A powerful union-backed group has been getting millions in state aid for continuing-education programs despite a dismal ranking by the state Education Department, The Post has learned.
The Manhattan-based Consortium for Worker Education was rated “unacceptable” by the state for the 2008-09 school year — the most recent rankings available — but continued to get federal aid that the state allots because of a special law protecting the organization.
CWE, a nonprofit that works with 46 major New York City Central Labor Council unions to help adults with job training and preparation for GED high-school equivalency diplomas, is funded based on a state law that dates to the 1980s and was recently renewed.
It says the group must be given federal aid for adult education and job preparation. It’s the only organization specifically designated for funds.
The group received $13 million each year for 2008-09 and 2009-10 and $11.5 million for the current year, according to the state Education Department.
By comparison, the New York City Department of Education, which was graded “proficient” for its 2008-09 adult-education programs, enrolled far more students for proportionally less money.
The city got $33.7 million in 2008 for 28,598 adult pupils, compared with 2,990 students CWE trained that year for $11.5 million.
“We don’t follow the same standards. This is important. It’s a major difference,” CWE Executive Director Joe McDermott said.
His group does not use the same testing and curricula for its programs upon which the state bases its grades.