Maryland Adult Literacy in Action

The mission of Adult Education and Literacy Services is to support Maryland adults to gain the academic, knowledge, and skills to pursue their education, family, and workplace goals.

Specifically, the program ensures that adults have the options to complete their education with high school diplomas; be able to communicate in English; and have basic literacy skills.

Fact Sheet Senate Bill 203 and House Bill 367 Click on the Fact Sheet to the right to learn more about the implications of this bill that would transfer Maryland’s top performing adult education and literacy program from the Maryland State Department of Education to the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Maryland’s Adult and Correctional Education Programs Please click on the document to the right to see answers to several frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Maryland's Adult and Correctional Education Programs.
Maryland Adult Education and Literacy Grantees FY 2008 Click on the document to the right to see the names of currently funded Maryland State Department of Education grantees in each county statewide. All of these grantees meet state standards of quality and performance. They receive federal funds from the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, as part of the Workforce Investment Act.
Maryland Adult Education Program Quick Facts FY07 Click on the Fact Sheet to the right for information about the students served by the Maryland Adult Education and Literacy Program operated by the Maryland State Department of Education. It also includes the most recent information about the program results.
Adult Basic Education and Literacy Maryland Leading the Way See what the Maryland State Department of Education’s adult literacy program is doing in outstanding partnerships for literacy in Maryland.
MSDE Collaborations and Initiatives with Adult Education and Family Literacy Services Please click on the document at right to read about the collaborations and initiatives that the adult education program supports at MSDE.
State Agency Governance for Adult Education and Literacy Programs Click on the image to the right to see how other states administer adult education programs. Only six states administer adult education and literacy through the Department of Labor or a hybrid Labor/Education agency.
Comparison of Adult Education Enrollment Trends: Maryland and States Governed by Department of Labor FY 2004 – FY 2007 Click on the chart to the right to see a comparison of the adult education enrollment trends in Maryland and states where adult education is governed by the Department of Labor, FY2004-FY2007.
Maryland Adult Literacy Resource Center Click on the Maryland Adult Literacy Resource Center bookmark to see the Center services that are available to all Marylanders. The Center supports adult literacy teachers and programs statewide. Center services also connect to the National Institute for Literacy LINCS program.
GED Testing Program FY 07 Quick Facts Click on the image to the right for information on Maryland’s GED Testing Office and FY 07 performance. The GED Tests meet national standards established by the American Council of Education for high school completion. Candidates who pass the GED Tests are awarded a Maryland High School Diploma by examination. For more information on the GED, go to www.gogedgo.org and click on GED.
Maryland High School Diploma Options for Adults - GED Tests Click on the Maryland GED Program brochure to find out about this diploma option. For more information on the GED, go to www.gogedgo.org and click on GED.
Maryland High School Diploma Options for Adults - External Diploma Program (EDP) Click on the Maryland EDP Program brochure to find out about this diploma option.
Maryland GED-i Online Preparation Class Please click on the document at right to read about the new online GED preparation classes available through MSDE.
Accountability Maryland’s Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) Program FY 07 Performance Click on the chart to the right to see Maryland’s AEL performance on the national performance targets established by the US Department of Education. The adult education and literacy program has met its progressively higher performance targets eight consecutive years under Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The adult education program and its accountability system received The Federal Office of Budget and Management (OMB) highest possible performance rating. No other WIA programs received this rating. Maryland’s 35 local adult education grantees and MSDE work to increase student achievement and to meet national performance targets. Data must be collected and reported annually to the US Department of Education’s National Reporting System. MD’s AEL performance has helped to bring $2.8 Million in federal performance incentive funds into the state. Federal incentive funds have helped improve MD’s AEL programs by: Increasing enrollment in local adult education programs Supporting program improvements in learner persistence, increasing the number of learners earning a high school diploma – especially for out of school youth in the Baltimore metro area Providing consulting and project management services for requirements analysis, hardware and software upgrades to move GED Testing Office services to an e-business platform, and to connect adult high school diploma databases Providing local program performance awards