Adult Education
"explore new opportunities"
Enrollment Information
In order to serve the needs of the community, the Adult Education Center has an open enrollment policy. Prospective students who are 18 years of age or older may enroll on Mondays through Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the center. Under special circumstances and guidelines, those who are 16 or 17 years of age may be enrolled.
GED students are required to attend an orientation session offered at various times. Students may participate in labs, classes, and/or tutoring sessions to prepare for the GED exam. Students must make an appropriate score on the TABE assessment and the Practice GED Test before taking the Official GED Exam. On the Practice Test, state policy dictates that students must score an average of 450, with no score lower than 410 before being scheduled for the Official GED test. (State requirements for teen students are required to score and average of 490, with no score lower than 450). The Official GED Exam must be scheduled in advance.
ESL and Citizenship students are assessed with the BEST Literacy Test and placed in the appropriate classes as determined by the scores. ESL classes are available at the center and at various locations in Springdale.
All Adult Education Services are FREE of charge.
Our only requirement for attendance is that the student be willing to take a short pre-test upon enrollment in order to determine academic areas of strength and weakness and a post-test after receiving instruction in order to determine the student’s educational gains.
What Programs are Available?
Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Adult Basic Education is a course of study designed to improve a student’s basic skills. ABE is especially helpful to persons with lower skills in math, reading, English, and writing, and is designed to help prepare students to enter the GED program.
General Education Development (GED)
GED classes and labs offer instruction to adults who are preparing to pass the GED exam or who desire to enhance essential skills. Instruction is provided in all five subject areas: Mathematics, Language Arts-Reading, Language Arts-Writing (including essay), Science, and Social Studies. ABE and GED instruction is offered to any Arkansas resident not currently enrolled in another school.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
ESL is designed for persons whose native language is not English. Students in these classes practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing English. Classes are divided into four levels of difficulty (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4), depending upon the student’s BEST Literacy assessment score. Two ESL sessions are held throughout the year: Fall – August through December and Spring – January through June. Certificates of completion are awarded to each student after completing an instructional session.
Citizenship (EL/Civics)
ESL students are given instruction to assist them in passing the U.S. Citizenship test. Potential exam questions, practice interviews, historical events, civic duties and responsibilities, and other important information about the citizenship process is covered in this class. Certificates are awarded to each student who successfully completes this course.
Individualized instruction and basic skills review is always available at our center to all students.
Are there Rules and Regulations?
Enrollment
For GED classes, we only require an application, photo ID, and Social Security number if the student has one (these are required state requirements). For all other classes, we require an application and would like to have a photo ID and Social Security number if the student has one, but this is not mandatory.
Attendance
Attendance is voluntary, except for the Teen Program. Students in the Teen Program are required by Arkansas law to attend class a minimum of 20 hours per week while preparing for their GED. Students who are employed 30 hours or more per week must attend a minimum of 10 hours per week.
Dress Code
Appropriate dress for adult education classes is expected. Attire is generally acceptable, as long as it is not deemed offensive or disruptive to others.
Children and Visitors
Children and/or visitors are not permitted in class or while students are studying or testing. Adult students are often bothered by such distractions and insurance/liability concerns do not allow the center to permit children and visitors on the premises; however, some of the off-site locations offer childcare services.
Additional information may be found in the Adult Education Center Student Handbook.
GED…How do I get it?
You must be 18 years of age or older to enroll, but we may agree to enroll you one month prior to your 18th birthday. Students who are younger must be referred to our center from the Springdale Alternative Learning Environment Center (ALE). The only exceptions are for those students who are officially home-schooled or housed in a residential treatment facility.
Step 1 - Enrollment
Stop by the Adult Education Center located at the northwest corner of the Northwest Technical Institute Campus. Complete an enrollment form and Locator test. The process takes approximately one hour.
Step 2 - Orientation
GED students must complete a two-hour orientation session prior to beginning the program of study. Orientation sessions are offered on various dates and times.
Step 3 - TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education)
GED students enrolled at the center must make an appropriate score on the TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) assessment before taking the Practice GED Test. This takes about 1½ hours, but does not necessarily have to be completed at one time. The TABE consists of Reading, Language, and Math subtests.
Step 4 - Counseling
Results from the TABE test enable teachers to diagnose, evaluate, and successfully place students in appropriate classes. The TABE results indicate an individual’s skill level in reading, math, and language. This test will determine any weak skill areas a student may have and allow them to focus on those areas only. Individualized instruction and classes are available at the center. Some self-paced computerized instructional programs can also be accessed online after students complete six hours in the classroom. Students who score at the grade 10 level or above in Reading, Math, and Language will automatically be allowed to take the GED Practice Test.
Step 5 - GED Practice Test
The GED Practice Test is similar to the Official GED Exam, but is half as long. This test consists of five different sections: Reading, Science, Social Studies, Writing, and Math. Each section takes 25-50 minutes and the student must make a sufficient score before being allowed to take the Official GED Exam. State policy states that students must take and pass ALL five sections of the Practice Test before being scheduled for the GED exam.
Step 6 - Official GED Test
The Official GED Exam takes about seven hours and may be taken in separate settings on different days of the week. These exams are offered twice a month on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Confidentiality: No student information can be shared with a third party without the written consent of that student.
Accommodations for disabilities are available.
The NTI Adult Education Center provides equal access to all programs and activities.