Education: The Atlanta Adult Education Center (AAEC) and the Cobb Adult Education Center (CAEC) provide our trainees with the opportunity for basic skills instruction, GED instruction, bilingual education, diploma and individual tutoring. AAEC is an arm of the Atlanta Public Schools serving students seeking to earn their GED. CAEC is an arm of the Cobb County Public Schools serving the same population, individuals who have left the traditional school system. In our partnership, the Adult Education Centers will provide the educational orientation during the overall orientation period. Here, trainees are briefed on the results by staff. Optional computer training will be discussed with the youth as well. Upon acceptance into the program, education manager meet with each youth to develop an individualized education plan of short and long-term goals. Trainees have the option of pursuing the GED or the adult high school diploma and bilingual education will be determined if necessary.
The participants in the YouthBuild program obtain the GED certificate.
The GED program adheres to the mandates outlined by the Department of
Technical and Adult Education (DTAE) of Georgia. This GED certificate
allows the participants to gain entry into technical colleges, vocational
schools, and some aspects of the military. There are two teachers working
with the participants, both hold bachelor’s degrees and one has
a master’s degree.
Before entering the YouthBuild program, the Test of Basic Adult Education (TABE) is administered to all prospective participants. The TABE scores are reviewed with each student and the ones with an 8th grade average or higher are accepted into the program. Exceptions are made on some occasions – hence, low basic skills. When the participants enter the academic program, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is established for each student. This plan correlates with the TABE scores, and details the areas each students needs to improve on, and the approximate ate of achievement.
A successful strategy used is grouping low basic skills participants together.
The specific subject area is presented i.e. math – conversions of
Fractions to Decimals to Percents. The process is outlined, examples are
given, problems are presented, and the participants are given the opportunity
to demonstrate their comprehension by showing the teacher how their answers
were arrived at. Homework is assigned and the computer lab is utilized
as a means of re-enforcement.
