Adult education is instructional and related support services for adults who are not enrolled in secondary school, who lack the educational foundation expected of a high school graduate; and whose inability to speak, read, and write the English language, and compute and solve problems constitutes a substantial impairment of their ability to obtain, retain and/or function on the job, in their family and in society commensurate with their real ability, to achieve their goals, and develop their knowledge and potential, and thus are in need of programs to help eliminate such inability and raise their level of education and self-sufficiency.

Adult education programs are guided by Goal 2 of the Illinois State Board of Education's eight education goals. Goal 2 states: "All people of Illinois will be literate, lifelong learners who are knowledgeable about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and able to contribute to the social and economic well-being of our diverse, global society."

Adult education programs provide adults ages 16 years and older who have less than a high school education with opportunities to acquire the skills necessary to function more effectively in society and the workplace of the 21st century. Through these programs a student may accomplish the following goals:

• Acquire the basic reading, writing, and math skills necessary to obtain or advance in a job.
• Meet entrance requirements for vocational training programs.
• Study to pass the GED examination, a nationally recognized test for a certificate of high school equivalency.
• Attain high-level employment skills.
• Obtain the skills needed to become a better parent.
• Acquire the skills needed to be a functional, contributing member of society and a wiser consumer.
• Learn English as a Second Language (ESL) and citizenship skills.
• Earn high school credit toward a high school diploma.
• Obtain an alternative high school diploma.

Adult education and literacy programs provide instruction in the following areas:

• Adult basic education,
• Literacy
• Adult secondary education (including GED exam preparation, high school credit courses, and vocational training for entry-level employment),
• Life-coping skills,
• Parenting skills,
• Citizenship training for immigrants,
• English as a second language,
• Job-seeking skills,
• Classes for public assistance recipients to prepare them for employment.

To learn more about adult education, you might want to check out one or more of the following resources. A complete listing of available materials can be found in the SIPDC LIBRARY MATERIAL RESOURCE GUIDE in your program office. You are always welcome at the SIPDC located in Alumni Hall Room 0138 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. We are open from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. weekdays for you to browse and preview materials.