Jul 29, 2014

A new two-year Texas Workforce Commission contract for $4.5 million granted to the Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning (TCALL) in the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University will provide new resources for educators of GED preparation and English as a second language classes for adults across the state.

The contract covers the new Texas Research-based Adult Instruction Network Professional Development Consortium (TRAIN PD), which will provide services to more than 2,500 adult education and literacy professionals statewide.

Led by Texas A&M, the consortium includes eight partners: College of the Mainland, the Houston Community College System, Alamo Colleges, Austin Community College, El Paso Community College, Tarrant County College, South Texas College and the Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning (TCALL) at Texas A&M.
 
“This new partnership will help equip educators providing adult education and literacy services with additional training and education to help individuals meet the needs of Texas employers,” said TWC chairman Andres Alcantar. “This original approach also offers more local flexibility to provide customized services to communities.”
 
College of the Mainland was invited to be part of the project based on nearly four decades of award-winning services for adult students, improving their lives through English as a second language classes, GED preparation or workforce training in Galveston County.
 
“We’re honored to be included among such distinguished partner institutions such as Texas A&M in this exciting project. This award recognizes the exceptional professionalism and high quality work we do at College of the Mainland and provides us an opportunity to add value to the statewide adult education system as a whole,” said Joshua Hayes, Director of Adult Education at COM.
 
The TRAIN PD program will provide professional development and resources through more than 400 professional development events for local adult education and literacy programs each year; managing a professional development library; maintaining the toll-free information hotline 800-441-READ; and maintaining a searchable database of local adult education and literacy service providers.

This new model will help adult education organizations retain local control while having more consistent curriculum across the state.
 
TRAIN PD will also analyze local and statewide performance data, and make recommendations to TWC for professional development initiatives designed to boost student success.
 
The College of the Mainland Adult Education Program offers GED preparation, Adult English Preparation Classes and Workforce Literacy courses at locations throughout the Galveston County.
 
Classes are generally eight weeks and enrollment is open to all Texas residents over the age of 18 who are not currently enrolled in a public school. Contact the program at 409-933-8294 for more information.