About the Adult and Family Literacy Program
Families come together to learn at the Adult & Family Literacy Program, located at Hawthorne Education Center. Whether these families are from southeast Minnesota or from across the globe, they have similar goals for their children and themselves.
The school has recently partnered with the AmeriCorps READS Initiative, a program of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), to help meet the program’s and students' literacy needs. SMIF believes that vibrant communities build on the social and economic assets of their people and organizations. AmeriCorps READS Initiative Member Monica Maldonado is currently serving at this site.
The program integrates ESL (English as Second Language) education, GED preparation, Adult Diploma program, and the Hand-in-Hand program. The program also offers citizenship classes.
The ESL classes offer seven levels of language training for adults (16 years and older) who are non-native speakers of English. Classes are offered mornings, afternoons and evenings to accommodate busy work and study schedules. Basic English language courses are free for permanent U.S. residents; fees are required for persons visiting the United States temporarily and for all students enrolled in conversation and pronunciation courses.
The GED Preparation course prepares adults in all aspects of the GED test. The five subject areas covered are writing skills, social studies, science, literature, and math.
The Adult Diploma Program is an independent study program that assists students with credits they need to complete their high school diploma. Course work and tests need to be completed with at least 80% accuracy. Upon completion of credits a regular high school diploma will be issued.
Hand in Hand is a family literacy program (funded by an Even Start grant) which integrates parent education, adult literacy, and early childhood education into one comprehensive program.
By volunteering your time and talents to the Adult and Family Literacy Program, you will be helping adults and children meet their educational goals. These goals range from learning the alphabet, mastering a math skill, learning English, earning a GED, obtaining citizenship or reading a book from cover to cover for the first time.
If you have any questions, please contact Hawthorne Education Center at (507) 287-1475 or stop in at 700 Fourth Avenue SE. For volunteer opportunities, please contact Kim Fanning, Volunteer Coordinator, at (507) 287-1986 or at kifanning@rochester.k12.mn.us
