Hawaii’s not the only state wrestling with where adult education fits into the overall education picture. A school district in Alexandria thinks it may help solve the problem of what to do with students who don’t graduate on time.

It’s worth acknowledging that adult schools provide an alternate path for students who may not be able to finish their educations in the traditional time.

But when they don’t, who should pay for it? Hawaii’s education officials say it’s difficult to meet the needs of both children and adult students, especially with a shrinking budget. But at least they and Hawaii’s gov have expressed a desire to restore funding for adult ed next year.