The Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit 5 will host an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at its newest adult education program location, 809 Peach St., Erie. Here, Brad Whitman, IU5 executive director, outlines the many services the IU5 offers through its adult education program.
The Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit 5 (IU5) adult education program serves Erie, Clarion, Crawford, Venango, and Warren counties spanning approximately 4,887 square miles in northwest Pennsylvania.
IU5's mission is to assist eligible adults in achieving their educational and employment goals and assist individuals in functioning more effectively in their personal lives and in the community. IU5's adult education program provides a variety of class opportunities that include: adult basic education (ABE), remedial reading, writing and math skills, algebra I and II, GED exam preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL) and workforce preparation.
Our math and reading remediation classes assist students in developing basic skills to help pass entrance exams, pursue further education, receive a promotion, or secure a new job. Algebra I and II classes refresh students' algebra and math skills. This course is valuable for college-bound students.
GED exam preparation classes develop skills needed to pass the GED exam, helping students gain test-taking strategies customized for language arts (reading and writing), math, science, and social studies. During this program year, IU5 has helped more than 20 individuals obtain their GEDs.
ESL classes enable immigrants, refugees, and individuals resettling in the United States to learn English by practicing reading, writing, speaking, and listening, so that they can navigate day-to-day life in a new country and prepare for the United States citizenship exam. The program also assists individuals transitioning to secondary education by teaching them about the college admissions process and identifying available resources.
These classes support the individual in developing personal career pathways and the implementation of skills for educational success. Our workplace skills instruction focuses on the competencies needed to succeed in the modern workplace. Students explore career pathways in high-priority occupations, learn how to write or polish a resume, navigate online job searches and applications, and prepare for job interviews. We also provide access to workforce services through PA CareerLink and referrals to other family support services. All students are provided with free customized instruction, class materials, and resources and referrals for community services. During this program year, the program has serviced 673 individuals and enrolled 389 students. No matter the skill level, IU5 adult education has an educational solution.
IU5's adult education program also has transition support specialists who provide guidance and student support to address educational needs and barriers. Transition support specialists meet with each student to discuss and identify individual needs and provide community resources to mitigate barriers to set short- and long-term education and employment goals. Program staff develop and align career pathways, curriculum and instruction to the college and career framework to help prepare students to transition to employment and/or post-secondary education and training. Transition support specialists also collaborate with instructors to support the application of adult learning theory and best-practice strategies for individualized and differentiated instruction for all learners.
At both the Erie County Prison and Venango County Jail, the program provides educational services to incarcerated individuals. Over the last year, the program has successfully implemented ABE and GED classes for both men and women. We have also partnered with the Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC) to provide GED testing at the Erie County Prison. Through collaboration with Erie County Prison administration, GECAC and our program's administration, we were able to enable seven individuals to receive GEDs.
The program continues to expand in-person and remote and online services encompassing urban and rural areas. Sites are located at: Meadville Downtown Mall, Redbank Community Learning Center in Clarion County, Fairview High School, Catholic Charities, the Erie Housing Authority, Warren Forest Higher Education Council, Corry Higher Education Council, Cambridge Springs Public Library, Franklin Public Library, and Oil City Public Library. Presently, our program hosts a diverse range of morning, afternoon, and evening classes in Erie at the following locations: Blasco Library (ABE/ GED), International Institute of Erie (ESL and citizenship), the Quality of Life Learning Center (ABE and ESL), Conrader Valves Corporation (ESL), and St. Benedictine Education Center (ABE).
We are excited to announce the opening of our newest location, the Adult Education Center at 809 Peach St., in Erie. Through the support of Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation (GEEDC) and grant funding through the Erie Community Foundation, the program will double the amount of instructional capacity through additional classrooms, and state of the art educational technology. Through partnerships established with local social service agencies, the program will continue to meet the educational needs of the Erie community. The new location promises enhanced accessibility and convenience for our learners and provides the community with adult basic education and ESL classes, as well as support for the career and workforce services.
Potential students can call 1-800-461-6711 to connect with one of our student support coordinators. IU5's adult education program is the place to go for your adult basic education and English as a Second Language educational needs!
Brad Whitman is the executive director of the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit 5.
Most Popular
Comments / 0