Southwestern Community College (SWCC) serves all or part of thirteen counties including Adair, Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Madison, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Taylor, Union and Wayne. SWCC’s main campus is located in Creston with satellite campuses in Osceola and Red Oak. SWCC’s Adult Literacy classes are available throughout the counties we serve. Call 641-782-1497 or 1-800-247-4023, ext. 497 or log onto the website at ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­www.swcciowa.edu/adultliteracy for additional information on SWCC adult literacy programs and class schedules. All adult literacy classes are offered at no cost and books and materials are provided at the class sites.

Adult Basic Education (ABE)

SWCC offers assistance to adults who are interested in basic skills improvement which include job-related and life coping skills, reading, writing, math, and English. Class time may vary according to student needs; but generally, classes will meet one or two times a week for two to three hour sessions. The groups are small and informal, and each student studies at his/her own pace. Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) basic skills certificates are used to document the learning process for adult students functioning academically below the General Educational Development (GED) level. The certificate program offers incentives for learning, as well as a common language among literacy partners.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

ESL classes of instruction are designed to help adults, who are limited English proficient, achieve competence in the English language. Classes meet one to two times weekly in the communities of Lenox, Creston, Red Oak, and Osceola.

High School Equivalency Preparation

These classes offer review in the five areas covered on the General Educational Development (GED) Tests. This testing program enables adults, who did not complete high school, to take a series of five tests to demonstrate academic achievement. Upon successful completion of the test, adults are eligible to receive the Iowa High School Equivalency Diploma issued by the Iowa Department of Education. The five subject areas are:

•  Language Arts, Writing

•  Social Studies

•  Science

•  Language Arts, Reading

•  Mathematics

A $100.00 testing, diploma, and processing fee is required for the battery of five tests. A student has two years to successfully complete the full battery of tests or a reactivation fee is assessed. A student must meet certain requirements if he/she is less than 18 years of age. GED transcripts are available for a fee.

GED-i

GED-I is a teacher-supported online GED preparation class. The benefits of the GED-i online program are the flexibility to study at your own pace at convenient times, no travel to and from classes, and the support of the GED-i instructor. Students must be self-disciplined, have good organizational skills, and be motivated to be successful with the online classes. Students must meet requirements of 240 or above on a CASAS reading assessment to be eligible for the program. Students need internet access or be able to obtain internet access for study. GED-i students must be willing to spend an average of 5 hours per week on GED-i program.