We envision a future where every adult in Massachusetts has the knowledge, skills, and support they need to lead the life they aspire to live.
In pursuit of this vision, ACLS partners with adult education programs to ensure that all students have access to quality instruction, advising, job training, and career pathways.
In partnership with UPD Consulting, the second year of the Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) Professional Learning Series, continued in February with over 160 participants across various adult education organizations and programs.
In Session #4 of the five-part series, participants entered the last phase of their collective work: RECONNECT in the creation of liberatory communities. ADEI session content helped participants focus on exploring people-centered approaches to addressing barriers to racial equity and to building liberatory communities. Participants heard what liberation means from student voices and their own colleagues from a local Sheriff County's Education Department team. Their team shared with the attendees what addressing racial equity means to them in their environment and how they are engaging as a team. The sessions continue to have a high satisfaction rate among participants. One respondee on the feedback survey commented, "[It] was good to hear about how people are utilizing the sessions and resources to make an impact."
The series will end at Session #5 in late March with a final in-person, full-day session at the DCU Center in Worcester where participants will find joy and celebrate their growth as they support each other to refine their plans for facilitating sustainable racial equity change by sharing their program/organization team plans, receiving feedback from colleagues, and reflecting on the journey.
Are you a Massachusetts resident who wants to get a high school equivalency credential or learn English? The Massachusetts Adult Literacy Hotline provides referrals to hundreds of adult education programs that offer English language training, high school equivalency test preparation, and other services.
Visit www.mass.gov/edu/literacyhotline
ACLS commissioned the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) to determine if recent adult education system changes have contributed to improvements in the quality of and access to educator PD, quality of adult education provided, and student outcomes. We invite you to review UMDI's Adult Education System Evaluation Final Report reflecting the perspectives of students, directors, teachers, advisors, ACLS staff, and other stakeholders along with findings and recommendations for the future. The report is posted on the Workforce Development and Adult Learners link of the DESE Reports by Topic page.
Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS), a unit at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, oversees and improves no-cost basic educational services (ABE) for adults in Massachusetts.
ABE stands for Adult Basic Education. ABE is an umbrella term used to describe a range of educational services for adults from basic literacy (including English for non-native speakers of English), numeracy, and high school equivalency / adult diploma programs (ADP).
ACLS funds programs in Massachusetts to provide educational services to adults with academic skill levels below 12th grade, and/or adults who need English language skills to succeed in our communities. Through both federal and state grants, we fund a broad network of education providers/programs, including local school systems, community-based agencies, community colleges, libraries, volunteer organizations, correctional facilities, and others. ACLS also funds family literacy and workplace education programs.
In addition to ABE classes, ACLS funds innovative projects to enhance programs' delivery of services, including curriculum frameworks, health education, English Language Civics, community planning, distance learning, family literacy, workplace education, and technology.
ACLS also funds the professional development of teachers and other professionals in ABE programs through the System for Adult Basic Education Support (SABES).
Last Updated: February 23, 2023
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906
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