GED & Adult Education
We are here to provide you FREE adult education help! Classes are taught by licensed teachers and supported by trained volunteers who work with students to meet their educational goals. A student may start at any time throughout the year and classes are offered year-round during the day and evening. We provide help with improving basic reading, writing and math skills; earn a high school diploma or GED; or learn and improve your English language.
Adult Education classes are free to eligible students who are:
17 or older
Not currently enrolled in public K-12 school program
Demonstrated need for Adult Education services to successfully participate in secondary education, postsecondary education, or career pathways
Contact ABE at (218) 844-5760 to determine eligibility.
Frazee Site
Thursdays, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. by appointment. Call 218.844.5760 to schedule.
Instructor: Michelle Kangas (mkangas@detlakes.k12.mn.us)
Frazee High School, 305 North Lake Street, Frazee, Minnesota
Detroit Lakes Site
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
MState, 900 Highway 34 E, Room E103, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Contact: (218) 844-5760 (slandsem@detlakes.k12.mn.us)
Adult Education addresses a variety of learner goals! We helps learners to:
Attain employment and/or better their current employment;
Achieve high school equivalency (GED or Adult H.S. Diploma);
Attain skills necessary to enter postsecondary education and training;
Exit public welfare and become self-sufficient;
Learn to speak and write the English language;
Master basic academic skills to help their children succeed in school;
Become U.S. citizens and participate in democratic society; and
Gain self-esteem, personal confidence and sense of personal and civic responsibility.
Volunteers are always needed and welcome! Please consider donating your time and talent for tutoring, mentoring, classroom support, or office work! Lakes Area Adult Education will provide the training required by The Minnesota Department of Education for Adult Education volunteers. Contact Amy Fish at (218) 844-4256 or afish@detlakes.k12.mn.us.
Call us TODAY at 218.844.5760
Current Offerings:
English Language Learners Coffee Break | See schedule & details below
GED and Adult Diploma Orientation | See schedule & details below
Introduction to Accuplacer | See schedule & details below
Introduction to US Citizenship | See schedule & details below
Mathphobia | See schedule & details below
One & Done! (One Day GED Math Review & Test) | See schedule & details below
ServSafe Food Protection Manager Course | See schedule & details below
ServSafe Food Protection Manager Recertification | See schedule & details below
US Government and Civics | See schedule & details below
Writing Review 1 - Grammar, Punctuation, and Sentences | See schedule & details below
Writing Review 2 - From Paragraphs to Essays | See schedule & details below
Writing Review 3 - Research-Based Essays | See schedule & details below
Call us TODAY at 218.844.5760
English Language Learners Coffee Break
Learning English can be a fun challenge. Join Lakes Area Adult Education students and staff for conversation, coffee, and treats once a month. Interested new students are welcome as well as current students. English-speaking community members are encouraged to join us for conversation as well. Imagine what we all might learn from each other when we visit with people from around the world. Please register at least one week in advance for food planning.
Minimum: 8
Location: M/State, Room E102
Prerequisite: Participants will need to read the first assignment prior to the first class.
Schedule: 9 a.m.-10 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month
Cost: FREE
GED and Adult Diploma Orientation
If finishing high school is still on your to-do list, it is never too late! Students wishing to complete the GED or MN Adult Diploma need to complete the orientation process to enter the program. During the orientation, students will:
Learn more about the high school completion options available
Complete a digital literacy assessment to determine your computer skills and needs
Begin exploring career and college options for planning beyond high school credential
Start the process of developing your personal learning plan
Location: M/State, Room E-102
Prerequisites: Prior to registering for the course student must complete ABE enrollment paperwork.
Schedule: Self-paced individual schedule
Cost: FREE for eligible students
Introduction to Accuplacer
The Accuplacer is a suite of computer-based adaptive assessments used by M/State and many other colleges to determine initial placement in credit-bearing courses. Assessments included in the Accuplacer suite are Arithmetic, Elementary Algebra, College Level Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Sentence Skills, and Writeplacer. Students with the skills to perform well on Accuplacer are required to take fewer developmental education courses and have a higher on-time graduation rate. As well as being a requirement for entering many colleges, Accuplacer testing is also an option for students needing to demonstrate competencies to earn the Minnesota State Standard Adult Diploma. This session will include a more detailed overview of the Accuplacer skills and an opportunity to enroll in individualized tutoring in any areas needed.
Minimum: 6
Location: M/State, Room TBD
Prerequisite: Participants will need to read the first assignment prior to the first class.
Schedule: TBD
Cost: FREE for eligible students
Introduction to US Citizenship
Do you hope to become a citizen of the United States? This session will cover an overview of the requirements, process, and knowledge needed to become a naturalized citizen of the United States. You can enroll in Citizenship classes with us for more tutoring.
