What is Adult Basic Education (ABE)?

Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs serve students ages 16 and over who are not enrolled in school and who want to improve their basic skills in reading, writing, math, listening, and speaking. ABE is designed to provide educational opportunities leading to acquiring basic literacy, employment, postsecondary education, and training.

Coursework can vary depending on each student’s goals. Independent, one-on-one, and small group study methods have been used, and some learners will develop a Personal Education Plan (PEP) designed to meet their own specific needs.

Please watch the following video (10:49 minutes) that was produced by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) in partnership with independent filmmaker Jeff Krulik. The video tells “The Adult Learner Story”, and focuses on adult learners at Academy of Hope and the Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, two schools with adult education programs in Washington, D.C.

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Watch video (10:49 minutes)

Who does ABE serve?

Adult Basic Education helps adults without a high school diploma or equivalent to strengthen their literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills in adult basic education and adult secondary education classes. Adults obtain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in postsecondary education and employment, and to become economically self-sufficient. Some of these adults have diagnosed and undiagnosed learning disabilities.

Adult Basic Education also serves adults whose first language is not English. These adults, who make up 40% of the adults served in adult education, are immigrants, often seeking citizenship and are enrolled in English literacy and civics classes.

What is typical of ABE coursework?

Many students enrolled in Adult Basic Education courses are preparing for a high school diploma or high school equivalency exams. Such classes are offered online and on-site to prepare students for the subjects covered in the exams, including:

• reading and writing
• mathematics
• social studies
• science

Adult Basic Education courses also cover a range of other topics, including:

• English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction that provides literacy and language education to individuals whose primary language is not English.
• Family literacy programs that bring together under-educated parents and their children to increase appreciation for education and facilitate the basic skills of both parents and children.
• Workforce education that provides basic academic and literacy skills to students who are already employed by a specific business, industry or company.
• Transition-to-employment and job seeking skills, such as resume development, interviewing skills, employability skills (“soft skills”) and occupational specific skills training,
• Transition-to-post-secondary education and training skills, such as study skills.
• Basic computer literacy
• U.S. citizenship preparation

Sources:

• Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. (2016). Adult Basic Education.
• World Education. (2014, March). Adult Education Facts.