DR. CAROLYN ZACHRY: As we begin this academic year, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering commitment to adult education. In the 2024, '25 year, 302,965 students in adult education clocked 54 million yes, million hours of instruction. That is a lot of instructional time. 

Another piece of data that is interesting is that students who made an educational functioning level gain averaged 178 hours of instruction. Compared to the California requirement for high school students which is 1,080 hours of instruction. Your passion and dedication are the driving force behind the success of your programs and the achievements of your students. 

I am thrilled to announce that we have received confirmation of our federal funding, all of our federal funding including IELCE. This is tremendous news that deserves celebration. 

[APPLAUSE, CHEERS] 

Thanks to your exceptional work and the strength of our programs, we have achieved this important milestone. However, I want to be transparent with you. While we can celebrate this victory, we still have important work to do ahead of us to secure ongoing federal funding for the future. 

This current funding success is a testament to the incredible impact you make every single day, and positions us well for continued advocacy. California is not only fortunate to have substantial state investment in adult education, but we've now demonstrated the strength and value of our programs at the federal level. 

Let's take a moment to acknowledge this achievement. You made this possible through your dedication, innovation, and outstanding outcomes you deliver for our learners. Now we must build upon this success to ensure sustainable funding for years to come. 

On a personal note, I want to share that I will be retiring at the end of June 2026. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your state director of adult education. What better way to continue this journey together than with the security and celebration of our funding. I am deeply grateful for the differences we have made and the progress we've achieved together, and I'm excited to spend my remaining time in this role building on this success. 

While my time in this role is coming to an end, I am more than confident than ever about the future of adult education in our state. With this funding secured and your continued excellence, I know we will continue to make an extraordinary difference for our adult learners in helping them achieve their dreams. 

Let's make this year one of celebration, continued excellence, and strategic progress. We've secured important funding and now we must use this success as momentum to advocate for ongoing support while focusing on what matters most, our students and their achievements. Thank you for your unwavering dedication and passion. Welcome back, and let's make this year one of celebration and purposeful action toward securing our future.