Overview

PURPOSE: Alabama’s adult education program will provide quality adult education and literacy services to Alabamians at no cost to them. Adult education classes provide a second opportunity for adult learners committed to improving their academic and life skills. Instructional methodologies will be based on individual student needs and may range from one-on-one tutoring to group instruction. Computer-based and distance education instructional programs may be used, as appropriate. Day and evening classes are provided in a variety of facilities conducive to adult learning. The three program goals are to assist adults to:

1. Become literate and obtain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and self-sufficiency.

2. Obtain the educational skills necessary to become full partners in the educational development of their children.

3. Complete secondary school or complete the equivalent of a secondary school education.

OUR MISSION: The Alabama College System, through a comprehensive system of consortia, seeks to provide accessible quality adult educational programs that will enable students to become employable, productive, and responsible citizens.

OUR VISION: Educational professionals building America’s most recognized and respected adult education instructional program—indispensable to Alabama’s economic and workforce development initiatives.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

• Conform to Federal and state laws, policies, and guidelines.

• Make legally defensible, educationally sound, fact-based recommendations, and decisions.

• Achieve maximum return on the investment of public funds.

• Build enduring relationships with customers and stakeholders.

• Continually measure performance and take every opportunity to improve.

OUR OPERATING STYLE:

• Giving everyone a stake in achieving the vision.

• Creating a climate that inspires trust, teamwork, and pride.

• Practicing participative management.

• Delegating authority to its lowest levels, but continuing to accept responsibility.

• Setting goals, measuring progress, rewarding superior performance, and improving unacceptable performance.

• Striving for a culture of continuous improvement.

• Providing quality adult education services that not only satisfy the needs of students and stakeholders, but also those providing funds.

ACCOUNTABILITY: The National Reporting System for Adult Education (NRS) is an outcome-based reporting system for the state-administered, Federally funded adult education program. Developed with the support of the U.S. Department of Education's Division of Adult Education and Literacy (DAEL), the NRS continues a cooperative process by states and DAEL to manage a reporting system that demonstrates learner outcomes for adult education. The NRS establishes a national accountability system for adult education programs by identifying measures for national reporting and their definitions, establishing methods for data collection, developing software standards for reporting to the U.S. Department of Education and developing training materials and activities on NRS requirements and procedures. The NRS meets the accountability requirements for the adult education program in The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, Title II, Workforce Investment Act of 1998, P.L. 105-220.

The National Reporting System has improved the public accountability of the adult education program by documenting its ability to meet Federal policy and programmatic goals. The collection of state outcome data will enable states to correlate practices and programs with successful outcomes, and will also assist states in assessing progress in meeting their adult education goals. For local providers, the NRS will help instructors and administrators plan instructional activities and services to enhance student outcomes and to relate effective practices and programs with successful outcomes. More information may be found at http://www.nrsweb.org/

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