New York Association of Continuing and Community Education News

Three Ways Adult Education Strengthens New York Communities

Emma Schreiner — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Adult education is often viewed primarily as a service for individual learners, but its impact reaches far beyond the classroom. Across New York State, adult education programs play an important role in addressing workforce needs, strengthening families, expanding economic opportunity, and building more connected communities.

Every day, adult learners across New York are working toward goals that can transform their lives. They may be learning English, improving their reading and math skills, preparing for a high school equivalency diploma, developing digital skills, entering workforce training, or preparing for college and career advancement.

The benefits of these opportunities extend well beyond the individual learner. When adults gain skills and credentials, they are better positioned to participate in the workforce, support their families, and engage in their communities.

Adult education is therefore more than an educational service. It is an investment in New York's workforce, families, and communities.

1. Adult Education Strengthens New York's Workforce

New York's economy depends on a skilled and adaptable workforce. Yet many adults who are ready and willing to work face barriers that can prevent them from fully participating in the labor market. Limited English proficiency, low literacy or numeracy skills, lack of a high school credential, and limited digital skills can make it more difficult to obtain employment, enter occupational training, or advance beyond entry-level positions.

Adult education programs help address these barriers by providing instruction in literacy, English language acquisition, mathematics, digital literacy, high school equivalency preparation, and workplace skills. Many programs also connect education directly with workforce development, helping adults build foundational skills while preparing for employment, occupational training, or industry-recognized credentials.

For some learners, the first step may be developing enough English to communicate confidently with a supervisor, coworker, or customer. For others, it may mean improving math skills, learning how to use workplace technology, earning a high school equivalency diploma, or preparing to enter a community college or occupational training program.

Each of these steps expands opportunities for New Yorkers to participate successfully in the workforce.

Adult education also supports people who are already employed. Workplace literacy and English programs can help employees communicate more effectively, understand workplace procedures and safety information, use technology, interact with customers, and develop the skills necessary to take on additional responsibilities.

The need for workers to continue developing their skills is also changing as technology transforms the workplace. The OECD emphasizes the importance of continued upskilling and reskilling as workers adapt to technological and economic change.

Adult education is therefore an important part of the workforce development system. It helps create pathways between individuals seeking greater economic opportunity and employers seeking workers with the skills needed to succeed.

When adults gain skills, employers gain more capable workers, families gain greater opportunities for economic stability, and New York develops a stronger workforce.

2. Adult Education Builds Stronger Families

The benefits of adult education rarely stop with the individual learner. When parents and caregivers strengthen their literacy, language, digital, and educational skills, they are also better equipped to support their families.

Adults with stronger literacy and language skills may be better positioned to read with their children, help with homework, understand school communications, attend parent-teacher conferences, and advocate for their children's educational needs.

For parents who are learning English, increased language proficiency can also make it easier to communicate directly with teachers, healthcare providers, employers, and community organizations.

These skills extend beyond the school system. Improved literacy, numeracy, English, and digital skills can help adults understand healthcare information, complete forms, manage household finances, access online services, communicate with service providers, and make informed decisions for their families.

This role is particularly important at a time when childhood literacy remains a significant national concern. In 2024, 40% of fourth-grade students nationally performed below the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Basic level in reading.

Schools are central to addressing childhood literacy, but learning does not happen only in the classroom. Parents and caregivers also play an important role in creating environments where children are encouraged to read, ask questions, complete homework, and value education.

Adult education can strengthen parents' ability and confidence to participate in that process.

There is also something powerful about children seeing the adults in their lives learning. A parent studying English, preparing for a high school equivalency exam, completing a workforce training program, or continuing into college demonstrates persistence and reinforces the idea that education can continue throughout life.

By helping adults achieve their educational goals, adult education can strengthen not just individuals, but entire households.

3. Adult Education Creates More Connected Communities

Adult education does more than teach academic and workforce skills. It can also create pathways to community participation, social connection, and civic engagement.

For many adults, particularly immigrants, refugees, and newcomers, an adult education classroom can provide an important connection to the wider community. Programs are often located within schools, libraries, community-based organizations, workforce centers, colleges, and other trusted institutions.

Through these programs, learners may not only develop English or academic skills but also become more familiar with the communities in which they live. They may learn how to navigate healthcare, transportation, employment services, libraries, schools, citizenship resources, financial services, and other community systems.

The classroom itself can also become a community. Adult learners build relationships with classmates, instructors, volunteers, and community organizations. For adults who may experience social isolation because of language or other barriers, these relationships can provide an important sense of connection and belonging.

