Adult Education Programs offer a variety of instructional opportunities for county residents. Those who wish to earn a high school diploma, improve reading and writing skills, or perform math more accurately may attend free day and evening classes scheduled in all major areas of the county. These classes include Adult Basic Education (ABE) — basic reading, math, and English, and Adult Secondary Education (ASE), generally referred to as General Educational Development (GED) — preparation to take the national test for a Maryland high school diploma. ABE and GED classes are small, relaxed, and informal and are led by teachers specially skilled and trained in working with adults. Classes continue throughout the school year and learners may enter at any time.
County employers who would like to have a workplace skills or an ABE/GED class at their business site for their employees can arrange this with the Adult Education Office.
Beginner, intermediate and advanced classes for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) are held throughout the school year at Stephen Decatur High School and AGAPE in Berlin and at the First Presbyterian Church in Ocean City. These free, open-entry classes provide non-English speaking or limited-English speaking adults with the opportunity to improve their conversational and basic English skills.
A Volunteer Literacy Program serves the needs of those adults who will benefit from one-on-one instruction. After an initial assessment by the Adult Education Programs' staff, the adult new reader is paired with a volunteer tutor who has been provided with training and instructional resources.
ESOL, ABE, and GED programs are all components of the state's literacy initiative, "Literacy Works," a coordinated state and local effort developed to ensure the availability of instructional and support services for undereducated adults. The Maryland Adult Performance Program (MAPP) must be implemented in all "Literacy Works" programs to assure standardization of the delivery of MSDE-sponsored Adult Basic Education programs operating in the 24 political subdivisions of the state.
WCPS' Adult Education Programs serve more than 300 county citizens annually, and approximately 40 adult students receive their high school diploma each year by successfully completing the GED tests.
For more information or to request a current schedule, call the Adult Education Office at 410-632-5071.
