By law, two percent of the state ABE appropriation may support supplemental services. The purpose of the statewide supplemental services grant program is to provide assistance to all approved ABE programs for activities such as staff development, volunteer training, low incidence needs, and technological innovation through the funding of programs which can deliver these services effectively and in a cost-efficient manner.  By funding organizations and programs that specialize in the delivery of such supplemental services, expertise and capacity building can be shared with all MN ABE programs. The following organizations are providing supplemental services for 2009-10:

Minnesota Literacy Council (MLC) – www.theMLC.org

MLC recruits, trains, and support volunteers in their work with adult learners, provides resources and support to volunteer literacy programs, and provides ABE professionals and volunteers with resources, information, and tools to use technology effectively in the classroom.  MLC also supports the development of and hosts MN ABE online courses.

ABE Teaching & Learning Advancement System (ATLAS) – www.hamline.edu/atlas

ATLAS brings Hamline faculty expertise in adult and ESL teacher education to provide best practice resources and professional development to Adult Basic Education teachers, staff and administrators through regional and statewide activities. ATLAS activities currently focus on ESL, transitions to post-secondary, and evidence-based practice.

Learning Disabilities Association of Minnesota (LDA) – www.ldaminnesota.org

LDA offers free learning disability assessments and diagnostic assessments to students referred by MN ABE programs.  They also provide a variety of professional development offerings and resources related to learning disabilities.

Southwest Adult Basic Education - www.mnabeassessment.com

Southwest ABE provides training to MN ABE staff on ABE assessment tools. 

Physical and Neurological Disabilities Assistance (PANDA) – www.mnabedisabilities.org

PANDA equips MN ABE teachers, program managers, and volunteers with training, disability awareness, and resources to positively impact adult learners with physical and neurological disabilities.  The new website includes information for ABE instructors, administrators and students on: general disability info, brain injury, chemical health, mental health, testing accommodations, hearing impairments and deafness, vision impairments and blindness, physical disabilities, ADD/ADHD, and learning disabilities.

Minnesota Workforce Council Association (MWCA) – www.mncounties3.org/mwca

MWCA provides linkages for ABE programs to the MN workforce education and training systems, such as post-secondary institutions and Workforce Centers.  Visit http://connected2work.themlc.org.

St. Paul Adult Basic Education 

judy.mortrude@spps.org or thysom@real-time.com

St. Paul ABE provides coordination, training and curriculum development for Distance Learning, the National Work Readiness Credential (NWRC) and the CASAS-based Essential Skills Certificate (ESC). They also convene a statewide advisory group that focuses on distance learning in ABE. To see information on Distance Learning, go to:  http://mnabe.themlc.org/Distance_Learning.html.

Minneapolis Adult Basic Education

Minneapolis ABE will coordinate a project exploring content standards for Minnesota ABE.