SABES is the adult education (AE) professional development (PD) system of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE), Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS) unit.

Adult Education in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts AE PD system exists to provide each and every adult with opportunities to develop literacy skills needed to qualify for further education, job training, better employment, and to reach his/her full potential as a family member, productive worker, and citizen.

This AE PD system is comprised of multiple facets, including a network of adult education provider programs, education practitioners within those providers, adult students, SABES, and ESE. In Massachusetts alone, over 1,000 teachers work in over 100 local AE programs housed in community-based organizations, local school districts, community colleges, libraries, correctional facilities, and volunteer associations.

SABES

Starting in 2015, the System for Adult Basic Education Support (SABES) was comprised of eight statewide PD centers and two statewide PD system support centers responsible for system coordination and communication. The FY19 system has been streamlined. This new system consists of three curriculum and instruction PD centers (Math and Numeracy, English Language Arts, and ESOL), a Program Support PD Center, and a PD System Communication Center. See the What's New article for more details on the new system.

All SABES centers are funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE), with funds managed by the Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS) unit of ESE. ACLS’s mission is to provide each and every adult with opportunities to develop literacy skills needed to qualify for further education, job training, better employment, and to reach his/her full potential as a family member, productive worker, and citizen. SABES will assist ABE programs and practitioners in engaging in PD activities that support this mission and better meet the college and career readiness needs of ABE learners throughout the Commonwealth.

About this website

The SABES website is for practitioners and programs looking for:

  • High quality PD and TA on teaching strategies
  • Learning communities for sharing ideas and gathering information
  • Research and resources to bolster programs’ PD offerings
  • Information on the PD Centers or staff

The website hosts a job board to assist programs in filling positions in adult education.

Information also exists for students and other adults looking to further their education or careers, such as videos on obtaining a high school equivalency credential and a link to the Adult Literacy Hotline. Practitioners are also encouraged to pass this information along to their students or adults looking for a boost.

The website is currently housed at the SABES PD Communication Center at Education Development Center, Inc. For more information on the website, or to report errors, please contact us at sabes@edc.org.

Thanks for visiting! We hope you will take time to browse the multitude of information on the site.

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