chance to look at the upcoming decisions and has the ability to pull items of concern for further explanation. If necessary, a second reading will be available.

6. What will be the relative voting power of each member?

1 member = 1 vote

7. How will decisions be approved?

by majority vote of 51%

The consortium members and partners reviewed and discussed various governance models and worked together to decide and agree upon the decision-making model that works best for the consortium. It has been decided that votes will be voiced by stating yes or no. Abstentions will be noted. Three of the five state mandated representatives ( 2/3) from the approved voting agencies must be present to meet Quorum. For a vote to be approved, simple majority of voting members present (by majority vote of 51%) will be needed from voting agencies/districts. Meeting attendance and voting by phone or via zoom is allowable with prior state approval. A consent calendar will be provided for each meeting so that items of concern can be pulled. Votes will be recorded and the names of the members making and seconding each motion will be recorded in the meeting minutes.

Proposed decisions will be posted on the agenda which will be available three (3) calendar days prior to the consortium meeting. Prior to voting, there will be an allotment of time (up to 3 minutes per person) given to members of the public for comment. Additional time will be given to the voting members to consider public comments. After discussion, the executive committee will vote or agree to pull the item for a second reading if members feel more time and/or information is necessary.

All meeting times, locations and current agendas for the academic year will be posted on the RSAEC website (www.rsaec.org). Agendas and notices of proposed decisions that will be on the monthly docket, will be posted three (3) calendar days prior to the meeting. Information regarding how to make the public comments will be posted on the RSAEC website. Emails informing the public of the RSAEC website and calendar will be distributed to schools, stakeholders and agencies involved with adult education.

Only comments made in person or via zoom at the Executive Committee meetings will be addressed. A general summary of comments made by members of the public will be recorded in the meeting minutes. All meeting minutes will be posted on the RSAEC website after minutes have been approved.

An invitation to attend the open consortium meetings will be sent to other providers of education and workforce services for adults. A concerted effort will be made to direct these entities to key information regarding the consortium. The consortium will also encourage its members to network with other agencies and/or committees to help increase public involvement through stakeholder meetings and other networking opportunities.

All allocations have been disbursed, but RSAEC will continue to look at innovative ways of collaborating and leveraging funding. RSAEC will evaluate proposals brought forth to the Executive Committee to ensure that they align with the Regional Comprehensive Plan priorities. Accordingly, the Executive Committee will vote to approve the requested budget and include it as part of the distribution schedule pursuant to Section 84913.

14. Has the consortium A) designated a member to serve as the fund administrator to receive and distribute funds from the program or B) chosen to have a funds flow directly to the member districts based upon the approved distribution schedule?

B) chosen to have funds flow directly to the member districts based upon the approved distribution schedule

A districtʼs board/elected officialʼs approval will be needed from any K-12 or community college district, county department of education or JPA located within the RSAEC district boundaries that would like to join the consortium as a member. Currently, there are no JPAʼs within RSAEC. The RSAEC Executive Director/Dean of Instruction and Student Services will keep a file of all documented items. If a member opts to leave the consortium, RSAEC will request written notification from the districtʼs board or agency elected official confirming the change. For members to be dismissed, RSAEC will adhere to the member guidelines in AB104.

The consortium reviews the quarterly fiscal reports to confirm that all members are within their spending percentages. If a member is below the spending allocation within a particular quarter, they are required to submit an explanation and a plan to spend down the funds in a timely manner via NOVA. The consortium also reviews the percentages annually during the CFAD process to make sure that the consortium is within its carryover threshold of 20%. If a member is over the approved carryover amount at the end of the fiscal year, the consortium members will be given 12 months to return to compliance. If they remain out of compliance after the twelve months, and it affects the 20% carryover threshold for the consortium, the executive committee would choose to enact the established member effectiveness guidelines listed below.

The consortium follows the guidelines based on AB104 and the more recent AB1494 listed in this questionnaire as this serves as RSAEC's governance document.

The consortium defines member effectiveness as spending a minimum of the CAEP allocation by 20% per the guidelines set in the AB1491 legislation as well as adhering to the member guidelines in AB104 . In addition, all members should be actively involved in the consortium activities and be consistently working on achieving the goals set within the one-year annual plans and three-year comprehensive plan.

The consortium does not have a separate list of bylaws. If a member is out of compliance or not meeting member effectiveness as defined by the CAEP guidelines, the matter will be discussed amongst the RSAEC voting members at a scheduled Executive Board meeting so that all members can participate in creating a plan to assist the member at a local level. A timeline will be set and goals put in place to assist the member. If needed, members will meet throughout the year to further assist. If the member who is out of compliance is unable to meet effectiveness within 12 months and puts the consortium at risk of being over the 20% carryover threshold, the RSAEC Executive Director/Dean of Instruction and Student Services will request that CAEP TAP assist with further guidance pursuant to the AB1491 legislation.

20. Does the consortium have a formal document detailing its work beyond the questionnaire?

No

This questionnaire has been deemed completely satisfactory to RSAEC's governance by all members of the consortium.

