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Adult Education
Adult Education
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has put together a directory of agencies offering Adult Education opportunities across the state.
Website: https://www.doe.mass.edu/acls/directory.html
Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) Adult Education Programming builds invaluable skills for life and work. Programs include:
studying for and taking the HiSET or GED high school equivalency exams to expand career prospects
taking English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) classes, and
taking citizenship classes to become empowered community members.
Website: https://www.boston.gov/health-and-human-services/bcyf-adult-education
Email: bcyf@boston.gov
Phone: (617) 635-4920
This comprehensive program provides free educational services that include courses in English Language Literacy (ELL), Adult Education (AE) literacy, and High School Equivalency Assessment (HiSET) preparation in Spanish and in English. Classes are held in Chelsea, Boston, Chinatown, the South End, and virtually on Zoom.
Website: https://www.bhcc.edu/adulted/
Contact: Michelle Rojas Surin, Program Director
Phone: (617) 228-2286
Email: mrojassu@bhcc.edu
The Massachusetts Adult Literacy Hotline provides referrals to over 300 adult education programs that offer one-on-one tutoring, small-group or classroom instruction to adult learners. The hotline provides information about basic reading, math, adult basic education, English language training, family literacy, and High School Equivalency Test preparation or testing sites.
Website: http://massliteracyhotline.org/hotline/
Phone: 1-800-447-8844
Educational Opportunities
Educational Opportunities
ABCD offers a variety of school-year and summertime educational opportunities for youth between the ages of 14-24. Programs include:
WorkSMART: Open to Boston high school students 14-21 years old. Youth participate in 8 week paid internships, college courses/certifications, mentoring and tutoring.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL): Free classes offered at several levels during the day and in the evening. Free childcare is available for many evening classes.
Website: https://bostonabcd.org/service_categories/education/
Contact: Glen Francis, Case Manager
Email: glen.francis@bostonabcd.org
Phone: (617) 348-6000 (Central Office)
The Boston Higher Education Resource Center equips first-generation-to-college high school junior and seniors with the resources, connections, and skills they need to get in and stick through college, and launch careers.
Website: https://www.bostonherc.org/
Phone: (617) 221-6495
Email: info@bostonherc.org
The MBTA Mobility Center provides group orientations to the T and individual travel training. They serve people in the MBTA bus and subway service area and zones 1, 1a, 2, and 3 of the Commuter Rail and are funded by MassDOT, so provide services free of charge.
Website: https://www.mbta.com/accessibility/mbta-mobility-center
Phone: (617) 337-2727
YouthBuild gives young people between the ages of 16 and 24 the chance to turn their lives around. Students spend one week in the classroom working toward their High school equivalency or diploma, followed by one week on a job site building or renovating affordable housing in their communities.
YouthBuild is a coalition of 11 programs across Massachusetts. For more information about each of YouthBuild's member programs, visit their websites, or contact them directly.
Website: http://www.massyouthbuild.org/
Contact: Terry Moran, Executive Director
Email: tmoran@massyouthbuild.org
Phone: (508) 951-0802
Financial Assistance & Scholarships
Financial Assistance & Scholarships
The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families offers a variety of supports to help foster youth finance their post-secondary education. More information and applications available on the website below.
Programs include:
State College Tuition and Fee Waiver Program: waives the cost of tuition of state-supported classes only at Massachusetts public universities and community colleges. The waiver does not cover books or room and board.
Foster Child Grant Program: provides grants of up to $6000 annually for foster children to help pay for an education beyond high school at any college or university throughout the continental United States.
Educational and Training Voucher Program: provides support for post secondary educational or vocational training programs, including colleges and trade schools and related costs of attendance (tuition, fees, room and board, books, transportation, and daycare).
William Warren Scholarship: provides financial assistance for any post secondary certificate or degree-granting program. The Scholarship is competitive and students are evaluated on academic merit and financial need.
Website: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/adolescent-tuition-assistance
Email: youth.support@mass.gov
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) Adopted Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance Program waiver extends tuition eligibility to all children and young adults, age twenty-four or under, adopted through DCF by state employees or eligible Massachusetts residents, regardless of the date of adoption. The tuition and fee waiver encompasses 100% of tuition and fees for state-supported courses, subject to budgetary appropriation, at all of the Massachusetts public institutions of higher education, excluding graduate courses and courses in the MD program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) Adopted Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance Program waiver extends tuition eligibility to all children and young adults, age twenty-four or under, adopted through DCF by state employees or eligible Massachusetts residents, regardless of the date of adoption. The tuition and fee waiver encompasses 100% of tuition and fees for state-supported courses, subject to budgetary appropriation, at all of the Massachusetts public institutions of higher education, excluding graduate courses and courses in the MD program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.
Website: https://www.mass.edu/osfa/programs/dcfadopted.asp
Contact: DHE’s Office of Student Financial Assistance
Phone: (617) 391-6070
Learn more about how to apply for federal financial aid for college.
Learn more about how to apply for federal financial aid for college.
Website: https://studentaid.gov/
Helping youth who have aged out of foster care pursue a college education. Scholarship funds cover expenses that might hinder a student’s ability to earn a college degree if not paid. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible, and scholarships are renewable each year given that the student meets the GPA requirements and participates in the ISF mentoring program.
Website: https://www.isfsite.org/
Phone: (972) 267-8188 ext. 168
The Wily Network serves Boston area students who are navigating college without a safety net. Wily helps students identify and achieve their academic, professional, and life goals through:, clinical coaching, financial support, community building, and professional development.
The Wily Network serves Boston area students who are navigating college without a safety net. Wily helps students identify and achieve their academic, professional, and life goals through:, clinical coaching, financial support, community building, and professional development.
Website: https://thewilynetwork.org/
Email: info@thewilynetwork.org
Phone: (781) 355-6527
High School Equivalency Examination (HiSET)
High School Equivalency Examination (HiSET)
HiSET is the official high school equivalency exam in Massachusetts and is equivalent to a GED elsewhere.
Learn more about what the HiSET is and what to expect from the test.
Website: sites.google.com/bostonpublicschools.org/adult-ed-virtual-learning/home
BPL's LearningExpress Library contains test preparation materials and practice exams for K-12 subjects, high school equivalency, college and graduate admissions, military, U.S. citizenship, and professional licensing and certification exams. Includes the Job & Career Accelerator to help you achieve your career goals.
Website: https://www.bpl.org/learning-tools/test-prep/
Information on finding a HiSET testing center or registering for an at-home online exam in Massachusetts.
Website: https://www.doe.mass.edu/hse/testcenters.aspx?section=HiSET
Learn more about who is eligible for the HiSET.
Website: https://hiset.ets.org/requirements/state/ma
The HiSET® exam is made up of five subtests. In most states you can schedule them all at once or one at a time, and you can take them in any order. The total test time is 7 hours and 5 minutes for English and 7 hours and 20 minutes for Spanish, not including breaks. Most test takers take the subtests on different days. Some schedule their appointments a few days apart, and others schedule them months apart. With the HiSET exam, you have the flexibility to create an appointment schedule that is right for you.
Do you require testing accommodations? If you have a disability or health-related need and you require testing accommodations, you need to call ETS Disability Services at 1-855-802-2748 to schedule, reschedule or cancel your appointment.
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