Component 4at

Division of Workforce Development

Region III: Web-Based Training Program

An Inservice Project

4 text

Improving Student Retention in Adult Education Programs

Component 4A: In Their Own Words

(Text version)

Students from adult education programs share their positive and negative experiences.

	Walter E. Walter is 34 years old. He is currently a GED student at an adult education center and has been going to classes for about 4 months. Walter has been out of school for 16 years. Eventually, he would like to go to college or get a good job. One of the reasons that he likes the adult education center is that he can keep to himself and study. There are few distractions in the GED program. The teachers are helpful, and the staff is friendly. So far, Walter has missed only one class day. He admits that he has a long way to go, but is confident that he will be able to pass the GED when he's ready.
	Jessica D. Jessica is 21 years old and attends an adult education high school program. She had to leave traditional school before graduating because frequent moves disrupted her progress. Schools lost some of her credits in the shuffle. Her mother told her about adult education classes. Jessica went to one adult education center but found it to be much too crowded. There were not enough teachers. But now she's much happier. The present center isn’t crowded. The people are friendlier, and the teachers and staff are good. She especially appreciates the words of encouragement that the principal has given her. She should graduate in 4 to 5 months.
	Lisa A. Lisa is 19 years old. She has been attending high school adult education classes for 7 months. Lisa left the traditional school system because of a mix-up regarding her credits. Thinking that she had much longer to go than she really did, she went into adult education, where there is no age policy preventing older students from attending. Fortunately, the adult education counselor was able to clear up the credit problem. She didn’t have so far to go after all! Lisa has stayed at the adult education center because she is able to work at her own pace. She dislikes the pressure to finish things when she's just not ready. Also the school is located very close to her work. She appreciates the staff at the adult education center because they always encourage her to keep going and are even willing to tutor her in math.
	Carlos M. Carlos is 19 years old. He has been attending high school adult education classes for about 1 year. Carlos had to leave traditional high school because he fell too far behind in credits. Because of discipline problems and suspensions, he missed many class days. The principal of his traditional high school recommended that he attend adult education classes. Carlos likes adult education because he can work at his own pace and receive encouragement from teachers. The staff members at the adult education center are easy to get along with. He doesn't have any discipline problems and is looking forward to joining the military.
	Egan R. Egan is 17 years old. Working to obtain his high school diploma, he has been attending an adult education center for about 4 months. He left traditional high school because he had problems with the teachers and staff. Egan says they focused unfairly on him and made unjustified complaints about his behavior. He felt as if they had it in for him because he refused to play football for the school team. Egan feels good at the adult education center in part because everyone seems to be equal – everyone is in the same boat, so to speak. Because one can study one subject all day, Egan believes that he can get more work done at the adult education center. He is comfortable with the staff and the class work, and is not experiencing the problems that he had at the traditional school.
	Brandy W. Brandy is 17 years old. She has been attending GED adult education classes for 9 months. Brandy left traditional school because she got behind in credits and lacked good attendance. She was going to school whenever she felt like it and eventually fell behind. Brandy didn’t like traditional school because it was too crowded and there were too many troublemakers. A guidance counselor at the traditional school told her to try adult education. At first she went into the high school program in adult education. But following the advice of a counselor, she switched to the GED program, which will allow her to graduate much sooner. Brandy likes adult education because there are less students, and she is able to get good one-on-one instruction. The teachers are not too busy to give her the help that she needs. Also, the staff encourages her to come to class. She appreciates phone calls from staff who urge her to come to class. Staff meetings with her mother have helped ensure that she will stay on track.

This program was developed for the Florida Department of Education, Division of Workforce Development by Brevard Public Schools, Department of Adult and Community Education through an Adult Education 322 Grant.