Adult Education and Literacy
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Welcome to the Iowa Adult Education and Family Literacy (AEL) page. Follow the links below for more information about adult basic education services for Iowa adults and their families as well as resources and requirements for Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA)-funded program management.
Notice of Public Comment
Due to the extraordinary circumstances created by COVID-19 and resulting school closures, the U.S. Department of Education notified states of a waiver of section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), often referred to as the “Tydings Amendment,” to extend the period of availability of State formula grant funds authorized by the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA). Iowa submitted this waiver to the U.S. Department of Education on April 23, and has received approval on April 23, 2020. This allows Iowa to extend the period of availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 funds for programs in which the SEA participates as the eligible agency until September 30, 2021.
The Iowa Department of Education is providing all subgrantees, local educational agencies (LEAs), other agencies and organizations, and institutions of higher education in the State with a notice and an opportunity to comment on this request. Waiver Comments are due via email to alex.harris@iowa.gov by May 24, 2020.
Your Future Starts Here
Your Future Starts Here Newsletter
The Your Future Starts Here Newsletter provides updated information for adult language learners. Newsletters are sent out quarterly.
All adult education and literacy classes, including testing for the HSED (formerly known as the GED®), is done at local community colleges. To learn more about programs offered and class schedules, please click on the appropriate college link below.
Directory of AEL Programs by Area
About Adult Education and Literacy
The Iowa Department of Education (DE) recognizes that today's workplace presents numerous opportunities and challenges for adults. Employers need workers with strong basic skills and an ability to adapt to change. Today's families are faced with multiple responsibilities as they address their children's educational needs as well as their own. Iowa’s Adult Education and Literacy programs build skills for success by providing adults with the opportunity to acquire and improve functional skills necessary to enhance the quality of their lives as workers, family members, and citizens. These programs play an important role in fostering productive employment, effective citizenship, personal and family growth, self-esteem, and dignity for adult learners. Educational services are available at little or no cost to adult learners and are designed to meet the educational needs of each individual.
Adult Education and Literacy is designed to:
- Satisfy the basic literacy needs of adults
- Improve and/or upgrade information processing and computational skills leading to a high school equivalency diploma or entry into postsecondary education
- Satisfy the continuing education demands of adults in the current labor market
- Improve the self-esteem of adults
- Empower adults to achieve their goals
Our Mission
To provide accessible, quality instruction that develops life, work, and literacy skills.
According to the most recent federal legislation, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998, Title II, the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, the qualifications for students are as follows:
- Adults who are 16 years of age or older
- Adults who are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law; and who:
- lack sufficient mastery of basic educational skills to enable them to function effectively on the job, in the family, and in society, or
- do not have a secondary school diploma or its equivalent level of education, or
- are unable to speak, read, or write the English language.
- Only adults who meet the eligibility criteria above may enroll in the Iowa AEL program
Services could include:
- Basic Skills Instruction in reading, writing, math, listening, and speaking
- HSED Test Preparation in science, social studies, mathematics, language arts-reading, language arts-writing, and calculator training
- Official Practice Test (OPT) Administration for documenting readiness to take the HiSET™ test
- English for Speakers of Other Languages in pre-literacy, reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar, U.S. history and government, and cultural literacy
- College Readiness Skills Instruction in organization and time management, technology, goal setting, test taking skills, and self-advocacy
- Job Readiness Skills Instruction in goal-setting, career planning, personal work attributes, employee rights and responsibilities, job search strategies, and unemployment survival
- Computer Literacy Skills in keyboarding, word processing, and other introductory skills
Adult Education and Literacy Staff Directory
Alex Harris
State Director for Adult Education
Division of Community Colleges & Workforce Preparation
Bureau of Community Colleges
Phone: 515-281-3640
Fax: 515-242-5988
alex.harris@iowa.gov
Elizabeth J. Campbell
Education Consultant, Instructional Design/Development
Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Preparation
Phone: 515-281-3753
Fax: 515-242-5988
elizabeth.campbell@iowa.gov
Teresa Garcìa
AEL Program Quality
Division of Community Colleges & Workforce Preparation
Bureau of Community Colleges
Phone: 515-281-4723
Fax: 515-242-5988
teresa.garcia@iowa.gov
Lisa Gard
Data Accountability Consultant
Division of Community Colleges & Workforce Preparation
Bureau of Community Colleges
Phone: 515-418-3156
Fax: 515-242-5988
lisa.gard@iowa.gov
Mike Williams
Career Pathway and HSED Consultant
Division of Community Colleges & Workforce Preparation
Bureau of Community Colleges
Phone: 515-725-2005
Fax: 515-242-5988
mike.williams@iowa.gov