Marshall Adult Education Mission Statement

 The mission of Adult Basic Education in Minnesota is to provide adults with educational opportunities to acquire and improve their literacy skills necessary to be self-sufficient and to participate effectively as productive workers, family members, and citizens.

Along with supporting the above mission statement, Marshall ABE prioritizes the goal of assisting students in gaining skills to obtain meaningful employment.  Marshall ABE sees the priority of employment training as the most effective means of assisting our students in all areas of their lives..

As the lead agency in the Marshall ABE Consortium, the Marshall Adult Learning Center is responsible for the administration of ABE programs and fiscal responsibilities in the following communities:  Balaton, Comfrey, Hendricks, Ivanhoe, Lake Benton, Lamberton, Marshall, Milroy, Minneota, Morgan (Cedar Mountain), Redwood Falls/Belview, Russell, Ruthton, Tracy, Tyler, Wabasso, and Walnut Grove.

>  GED - General Educational Development diploma.  National high school equivalency program that includes a set of 5 tests: Math, Reading, Writing, Social Studies, and Science.
>  Adult Diploma - Programs for eligible adults leading to a high school diploma from a sponsoring Minnesota school district. 
>  ESL - English as a Second Language.  For learners whose native language was not English.
>  Basic Skills Enhancement - For learners who need goal-specific elementary or secondary level basic skills such as work-related math, functional literacy (e.g.- banking skills), reading or writing assistance.  Generally considered "brush-up" and not leading to a diploma or GED.
>  Family Literacy - Program for adults and their children.  Features instruction for adults in literacy, instruction in parenting, educational/developmental services for kids and Pre-GED and GED.
>  Workforce Education - Literacy skills related to learners' need to obtain, retain or improve their employment. Content typically features work-related vocabulary and information as well as personal and group skills desired by employers.  Workplace skills are often provided at the learner's employment site.  This area includes general employability skills (e.g. - résumé development, interview skills) which are typically provided at the regular ABE site.
>  Citizenship Education - Programs which prepare Minnesota non-citizens for the U.S. citizenship exam given by the INS.  Includes application preparation and English language instruction.  Also may include content related to general civic content and participation in society.
>  Drivers Education - Prepares learners to take their permit test.  For a fee, Behind the Wheel training is available.

ELIGIBILITY: Participants must be 16 and over, not enrolled in secondary school, and functioning below the 12^th grade level in any of the basic academic areas including reading, math, writing and speaking English.