Prince George’s Community College official urges flexible, contextualized adult education to boost literacy

Dr. Ashanti Bridal Foster of Prince George’s Community College described three high-leverage approaches to adult education: flexible scheduling across times and formats to meet working caregivers’ needs; intake assessments that honor prior skills and set personal goals; and contextualized instruction that pairs literacy learning with career pathway certificates.

"Flexible scheduling morning, noon, evening, weekends, in person, on Zoom," Foster said, explaining that adult learners need options to balance work and family responsibilities. She also stressed the importance of goal-setting conferences and integrating literacy instruction with industry-specific skills so learners can progress toward employment while improving literacy.

Foster said extension centers beyond the Largo campus and blended academic English development with workforce training can create multiple pathways for adult learners.