Illinois community colleges receive $23 million from the federal government to provide adult education classes that help people pass the GED test. But to continue receiving those funds, the state has to kick in $32 million, and prove its programs work, by showing results.
Because there is no budget, the state hasn't contributed its portion this year. Karen Hunter Anderson, president of the Illinois Community College Board, says that without that money, the programs haven't performed as well.
"They're not able to serve as many students, they're not able to make the level gains, they're not able to reach the completions, they're not able to get students into jobs to the extent they were before, and that's going to have an impact on the federal dollars we receive for years to come," she said.
Fully-funded, the program can serve about 82,000 adults.