Adult Education System
About Minnesota Adult Education
Adult Education (also called Adult Basic Education, or ABE) is a state-wide system that serves adults who are working towards a high school credential, learning English, improving basic skills such as literacy and math, and/or preparing for postsecondary education or employment. Adult Education is funded with both federal and state funds, and services are delivered through a network of 39 consortia comprising all Minnesota school districts as well as other partners including the correctional system, tribal nations, and community-based organizations.
Mission
The mission of Adult Education in Minnesota is to provide adults with educational opportunities to acquire and improve the literacy skills needed to become self-sufficient and to participate effectively as productive workers, family members, and citizens.
System Overview
In the 2023-24 school year:
60,783
students1,259
paid staff (+1,488 volunteers!)92
organizations that provided Adult Ed instruction
Student Eligibility
To be eligible for Adult Education, an individual must be:
- age 17 or older and not enrolled in or required to be enrolled in any school in the K-12 system,
And must meet one or both of the following criteria:
- lacks a secondary (high school) credential
- functions below the 12th grade level in any of the basic academic areas including reading, math, and ability to read, write and understand English.
Outcomes
Adult Education supports students as they work towards one or more of the following goals:
- Obtain employment or improve employment by getting a new job or getting a promotion
- Achieve a high school credential (GED/HiSET or Diploma)
- Gain or improve skills necessary to enter postsecondary education and training
- Improve ability to speak, read, write and understand the English language
- Master basic academic skills to help support their children in school
- Become a U.S. citizen
- Become a more active and engaged community member
- Gain self-esteem and confidence, plus achieve personal educational goals
Instructional Content
Minnesota Adult Education has adopted three sets of content standards that define the the content domain of instruction in Adult Education classrooms and programs across the state. These content standards outline the knowledge and skills adult students need to successfully transition to employment, postsecondary education or training, and/or increased engagement in the community. All Minnesota Adult Education programs are expected to incorporate these three sets of content standards into their programming at all levels.
The three sets of content standards are:
More about the Adult Education System
Adult Education Consortia
Adult Education Support Network
Professional Development
Hiring & Onboarding
Contacts & Directories
Hotline
Use the Hotline to find information about class offerings, hours, locations, and contact information of Minnesota Adult Education programs.