Adult Basic Education Overview
Module 1: Part 2 - Learner Needs
What is Adult Basic Education (ABE)?
Adult basic education (ABE) helps adults (most without a high school diploma) strengthen their basic literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills. While some of these adults have diagnosed and undiagnosed learning disabilities that make formal learning a struggle, others left school before graduating due to personal circumstances and hardships. These adults now seek to gain knowledge and skills needed to succeed in employment or postsecondary education, and to become economically self-sufficient. In addition, ABE also serves adults whose first language is not English. These adults, who make up 40% of the those served in U.S. adult education classes, are often immigrants seeking citizenship.
Please watch the following video (10:49 minutes) Links to an external site. that was produced by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) Links to an external site. 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.
Why might adults seek continuing education?
- The McGraw-Hill Research Foundation (Links to an external site.) reported nearly half the U.S. workforce today, approximately 52 million adults, has only a high school education or less, while 25 million workers aged 18 to 64 lack even a high school diploma or equivalent certification.
- A 2011 U.S. Census Bureau report (Links to an external site.) suggested education levels had more effect on earnings over a 40-year span in the workforce than any other demographic factor, such as gender, race and Hispanic origin.
- A 2014 U.S. Department of Education report on adult basic skills participation (Links to an external site.) suggested those who participate in adult education programs have higher future earnings as a result of participating, and their income are larger with more intensive participation. 100 hours or more of attendance were found to equate to extra earnings of $9,621 per year, in 2013 dollars.
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, but coursework can vary depending on each student's goals. Independent, one-on-one, and small group study methods are frequently used, and some learners will develop a Personal Education Plan (PEP) designed to meet their own specific needs.
Adult basic education courses cover a range of topics, including:
- Preparation for high school equivalency exams, including reading and writing, mathematics, social studies, and science subjects.
- 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 Links to an external site..
- World Education. (2014, March). Adult Education Facts Links to an external site..