Member Agencies

Member AgencyMember TypeContactPhone
Garden Grove UnifiedUnified School DistrictM'Liss Patterson(714) 663-6305
Orange UnifiedUnified School DistrictLisa Green Orange Unified School District(714) 628-5446
Rancho Santiago CCDDistrictChrissy Gascon(714) 628-5969
Orange County Department of EducationCounty Office of Education (COE)Fatinah Judeh(714) 349-3073
Santa Ana UnifiedUnified School DistrictDr. Lorraine Perez Santa Ana Unified School District(626) 536-3121

Certification & Assurances

By clicking "Approve" on the approval cards below, you are certifying the CFAD as well as confirming that you and ALL consortium members agree to the Assurances listed below.

Assurances

Membership & Decision-Making
  • I certify that any community college district, school district, or county office of education, or any joint powers authority consisting of community college districts, school districts, county offices of education, or a combination of these, located within the boundaries of the adult education region shall be permitted to join the consortium as a member (EC 84905 (a)(b). (See Membership Box above).
  • I certify that only members as described above (and in EC 84905) are allowed to join my consortium as members and participate in decision making and approvals whether in a public meeting, or via the NOVA planning, budgeting & expense reporting system.
  • I certify that as a condition of joining a consortium, as a member, I shall commit to reporting any funds (as described in EC 84916) available to that member for the purposes of education and workforce services for adults and the uses of those funds through the annual Program Area exercise in NOVA for reporting leveraged funds, and instructional hours.
  • I certify that as a member of the consortium my district shall be represented only by an official designated by the governing board of the member (EC 84905 (c)).
  • I certify that as a member of the consortium, I shall participate in any decision made by the consortium (EC 84905 (d)(1)(A)).
  • I certify that all decision made by the consortium and its members is final (EC 84905 (d)(1)(F)).
  • I certify that I will adhere to the consortium rules and procedures and, as agreed upon by the consortium members, to any additional by-laws, charters, etc.
Public Meetings
  • I certify that a proposed decision is considered at an open, properly noticed public meeting of the consortium at which members of the public may comment (EC 84905 (d)(1)(B)).
  • I certify that the consortium has provided the public with adequate notice of a proposed decision and considered any comments submitted by members of the public, and any comments submitted by members of the public have been distributed publicly (EC 84905 (d)(1)(C)).
  • I certify that the consortium has requested comments regarding a proposed decision from other entities located in the adult education region that provide education and workforce services for adults (EC 84905 (d)(1)(D)(i)).
  • I certify that the consortium has requested comments regarding a proposed decision from other entities located in the adult education region that provide education and workforce services for adults (EC 84905 (d)(1)(D)(i)).
  • I certify that the consortium has considered input provided by pupils, teachers employed by local educational agencies, community college faculty, principals, administrators, classified staff, and the local bargaining units of the school districts and community college districts before it makes a decision (EC 84905 (d)(1)(E)).
  • I certify that in addition to the meeting requirements listed in EC 84905, and as agreed upon by the consortium members, that I will follow the public meeting requirements listed in the Ralph M. Brown Act as the Brown Act applies to the governing body of any “local body created by state or federal statute.” (Ed. Code, section 54952.)
Reporting Requirements
  • I certify that I will participate in completing and updating any consortium long range and/or short range planning efforts and/or budget work plans (EC 84906, 84914(a)).
  • I certify that all CAEP expenses have been expended in the CAEP seven program areas, and services provided are consistent with the 3-year plan, the annual plan, and my district’s work plan & budget as submitted in NOVA (EC 84913 (1-7), 84906, 8914(a)).
  • I certify that my expenditures of CAEP funds match the objectives/activities included in the annual plan and the member work plan (EC 84906, 84914(a)).
  • I certify that my expenditures of CAEP funds adhere to the allowable uses of funds as identified in the CAEP Fiscal Management Guide.
  • I certify that I will report student level enrollment data and outcomes as prescribed by the State CAEP Office (EC 84920).
  • I certify that I will share financial expenditure and progress reports with the members of my regional consortium.
  • I certify that I understand that as a member if I do not meet any of these items I have certified, I will be deemed an ineffective member which may result in a loss or reduction of CAEP funding (EC 84914(b)).
  • I certify that all CAEP expenses have been expended only for the education of persons 18 years of age or older (EC 84901(a)).

Garden Grove Unified - Member Representative

Approved by M'Liss Patterson

05/01/2025 09:20 AM PDT

Orange County Department of Education - Member Representative

Approved by Fatinah Judeh

05/01/2025 09:20 AM PDT

Orange Unified - Member Representative

  • Interim Executive Director Curriculum, Instruction, Secondary School Support
  • lgreen@orangeusd.org
  • (714) 628-5446
Approved by Lisa Green Orange Unified School District

05/01/2025 09:20 AM PDT

Rancho Santiago CCD - Member Representative

Approved by Lorena Chavez

05/01/2025 09:22 AM PDT

Santa Ana Unified - Member Representative

Approved by Dr. Lorraine Perez Santa Ana Unified School District

05/01/2025 09:21 AM PDT