Prince George's Community College pushes flexible, contextualized adult literacy supports

Dr. Brian Foster outlined adult education strategies his institution uses to meet the county's adult literacy needs: individualized supports with flexible scheduling; intake assessments to place learners appropriately; and contextualized instruction that pairs literacy with career pathways.

"Those 3 points, individualized supports, intake assessments, and then contextualized instruction," Dr. Foster said, describing how career pathway certificates (child care, health care, culinary arts, construction) can be paired with literacy instruction so adult learners develop both workplace and language skills.

Foster emphasized flexible delivery (morning, noon, evening, weekends, in person and online) and goal‑setting conferences to keep adult learners progressing. He recommended extending these models across extension centers to reach more learners outside the Largo campus.

The commission did not change policy at the meeting but said staff would include adult‑education recommendations in the preliminary materials to the County Council by Sept. 30.