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One of the overriding goals of public education is to graduate as high a percentage of the student population as possible, but there will always be students who, for one reason or another, fall through the cracks.
Fortunately, dropping out of school as a teen is not the end of the line for these students. Adult education is increasingly widespread and accessible, and best of all, it’s usually free.
Adult education is the passion of Sherri Perry, Executive Director of the Winder-Barrow Coalition for Adult and Continuing Education. The Coalition was founded in 1993 with the purpose of addressing the adult education and workforce needs in Barrow County. It works closely with Lanier Technical College and local organizations such as the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce and Barrow County Schools.
As executive director, Perry described herself as a public relations representative bringing public attention to the necessity of adult education. She also spends a good deal of time writing grants and organizing fundraisers. The Coalition is a non-profit entity, and relies on donations and federal funds to ensure adult students are not charged for their educations.
"We provide all instructional materials needed for a student to succeed; everything from pencils and paper to curriculum," Perry said. The only thing adult students are required to pay is the $95 fee for the General Educational Development (GED) Test — an expense for which the Coalition offers scholarships. Adult education students must be over 16 and not enrolled in school.
In her office on the ground floor of the Lanier Tech campus in downtown Winder, Perry lists the possible candidates for adult education: those who never learned to read, who wish they could help their middle schooler with math homework, who want to earn a GED, who are heading to college and want to review the basics, who are learning English.
"If you have a need, come in," she summarized. "It’s available. It’s free of charge. If they don’t have a high school diploma, they already know how hard it is to get a job. If they’re not in the job market, they can do it to set a good example for their children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews."
"We should be able to accommodate just about any work or family situations," she added.
More and more people are taking Perry up on her offer.
"This program is growing by leaps and bounds," she said. "Last year, we served 800 people — that’s almost 200 more than the year before. We’ve already served 690, so we will surpass the numbers from last year."
According to the Coalition’s unofficial count, almost 1,000 people have been served in some form this year.
Most adult education plans fall into three major categories: GED services, English literacy for non-English speakers and the Georgia Work Ready Initiative.
Students pursuing a GED take a skills assessment test and receive an individual educational plan. The Coalition provides needed school supplies, and teachers and tutors are available for each student. When a student nears the completion of his GED, a transition coach will help him prepare for the next phase of his life, whether that includes college or the work force.
"Many people think that if you drop out of school and get a GED, that your college options are limited," Perry said. "They are not…Those doors are not closed, they just have to take a different route."
Transition coaches help students navigate that route by assisting with applications for colleges and scholarships. Along with traditional financial aid, students who earn a GED are eligible for the HOPE Grant, similar to Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship.
Perry said the biggest complaint about the GED program is that many people wish they had earned it sooner.
"Every time a person gets a GED, and either goes into the workplace or goes into college and then the workplace, that’s a life-changing event for that person and their family," she said.
English as a Second Language is another major curriculum track offered through the Lanier Tech Adult Education program. Like the GED, there is no cost to the students.
English learners can study in six levels of proficiency: Beginner 1, 2 or 3, Intermediate 1 or 2 or Advanced. They practice reading, speaking, listening, writing and vocabulary skills. Like the GED course, curriculum is based on an assessment measuring the student’s current skill level.
Another option for adults got under way Feb. 1 with federal funds providing English classes for parents of Barrow County Schools students.
"We currently have 28 parents enrolled and they attend class three mornings per week," said Shannon Hammond, Federal Programs & School Improvement Coordinator for Barrow County Schools.
"Our goal is to help the parents gain skills – in this case, English language skills – that help them be more engaged in their children’s education which leads to the children’s academic success," said Hammond.
According to John Shinall, the instructor, he encourages peer to peer instruction and one of his advanced students, Ingrid Sanchez, assists in the classroom.
He also notes that one of the first students he began teaching in adult education is now getting help with her English from her two daughters, who are doing well in school.
The third major curriculum plan in adult education is the Georgia Work Ready Initiative. The Initiative offers free training to workers who wish to improve their marketable skills.
Work Ready is made of three components: assessment, certificate and skill gap training. The assessment is administered by the WorkKeys program and measures core skills, such as applied math, reading for information and locating information; and work habits, such as cooperation, discipline and drive.
The certificate is given based on the lowest area of assessment in the core skills. Certificate levels are Bronze, indicating the necessary skills for 35 percent of jobs; Silver, with skills for 65 percent of jobs, Gold, with skills for 90 percent of jobs, and Platinum, with skills for 99 percent of jobs.
Skills gap training, the final component, offers free training through local technical colleges to improve the skill level and improve work habits.
The Work Ready Initiative has been recognized by several Georgia-based corporations which consider candidate’s certificates when hiring. It can also be useful for workers seeking promotions. Additional information on the Work Ready program is available at www.gaworkready.org.
Adult education is on the rise in Barrow County, giving people, as Perry says, "a little extra edge."
The money to run classes at Lanier Technical College comes from state and federal money and from private non-profit groups. Adult Education classes are free to the student.
Adult Education programs are offered at the Lanier Tech campus at 89 E. Athens St., in Winder, at the Statham Community Center and at the J.D. Withers Building as well as at Auburn Elementary. See www.laniertech.edu/adult-literacy.
To volunteer or make a tax-deductible donation to the Winder-Barrow Coalition for Adult and Continuing Education, contact Sherri Perry at sperry@laniertech.edu or call (770) 868-4080.
