ADULT EDUCATION AND TRANSITIONAL STUDIES 

Adult Education and Transitional Studies programs are designed to meet the employment and precollege educational needs of students 19 years or older regardless of previous educational background or ability. Courses are individualized to better serve the special needs of each student. All day and evening courses are offered on a continuous, open-enrollment basis during the year at more than 20 community sites, public schools and special institutions throughout the district.

 Literacy/Pre-GED 

Adult education offers students an opportunity to improve literacy skills through a holistic, integrated approach to reading. In reading lab classes, learners participate in group work and individualized instruction to improve word recognition, vocabulary skills and comprehension. In addition to improving literacy, the program also emphasizes necessary job skills and basic computer skills. 

Adult education classes in pre-GED prepare students for GED coursework in the areas of mathematics, writing, reading, social studies and science. The program also focuses on improving students’ potential for employment and developing computer knowledge and skills. For more information call 509-533-4600. 

Adult Education/Workplace Success Skills 

Course components include: workplace reading skills (comprehension, main points, summarizing), workplace writing skills, computer basics (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and keyboarding), learning styles assessment (how to apply this information to the workplace), soft skill job strategies or “hidden rules of the workplace”  (communications and real work scenarios), job search tools (cover letters, resumes, interviewing skills, dress for success, business letters and memos), career planning and vocational assessment, self-concept and personality styles in the workplace. 
For more information, call 509-533-4600. 

General Educational Development (GED) 

Adults wishing to enroll in credit programs offered by community and technical colleges must have a high school diploma or GED certificate. State community colleges automatically accept students who have passed the GED exam. If you have a GED certificate, you may qualify to enroll in College Prep. College Prep is a program designed to help successfully transition students who attain a GED to college level coursework.

GED classes offer instruction to adult learners 19 years of age and older in the following areas: mathematics, science, social studies, writing skills, literature and the arts. Learners ages 16 through 18 may be admitted to the GED program if they have an Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) release from the school district where they reside. 

GED certificates are issued by the OSPI and represent an alternative educational achievement. In addition, GED students may have the opportunity to receive computer basics (computer literacy and keyboard training). CCS also offers an online GED program. For more information, call 509-533-4600. 

High School Completion 

Students enrolled in the IEL’s High School Completion (HSC) program may earn from one to three credits to complete graduation requirements for a Washington state diploma. Students must have passed the WASL reading and writing portions prior to enrolling in HSC; however, the culminating project and High School and Beyond Plan are included as part of the HSC curriculum. Prior credits, military work and life experiences may be considered. Some qualifying criteria must be met prior to enrollment in the program. Students who are 17 through 18 years old will be accepted into the program only with an Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) written release from the high school of the school district where they reside.
For more information, call 509-533-4600. 

English As A Second Language (ESL) 

From beginning literacy through advanced English as a second language, the IEL offers what students need to meet Washington state’s six levels of competencies. ESL is integrated into ABE/GED, College Prep, Computer Basics and Workplace Basics.

ESL is instruction for non-native English speakers. There are six levels of instruction, and they are directly tied to competencies in listening, speaking, reading, writing and observing.

Job readiness, as well as retention and advancement in the workplace, are components of all ESL instruction. Computer literacy and ESL-specific software programs are a part of all curricula. 

Students wishing to enroll in ESL must complete placement testing at the Adult Education Center before class assignments can be made. Students who have documentation of high school completion, as well as clearance from the Spokane    K-12 system, may attend these classes. For placement testing or more information, call 509-533-4612. 

Workplace ESL assists students in improving vocabulary and writing in the workplace and is offered through online ESL classes. For more information, call 509-533-8522. 

Read Right® 

Adults who have difficulty reading, worry that reading problems will prevent them from succeeding in school or work, or find reading boring and learning new information difficult, are discovering Read Right® . 

The program helps eliminate reading problems and greatly improves comprehension. The end result is process of reading correctly, eliminating the reading problem. Read Right® classes are offered in one-or three-hour blocks, Monday-Friday with open enrollment throughout the quarter. For more information, call 509-279-6028. 

College Prep 

Course components include math and writing review, computer skills, study skills, research skills, campus tours and guest speakers. Morning and afternoon classes are offered with open enrollment in the first weeks of the quarter. This class is a must for anyone interested in brushing up on skills for entering college. For more information, call 509-533-4600. 

PACE Services 

PACE Services (People Accessing Careers and Education) helps adults who have cognitive, physical, sensory or psychiatric disabilities to achieve employment and ongoing education. In addition to self-referral, individuals can be referred by the Division of Developmental Disabilities, public school districts and other programs within the community colleges. Programs are designed to help individuals gain the knowledge and skills to achieve their goals through education, resource coordination and vocational support. Classes include Job Skills, Communication Skills, Life Skills, Computer Skills, Computer Basics and Applications, Sign Language, Life Dynamics, Reading, Creative Writing, Driver’s Education, Transitions, and physical conditioning classes. Classes are held at Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane Community College and IEL Hillyard Center. 

PACE is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities for the following employment services: community employment for job development, job-site training and job supports, and employment planning services. For more information, call 509-533-8550. 

SEER PROGRAM 

SEER (Supported Education and Employment Enhancing Rehabilitation) is a noncredit, college-based supported education and employment program designed to assist individuals with psychiatric disabilities to pursue work, education and volunteerism as part of their recovery. The program offers classes for skill development as well as numerous support services to assist students while enrolled in SEER classes, credit classes or vocational services. For more information, call 509-279-6055. 

READY PROGRAM

The READY program is employment based and designed for individuals with barriers to both academic achievement and productive employment. General workplace skills include problem solving, communication, business basics and learning employment strategies. READY offers industry-specific training in Automotive Maintenance, Hospitality/Food Service, and Child Care. For more information, call 509-533-8550. 

TRANSITION
PACE Services offers a wide range of noncredit classes and employment services for special education students 18 to 21 years of age. PACE works with the student, student’s family, and student’s high school to develop an individualized program. Modeled after the Running Start concept, this service allows the student to progress to a college environment while completing high school. For more information, call 509-533-8550. 

Families That Work 

This program offers low-income single parents the opportunity to build self-confidence, increase skills, and make the transition from public assistance to productive employment and self-sufficiency. Classes include ABE/GED, Workplace Basics, Computer Basics, Parent Education, Life Skills and Family Management. For more information, call 509-533-4633 or 533-4600. 

I-BEST Training 

I-BEST (Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training) is a collaborative program that allows eligible adult students to complete adult education courses, such as GED and ESL, at the same time they are enrolled in college-level technical education programs in high-demand fields like CNC machining, welding and social service technician. 

Individual tutoring for both GED completion and ESL is available each day one hour before classes begin. 

Upon successful completion of the program, I-BEST Manufacturing Trades graduates are eligible for entry-level specialist jobs; have new job-specific math, reading and communication skills; and may have completed or be close to completing a GED certificate or high school diploma. Students also earn college credits during the program, which can be applied to a one-year professional certificate or two-year Associate in Applied Science degree at a community college. Financial aid may be available for students who qualify. For more information call 509-434-5166.