ADULT EDUCATION AT ITS FINEST

The Ysleta Community Learning Center (YCLC) celebrates serving the adult learner community for twenty years!  Nestled in the heart of the Mission Valley area, the Ysleta Independent School District gem has been offering English as a Second Language, Citizenship, and General Education Development (GED) classes since it first opened its doors in the basement of a baptist church across the street from Ysleta High School.  Although the campus still offers its staple classes, what many many not know is how much YCLC has changed in recent years.

From TEA to TWC

In 2013, President Obama signed House Bill 307 into law changing the governance of adult education from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).  This new law, called the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (WIOA), has expanded the type of services offered under adult education.  The focus has shifted from providing only English and high school equivalency preparation classes to focusing on courses that address basic skills development and simultaneously also prepare adults for entry into post-secondary education, vocational training, and employment.  This change has prompted the creation of specialized courses such as GED to College, where students not only prepare for the high school equivalency exam but develop the college academic readiness skills necessary to be successful as a first-year college student.

Performance

The Ysleta Community Learning Center serves an average of 1100 students per year and has earned several state distinctions since 2003.  The Department of Education along with OCTAE (Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education) set the performance targets to be met by adult education literacy providers each year.  All adult learners must show a gain on the state assessment within 40-60 hours of instruction and enter post-secondary, vocational training, retain employment, or obtain employment within two years of completing the program.  Since 2014, YCLC has had the highest number of students that earn the high school equivalency diploma in the region!  Furthermore, many of the students studying English as a Second Language transition to El Paso Community College with a high percentage scoring in the upper two levels on the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA), a college-entry evaluation to determine college academic readiness.

Bottom Line

The Ysleta Community Learning Center prides itself in offering quality instruction aligned to the goals of the students.  All students are prepared with the four pillars of readiness skills: academic readiness, personal readiness, college and career readiness, and language readiness.

• Academic Readiness - the preparation of foundational skills in the core areas, such as math, reading, writing, and technology necessary for college-credit courses;
• Personal Readiness - the development of time management, self-efficacy, study skills, problem solving, communication, stress management, and support systems to aid in navigating life's challenges;
• College and Career Readiness - the integration of one's goals with interest surveys leading to research into specific career pathways that are in local high-demand industries, culminating research findings into a project outlining the educational requirements, financial services and costs, length of program, educational institutions available in the area, credential outcome, and salary expected; and
• Language Readiness - the expansion of academic and technical language necessary for the 21st century learner.

Schedule a Visit

If you would like to learn more about what we do at the Ysleta Community Learning Center or adult education, call us at 915-434-9400 or visit us at 121 Padres.