Give Yourself a New Lease on Life

​Career advancement and personal fulfillment can be achieved. Locate an Adult Education Provider near you today to receive free assistance with:

• General Educational Development (GED) Certification
• Test for Adult Basic Education (TABE) Assessments for Personal Learning Planning
• Bridge Programs to Overcome Learning Hurdles
• English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes
• English and Family Literacy Classes
• Correctional Education on Getting Out of Jail and Getting Work
• Student Achievement in Reading (STAR) to Advance Reading Skills
• Workplace Education Courses Offered Onsite
• Transitions Courses to Move You Up the Ladder of Success​​​​​​
  

To find definitions for each of the items above, check out the glossary. See all related resources at the bottom of this page or on our training & financial aid resources page.

What is adult education?

Adult Education and a variety of other literacy programs help adults obtain the basic skills they need to be more productive workers.

The major programs are Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English Language Acquisition. These programs emphasize basic skills such as reading, writing, math, learning English, and problem-solving.

These programs are free to adult students in need of updating or improving their basic literacy skills. They include:

• preparation for high school equivalency exam or GED - General Education Development test,
• learning to speak, read and write the English language,
• improving basic skills to move to a new or better job or on to higher education.
  

Another option is an Adult Bridge Program. According to the Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL), Bridge programs prepare adults with limited academic or limited English skills to enter and succeed in postsecondary education and training. Typically, these bridge programs lead to specific career-path employment in high-demand, middle- and high-skilled occupations.

Who is adult education for?

Adult Education programs are for all adults. While all programs differ, some allow entry into their program at the age of 16 and others at the age of 18. In most situations, you cannot be enrolled in high school to participate in these programs.

Some individuals who may want to participate in Adult Education classes might be:

• Someone who left high school before graduation,
• Homeschooled and wants his/her GED,
• A person who desires a promotion but needs to upgrade skills like math, reading,  or writing,
• A man or woman who are not native English speakers,
• Incarcerated and wants to learn basic reading, writing, and math to help them find a job upon release.
• Waiting for promotion and needs to update skills that they may not have used for many years.
• Laid off from a position and need to update some basic skills before beginning a new career training program.

How can I enroll?

Accessing and enrolling in an Adult Education program will differ from school to school. Each program will have its own requirements for enrollment so it's important to contact the school or program to get this information.

Many schools provide free in-district tuition for a class after you successfully complete one of these Adult Education courses or your GED.

Use the Adult Education and Family Literacy Provider Locator to find a program near you.