Career Pathways Program

Adult Basic Education (ABE) - Develop basic reading, grammar, writing, math, and technology skill areas based on a standardized assessment.

High School Equivalency Diploma (GED® or HiSET®) - Earn a high school diploma by taking and passing 4 assessments (Math, Reasoning through Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies).

English as a Second Language (ESL) - Improve basic conversational, writing, civics, and workforce skills.

College and Career Readiness Skills (CCRS) - Realize your college and career readiness goals by upgrading your literacy, numeracy, and overall study skills ensuring success in college, technical training programs, and employment.
 
Case Management - Overcome barriers to instruction and goal attainment by connecting learners to community resources.

Distance Learning - Take classes online via the Distance Learning Project, if eligible learners cannot commit to physically attending classes 2 to 4 times weekly.

Adult Learner Success

• GED® graduates earn an average of $9300 per year more than non-graduates.
• 82% of learners with a goal, obtained their GED® (PA State standard is 77%)*
• 40% of learners gained employment (PA state standard is 36%)*
• 31% transitioned to college or training programs (PA state standard is 15%)*
• 90% of enrolled learners either made educational skill gains in math, reading, or language; obtained a high school diploma; found a job; kept a job; or transitioned to college or training program.

                                 * Pennsylvania Department of Education data from Program Year 2012/2013

Free Services

• Skills assessments in reading, writing, and math
• Classes and tutoring
• Official Practice GED® tests ($6.00 if purchased from GED® Testing Service)
• Free materials, such as books (when available), flash drives, and notebooks

Program and Staff

• Targeted instruction themed to support college and career readiness
• Professional, knowledgeable, and caring instructional and counseling staff
• Year round services for adult and out of school youth
• Convenient locations in Williamsport, State College, and Bellefonte
• Small class sizes with access to technology and the internet
• Partnerships with:
  • PA CareerLinks
  • Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Libraries
  • PSU college transition programs
  • Penn College of Technology

The Penn State/Muncy Tutoring Program started peer tutoring sessions at State Correctional Institution (SCI) Muncy in April of 2019.

For more information, contact:

Kim Roush,
Penn State/Muncy Tutoring Program Coordinator
[email protected]
814.321.8837

The Penn State Career Pathways Program partners with Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts Internship Program and Department of English to offer the Literacy Corps Tutoring Program.

Penn State Undergraduate Students dual enroll in English 202B Section 012 (a special section that focuses on literacy) and in Liberal Arts 495 which is a semester-long internship. By enrolling in both classes students can earn six credit hours. During the internship Penn State students complete a six-hour in-class Tutor Training, tutor an adult literacy learner for forty hours, and submit weekly Tutor Reports.

The LitCorps Program gives Penn State Undergraduates a first-hand experience with literacy and it benefits adult literacy learners. It’s a win-win for both.

For more information contact:

Robert Getz
Career and Family Pathways Director
Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy
(814) 867-1405
[email protected]
 

To register for classes, please call or email:

Eligibility - Learners must be at least 17 years of age and a legal resident of Pennsylvania with a college or career related goal.

Centre County (State College and Bellefonte)

Mariana Marchesi
[email protected]
(570) 367-0851

Clinton County (Williamsport)

Martha Hunter 
[email protected]
(570) 478-0875

For additional information about the program, please contact:

Robert Getz
Career and Family Pathways Director
Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy
Penn State University
[email protected]
814-867-1405

Interested in volunteering?

The Career Pathways Program enthusiastically welcomes community involvement in its mission to assist adult learners. Volunteers can help in the following ways:

• Tutor: Work one-on-one with an adult learner or group of learners for a few hours per week;
• Class Aide: Assist an adult-education instructor in a classroom setting;
• Site Coordinator: Oversee a Career Pathways volunteer site.

If you are interested in volunteering with a Career Pathways Program, please call or contact our Volunteer Coordinators to sign up for a FREE training:

Centre County (State College & Bellefonte)

Mariana Marchesi, [email protected], (570) 367-0851

Lycoming County (Williamsport)

Martha Hunter, [email protected],  (570) 478-0875