Minimum: 4
Location: M/State, Room TBD
Prerequisite: Participants will need to read the first assignment prior to the first class.
Schedule: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month
Cost: FREE
Mathphobia
Many adults have a high level of anxiety about mathematics. This course will help you realize that math is not such a fearsome beast. This course will provide a stress free review of some of the topics that may contribute to your anxiety:
Decimals
Fractions
Percents
Ratios and Proportions
Minimum: 6
Location: M/State, Room TBD
Prerequisite: LAAE Enrollment and ABE Math Level 3-6
Schedule: TBD
Cost: FREE for eligible students
One & Done! (One Day GED Math Review & Test)
If anxiety about the GED Math test is a barrier to graduation, this class is designed for you! Students will spend the morning reviewing essential skills for the GED math test. The review will include number sense, coordinate geometry, volume, surface area, measures of central tendency, algebraic expressions, linear equations, functions, and quadratic equations. After lunch we will spend one hour practicing GED-style mathematics questions together. Students will end the day by taking the actual GED Math test. Contact us early to schedule a prerequisite assessment.
Location: TBD based on enrollment
Schedule: As needed based on enrollment
Cost: Class is free to eligible students. GED test fees apply. Scholarships available.
ServSafe Food Protection Manager Course
The ServSafe® program was developed by the National Restaurant Association with the help of food service industry experts who understand the everyday risks in the field. A certified instructor will lead this class covering current best practices and regulations for safe food management. The exam to become a certified Food Safety Protection Manager will be administered on the final day of class. Participants will be responsible to register with the Minnesota Department of Health after completing the course and passing the exam. This course, exam, and instructors are approved by the Minnesota Department of Health.
Minimum: 8
Location: M/State, Room TBD
Prerequisite: Participants will need to read the first assignment prior to the first class.
Schedule: Monday, November 20 & 27, 2023; 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Must attend both days.
Cost: $160 - Includes test fee ($50) and refundable textbook fee ($110)
ServSafe Food Protection Manager Recertification
Four hours of continuing education are required every three years to maintain Food Protection Manager certification with the Minnesota Department of Health. This ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Recertification course is approved for recertification if you take the course prior to your certificate expiring. Participants will be responsible to renew with the Minnesota Department of Health upon successful course completion. Course and instructors are approved by the Minnesota Department of Health.
Minimum: 8
Location: M/State, Room TBD
Prerequisite: Participants will need to read the first assignment prior to the first class.
Schedule: Monday, November 20 & 27, 2023; 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Must attend both days.
Cost: $160 - includes test fee ($50) and refundable textbook fee ($110)
US Government and Civics
The class instruction will focus on gaining the competencies to pass the US Government and Civics questions on the US Citizenship Exam and on GED Social Studies Test. The course is also open to students who simply want to learn more about how the United States government is structured and how citizens can get involved. Note- while the political parties and their role in government will be discussed, instructors and students will be expected to focus on the learning goals and to respect the views of all participants.
Minimum: 8
Location: M/State, Room TBD
Prerequisite: LAAE Enrollment and ABE Reading Level 2-6 or ESL Reading Level 3-6
Schedule: 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays October 30 - November 16
Cost: FREE for eligible students
Writing Review 1 - Grammar, Punctuation, and Sentences
Writing Review 1 is a foundational review of the basic elements of language as used in complete sentences. The class focuses on basic and complex sentence construction. We will work on grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and composition. This class helps to prepare students for Accuplacer, GED, Adult Diploma, and workplace writing.
Minimum: 6
Location: M/State, Room TBD
Prerequisite: LAAE Enrollment and ABE Language Level 2-4
Schedule: TBD
Cost: FREE for eligible students
Writing Review 2 - From Paragraphs to Essays
Writing Review 2 teaches the writing of strong paragraphs. The class focuses on developing a strong topic sentence, supporting the topic sentence with relevant evidence, and using varied sentence structures. This class prepares students for Accuplacer, GED, Adult Diploma, and workplace writing.
Minimum: 6
Location: M/State, Room TBD
Prerequisite: LAAE Enrollment and ABE Language Level 3-5
Schedule: TBD
Cost: FREE for eligible students
Writing Review 3 - Research-Based Essays
A good research-based essay begins with using credible sources to research a focused topic or question. Information from the research is organized. A focused thesis statement details the purpose and key points of the essay. The main points are developed with evidence from the research in the body. The sources are cited in the body of the essay and listed in the bibliography. The audience who will read the essay is considered. Formal tone is maintained. This course will help students through these steps.
Minimum: 5
Location: M/State, Room TBD
Prerequisite: LAAE Enrollment and ABE Language Level 4-6
Schedule: 10 a.m. -11:30 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, December 4 - December 21
Cost: FREE for eligible students