On July 31, 2003, Texas Education Agency (TEA) outsourced the non-discretionary grant management functions, program assistance, and other statewide support services for the adult education and family literacy programs in Texas to the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE), a local education agency governed by an elected Board of Trustees. HCDE implements responsibilities defined in the TEA/HCDE contract through TexasLEARNS, the Texas Adult Education and Family Literacy Partnership. It is through TEA and TexasLEARNS that allocations of state and federal ABE funds granted by the U.S. Department of Education are distributed to providers of programs in Texas. Adult Education grants allocated provide comprehensive literacy services with basic instruction in English, reading, writing, and arithmetic to adult learners.
In addition, adult education programs provide workplace literacy, family literacy, and civics education for Limited English Proficient learners. Performance indicators include completion of one or more education functioning levels, placement in, retention in, or completion of post-secondary education, training, employment or career advancement, and the receipt of a GED diploma. In communities across the Lone Star state, adult education students gain the basic skills necessary to find, keep and advance in the jobs of the highly- skilled occupations that increasingly characterize the Texas economy. ABE programs help Texans build a strong foundation of academic skills in order to fulfill their roles as workers, parents, and citizens.
Adult Education providers are funded through a competitive, rigorous process. Eligible applicants must demonstrate proven effectiveness in providing adult students with the key components of the Adult Basic Education program. Eligible applicants can include: local education agencies, community-based organizations, including volunteer literacy organizations, institutions of higher education including community and junior colleges, public or private non-profit agencies and institutions, libraries, public housing authorities, and consortiums of agencies, organizations, institutions and libraries. Currently 24 Community Colleges, 20 Independent School Districts, 8 Education Service Centers, 1 Community Based Organization, and the Harris County Department of Education are fiscal agents for programs. Enrollment in the Office of Adult Education program is easy and adult education services are free to the student.
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