Mission Statement
The mission of the Adult Education Division of the City Colleges of Chicago is to provide adults with preparatory and developmental instruction in Adult Basic Education (ABE), Citizenship, English as a Second Language (ESL), and/or General Educational Development () to meet students' individual goals. Individual goals may include post-secondary education, employment skills training, and/or personal and career enhancement.
Courses
To take placement exams and register for classes, visit or call the Adult Education class at the City Colleges location for you.
Free classes are offered at Kennedy King College, satellite locations, and other community sites to help students improve the English language or basic literacy skills, obtain a GED certificate, or prepare for the Citizenship Exam.
Services include:
GED® Preparation classes (classroom instruction or online)
English as second language (ESL)
College readiness
Workforce preparation and Bridge classes
Basic reading and math skills
Eligibility
In general, students must be at least 18 years old in order to enroll in adult education classes. However, 16 and 17 year-olds may register with an official release letter certifying that they are no longer attending high school. (Recent arrivals to Chicago age 16 and 18 must have a parent or guardian fill out a form verifying that they have never attended a Chicago-area public school.)
Adult Education classes are intended for people who live in or near Chicago. They are not appropriate for students with F1, F2, H1, J1, or J2 visas, nor are they appropriate for short-term visitors to the U.S.