CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Nevada Department of Education (NDE) has started a program that will allow adult learners to complete their high school equivalency and concurrently enroll in college courses.

The Nevada-Accelerated Career Education (NV-ACE) Project, part of the state’s Adult Education Program, is designed to meet the needs of adult education students, while recognizing the demands in their lives. It is estimated that upwards of 50 students will enroll in the program next year.

“The traditional sequential method of completing adult education and entering postsecondary education simply takes too long”, said Nancy Olsen, NDE’s Adult Education Programs Supervisor. “Classes began this year and will lead to industry-recognized credentials and postsecondary certificates.”

Historically, adult learners working towards their high school equivalency have not been able to enroll in college courses until they earned their high school equivalency credential. In March of 2018, the Nevada Board of Regents approved a policy change allowing these adult learners to enroll in college-level courses while simultaneously completing their High School equivalency.

The adult education program staff and college, career and technical education faculty will be working together in the same classroom to deliver instruction to adult education students to prepare them for Nevada’s highly skilled careers. Adult learners will receive academic advising, supplemental basic skills instruction, and assistance with the college application and admissions process. These students may also receive assistance with transportation, uniforms, supplies, and other services as needed.

“Half the jobs in Nevada require some sort of postsecondary education, but less than one-third of Nevadans have a certificate or degree to meet the skilled work force demands of our growing economy,” said Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Thom Reilly. “This project will help adults go back to school and get that needed degree or certificate, which will benefit our economy and create pathways to social mobility and the middle class for those individuals.”

The project will include educational opportunities in Air Conditioning Technology at the College of Southern Nevada, Construction Management at Western Nevada College in partnership with the Northern Nevada Literacy Council, and Hotel Operations Management at the International School of Hospitality through a partnership with the Community Adult Learning in Libraries program of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. Students will be provided with supplemental instruction and wraparound support services based on the individual learner’s needs.

For more information, contact Nancy Olsen at nolsen@doe.nv.gov.