Adult Education Student Eligibility

The Alabama Adult Education Program administers programs that help adults get the basic skills they need including reading, writing, math, English language proficiency, and problem-solving to be productive workers, family members, and citizens.

Adult education programs shall offer adult literacy, adult basic education, adult secondary education, and high school equivalency test preparation that increase a student’s ability to attain a high school diploma or equivalent; transition to postsecondary education or skills training; and obtain employment.

Adult Education providers shall not charge students or employers for instructional or other services covered by state and federal adult education funds.

Pursuant to Title II of the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act, the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, eligible students are those individuals who:

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

Eligible students must live, work or be enrolled in postsecondary education in Alabama (an exception to this qualification would be if the student is referred by an Alabama Department of Labor Career Center to an Alabama AE program in a county that is bordered by another state). A student with a high school diploma must score 12.9 or below on the Tests for Adult Basic Education (TABE) to be eligible for services. An English Language Acquisition (ESL) student must be assessed on a state approved ESL assessment.

Individuals who are 16 and 17 years of age, and request to enroll into an adult education program must meet the following:

  1. For an Individual 16 Years of Age Who Wishes To Enroll in an AE program:

    1. Student must present a notarized, Certificate of Exemption from the student’s last school system attended, and a notarized Parental Permission Form;

      OR

      If the student attended and dropped out of a private school, church school, or private tutor program, the student must present a notarized letter (Parental Permission Form) from his/her parent or legal guardian naming the school, providing the drop-out date, and stating the student has dropped out of school, and has permission to enroll in the Adult Education program

    2. Student must provide proof of Alabama residency
  2. For an Individual 17 Years of Age Who Wishes To Enroll in an AE program:

    1. Student must have participated in an exit interview with their high school administration and provide a signed Exit Interview Form.

      OR

    2. Student must provide a notarized and signed letter (Parental Permission form) from his/her parent or legal guardian, naming the school, providing the drop-out date, and providing parental permission for the student to enroll in the Adult Education program.

      OR

      If the student attended a private school, church school, or private tutoring program, the student must present a notarized and signed letter (Parental Permission Form) from his/her parent or legal guardian naming the school, providing the drop-out date, and stating the student has dropped out of school and has permission to enroll in the Adult Education program.

    3. Student must provide proof of Alabama residency (Students, who are 17 years of age and have dropped out of school in a state other than Alabama, may enroll in an Alabama adult education program if they provide written proof of withdrawal from the high school administration of the other state, and current proof of Alabama residency.)

Court mandated individuals, ages 16 or 17, must provide official court documentation to enroll in Adult Education & to be administered the GED® test. A signed court order does not require the student to present a Certificate of Exemption, Exit Interview Form, or Parental Permission Form to be enrolled into an Adult Education program (or to be administered the GED® Test).

Acceptable Forms of ID which can be used as proof of Alabama Residency for Adult Education purposes are as follows:

  • Alabama Driver’s License
  • Alabama Non-Driver’s ID
  • Alabama Photo Voter ID Card
  • Alabama Employer Issued ID Card (verification of employment from an Alabama employer, such as a paycheck stub or written verification letter, may also suffice)
  • Employee Photo ID from any level of government within the state of Alabama (state, county, municipality, board, or other entity of the state)
  • Student Photo ID from a public or private college, university, or high school within the state of Alabama
  • Photo ID Card issued by Alabama Department of Corrections (DOC)
  • Referral by a Career Center for our programs in border counties only)

Individuals with an F-1 Visa (student visa) status are ineligible for services and shall “not be accorded a course of study in a publicly funded adult education program.” [Source: U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (Sec. 1101a (15)(F)(1)]