Adult Education
"explore new opportunities"
MISSION
The Adult Education Center at Northwest Technical Institute is committed to serving the community by offering free instruction to those adults wishing to obtain an Arkansas High School diploma, those who want to improve their basic skills, and those who wish to become U.S. citizens.
Center Hours:
Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The Adult Education Center has a “managed enrollment” policy. This simply means that a student may ENROLL ON ANY MONDAY, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. at the center. GED students must enroll during GED Orientation, at 9 a.m. or 5 p.m. each Monday.
GED students enrolled at our center must make an appropriate score on the T.A.B.E. assessment and the Practice GED Test. On the Practice Test, state policy dictates that students must score an average of 450, with no score lower than 410 before being scheduled for the Official GED test. (State requirements for teen students who are enrolled through Springdale’s ALE program are required to score and average of 490, with no score lower than 450). The Practice GED and Official GED tests both must be scheduled in advance.
ESL and Citizenship students are assessed with the BEST Plus Language Test and placed in the appropriate classes as determined by their BEST scores. ESL classes are available at the center and at various locations throughout Springdale. Class schedules are available at our center, which is located on the Northwest corner of the NTI campus.
All Adult Education Services are FREE of charge.
Our only requirement for attendance is that the student be willing to take a short pre-test upon enrollment in order to determine academic areas of strength and weakness and a post-test after receiving instruction in order to determine the student’s educational gains.
What Programs Does the Adult Education Center Offer?
Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Adult Basic Education is a course of study designed to improve a student’s basic skills. ABE is especially helpful to persons with lower skills in math, reading, English, and writing, and is designed to help prepare students to enter the GED program.
General Education Development (GED)
This course of study is designed to prepare students for the GED test. Instruction is provided in all five subject areas: Math, Writing, Social Studies, Language Arts/Reading, and Science. ABE and GED instruction is offered to any Arkansas resident not currently enrolled in another school.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
ESL is designed for persons whose native language is not English. Students in these classes practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing English. Classes are divided into four levels of difficulty (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4), depending upon the student’s BEST Plus assessment score. Three ESL sessions are held throughout the year: Fall - August through December, Spring – January through June, and Summer – July only. Certificates of completion are awarded to each student after completing an instructional session.
Citizenship (EL/Civics)
ESL students are given instruction to assist them in passing the U.S. Citizenship test. Potential exam questions, practice interviews, historical events, civic duties and responsibilities, and other important information about the citizenship process is covered in this class. Certificates are awarded to each student who successfully completes this course.
Individualized instruction and basic skills review is always available at our center to all students.
Are there Rules and Regulations?
Enrollment - For GED classes, we only require an application, photo ID, and Social Security number if the student has one (these are required state requirements). For all other classes, we require an application and would like to have a photo ID and Social Security number if the student has one, but this is not mandatory.
Attendance - Attendance is voluntary, except for the Teen Program. Students in the Teen Program (those referred through Springdale’s ALE) are required by Arkansas law to attend class 20 hours per week while preparing for their GED.
Dress Code - Any attire is acceptable, as long as it is not deemed offensive or disruptive to others.
Children and visitors – Children and/or visitors are not permitted in class or while students are studying or testing. Our adult students are often bothered by such distractions and insurance/liability concerns do not allow us to permit children and visitors on the premises. However, some of our off-site locations offer childcare services.
GED, How do I get it?
You must be 18 years of age or older to enroll, but we may agree to enroll you one month prior to your 18th birthday. Students who are 17 must be referred to us from the Springdale Alternative Learning Environment Center (ALE). Students who are under the age of 17 are not accepted by our center. The only exceptions are for those students who are officially home-schooled or housed in a residential treatment facility.
- Step 1
- Enrollment/Orientation GED students must complete a two-hour GED Orientation session prior to beginning the program of study. Orientation sessions are offered at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Mondays only.
- Step 2
- Locator Test This takes about 45 minutes and is usually given during orientation session. The Locator determines the level of the TABE test you should be given next.
- Step 3
- T.A.B.E. (Test of Adult Basic Education). This takes about 2½ hours, but does not necessarily have to be completed in one setting. The TABE consists of Reading, Language, and Math subtests. Students who score at the 10th grade level or above in Reading, Language, and Math may take the Practice Test immediately, without studying for remediation. TABE and Practice Testing is offered 8:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday only.
Counseling The TABE results indicate an individual’s skill level in reading, math, and language. This test will determine any weak skill areas a student may have and allow them to focus on those areas only. Individualized instruction is provided Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the center. Some self-paced computerized instructional programs can also be accessed online. Students who score at the 10th grade level or above in Reading, Math, and Language will automatically be allowed to take the Practice Test. - Step 4
- Practice Test This is similar to the official GED test, but half as long. This test consists of 5 different sections: Reading, Science, Social Studies, Writing, and Math. Each section takes 25-50 minutes and the student must make a sufficient score before being allowed to take the official GED test. State policy states that students must take and pass all five sections of the Practice Test before being scheduled for the GED exam.
- Step 5
- Official GED Test This test takes about 7 hours and is taken in two separate settings, on two consecutive days of the week. The GED Tests are generally offered twice a month.
Accommodations for disabilities are available upon request.
The NTI Adult Education Center provides equal access to all programs and activities.