International research also supports the broader social value of adult learning. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) identifies potential benefits of adult learning beyond employment, including civic participation and social inclusion, and notes that increased civic participation can contribute to greater social cohesion.

Being able to speak with a child's teacher, complete an online application independently, communicate with a healthcare provider, participate in a community event, visit a library, or ask questions at work can significantly change how connected someone feels to the community around them.

For immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers, adult education programs can be particularly valuable in helping individuals understand and navigate unfamiliar institutions while building relationships within their new communities.

These individual experiences of participation and connection contribute to something larger. Communities are stronger when residents have the skills and confidence to communicate, access resources, participate in local institutions, and contribute their own knowledge and experiences.

Adult Education Is an Investment in New York

Adult education should not be viewed simply as an educational service. It is simultaneously a workforce development strategy, a family support strategy, and a community development strategy. Its impact extends outward. When an adult improves their English, an employer may gain a more confident and effective employee.

When a parent strengthens their literacy, they may be better equipped to support their child's education.

When a newcomer learns how to navigate local institutions and services, they can participate more independently in their community.

When an adult earns a high school equivalency diploma and continues into college or workforce training, they open the door to new educational and employment opportunities.

These outcomes demonstrate why access to high-quality adult education matters across New York State. New York's adult learners are already part of our workplaces, families, schools, and communities. Adult education gives them additional tools to participate, contribute, and succeed.

Lunch and Learn: Authentic Teacher Leadership in Adult Education: The Role of the Instructional Coach

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 15:31:00 GMT

Our Lunch and Learn session from February 27 is now available on our YouTube Channel. In this session Jess Metras and Lia Festenstein take us through their work to develop a system of teacher leadership.

Lunch and Learn: Authentic Teacher Leadership in Adult Education: The Role of the Instructional Coach

NYACCE Board Member Named 2024 State Advocates for Adult Education Fellow

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 15:57:00 GMT

Congratulations to NYACCE Board Member, Katie LaBonte, Adult Literacy & Training Coordinator at CV-Tech in Plattsburgh, who has been selected to be a 2024 State Advocates for Adult Education Fellow by the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) .

COABE’s State Advocacy Fellowship focuses on the development of leadership, advocacy skills, research capacity, and network of influence for adult educators, educational staff, and/or administrators. The purpose of this fellowship is to help build a robust network of leaders and advocates focused on the advancement of adult literacy across the country.

State Advocates are a critical member of each of the state teams that lead impact at the local and state level. Congratulations to Katie and all the members of COABE's prestigious fourth cohort of State Advocates for Adult Education!

Remembering a Leader

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 21:46:00 GMT

We mark the passing of a NYACCE Board Member, Melinda Mack, who died, age 42, on November 14, 2023. Melinda passed away at far too young an age, and the many NYACCE members who knew her were deeply saddened to hear the news. However, the memory of Melinda's bright spirit, congeniality, and savviness will continue to inspire and guide us and others in championing causes that Melinda clearly felt were important, such as the success of NYS students and workers.

On our board, Melinda was the Association Representative of NYATEP, of which she was the Executive Director. NYATEP recently released this statement, "On behalf of the NYATEP Board of Directors and NYATEP staff, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our friend, Executive Director, and leader, Melinda Mack. Our hearts are broken. Words cannot express the sadness and grief that we are experiencing. Our thoughts are with her entire family, especially her husband Andrew and her children: Lucas, Amelie and Emmeline."

Melinda is survived by her devoted husband Andrew Mack and three children, Lucas , Amélie and Emmeline. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to NYOH Community Cancer Foundation 449 NY-146 Suite 101 Clifton Park, NY 12065 or The Community Hospice (Gift Processing Center) 310 S. Manning Blvd. Albany, NY 12208.

Per Dolly Parton, "If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader." Melinda was one of the best examples of an excellent leader. Therefore, for posterity, we will keep Melinda's NYACCE bio on this blog post:

Melinda Mack was the Executive Director of the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP), a nationally recognized membership association in the field of workforce development. As a steadfast advocate and expert in system’s change; she championed the investment in and expansion of evidence-based practices to improve employment outcomes for New Yorkers; the use of data to drive decision-making; and for eliminating silos that deter from high quality services. Ms. Mack was a co-lead of the Invest in Skills NY initiative and campaign that successfully engaged the State in 2018 to invest more than $175 million in job training and workforce development. In other previous roles, Ms. Mack was the founding Director for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation program, Graduate NYC! and served as the acting Executive Director for the New York City Workforce Board under the Bloomberg Administration. Before working in New York City, Ms. Mack worked in Upstate New York in local government working in both municipal finance and economic development in Buffalo and Albany.