The Office of Adult Education provides  instructional services to those adults who qualify. Under the Workforce Investment Act Title II, the term “adult” refers to individuals…

• who have attained 16 years of age; *
• who are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school under State law;
• who  lack  sufficient  mastery of  basic  educational  skills  to  enable  them  to  function effectively in society;
• who do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and have not achieved an equivalent level of education; or
• who are unable to speak, read, or write the English language.

Nothing in the law authorizes programs to serve children under 16.  To be “not...required to be enrolled” in secondary school under State law means that a student is beyond the age of “compulsory school attendance” as defined by Texas law.

* The  Texas Education  Code  (chapter 25.085)  defines  compulsory  school attendance in the following terms:

• Unless specified exempted, by Section 25.086, a child who is at least six years of age…, and who has not yet reached his/her 18th birthday shall attend school.
• A child is exempt from the requirements of compulsory school attendance if the child is at least 17 years of age AND is  attending a  course of instruction  to prepare  for the  high  school  equivalency examination, and
  • Has the permission of the child’s parent or guardian to attend the course
  • Is required by court order to attend the course
  • Has established a residence separate and apart from the child’s parent, guardian, or other person having lawful control of the child; or
  • Is homeless as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 11302 or...
• has received a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate;
• A child is exempt from the requirements of compulsory school attendance if the child is at least 16 years of age AND
  • the child is recommended to take the course of instruction by a public agency that has supervision or custody of the child under a court order; or
  • the  child  is enrolled  in a  Job Corps  training  program  under  the  Job  Training Partnership Act  (29 U.S.C. Section 1501 et seq.),  and its subsequent  amendments.

No student will be denied program services due to a handicap of any nature. If a handicapped student  enrolls  in a  class  and should  have  special  needs, instructors  should  contact  their immediate supervisor or the Office of Adult Education administrative staff for assistance.