Mission:
Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education ELEVATES lifelong learning and workforce development through professional development, collaboration, and advocacy.
Vision:
We equip our members with tools to build more robust programs, empower teachers, and inspire students. We strive for equity and respect for all. We champion the benefits of obtaining an education at any point in life.
Values:
The IAACE
- Facilitates professional development.
- Collaborates with Indiana adult education stakeholders.
- Communicates and promotes adult education
- Provides support to members.
For decades our organization has championed the idea that all adults deserve to enjoy opportunities for lifelong learning.
Why Adult Education Matters
Indiana Adult Education programs provide free instruction in math, reading, and writing to help adults earn a high school equivalency diploma, go to college, or complete entry-level occupational certification programs. With more than 250 in-person and online class locations, adult education reaches learners across all of Indiana’s 92 counties and consistently ranks among the top programs in the nation for student achievement and growth.
Adult education changes lives and benefits communities:
- Thousands of Hoosier adults earn a high school equivalency each year, often gaining access to better-paying jobs and further training.
- Adult learners can earn industry-recognized credentials in high-demand fields, supporting local employers who need skilled workers.
- Many adult education students experience substantial increases in annual earnings after earning their HSE and credentials, helping families move toward economic self-sufficiency.
Our goal is to promote the human good that results from public adult education and to remind decision-makers that investing in adult learners strengthens Indiana’s workforce, communities, and economy.
Our Role as a Voice for Educators
IAACE serves as a voice for the educators, staff, and volunteers who teach and support adult learners in Indiana. We advocate for policies and resources that allow programs to serve more students, improve quality, and expand career-connected learning.
Through conferences, professional learning, communications, and recognition programs, IAACE helps adult educators stay informed, connected, and inspired in their work. We highlight success stories from learners and programs to demonstrate the power and potential of adult education across the state.
History: The Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education is a state-wide association of over 400 individuals and their institutions promoting the education and training of adults for stronger Hoosier communities.
The organization evolved from a group of adult educators who first met in December, 1943 to discuss the future of adult education in Indiana.
Over the following decades many changes occurred in Indiana that affected all Hoosiers and caused a growing need for adult education. The group has changed with the times.
With the merging of two organizations concerned with the future of adult education, the current Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education was formed in 1983.
Adult and Continuing Education Sites Across the State:
Click on the map on the right to open the interactive link from Indiana’s Department of Workforce Development, Find Adult Education Locations.
Whether you or someone you know is a
- future student
- volunteer
- or community partner…
find a contact in your area and get connected!