If you didn’t finish high school, feel unprepared for college or a career, or need to improve your English skills, WorkReady U offers FREE CLASSES throughout Louisiana to help you skill up! These classes help thousands of adults each year learn the skills needed to complete their high school equivalency diploma, attain citizenship, go to college, or find a job. Scholarships and resources are also available for those who need assistance with testing costs and paying for college or career training.
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- Foundational Skills
- English as a Second Language
- Citizenship Preparation
- Digital Literacy
- Workforce Training
Foundational skills classes in reading, writing, and mathematics are for students who need to either brush up or learn new skills. Sometimes foundational skills students have a particular life-goal that is not strictly academic, such as developing math skills to manage personal banking, or brushing up on writing to be able to fill out reports on the job. Other times basic skills classes are a pre-requisite for individuals who hope to go on to earn a high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, but whose skills in one or more areas fall short. Some students take foundational skills classes to prepare for entering college. Whatever the goal, there are skills focused classes offered by WRU programs that can help!
English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction is provided for immigrants and refugees who are learning English. Sometimes ESL is referred to as English Language Learning (ELL). ESL classes, from pre-literacy level to the advanced level, help students develop speaking, listening, reading, writing, and grammar skills to communicate effectively in English within the community, including on the job, at their children's school, in the doctor's office, in community meetings or neighborhood gatherings, on public transportation and anywhere else that English is needed.
Citizenship classes prepare permanent residents for the naturalization process and exam, as well as the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship. WorkReady U programs offering citizenship classes typically require a student to be co-enrolled in ESL or other foundational skills classes.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers an online Citizenship Resource Center with resources for applicants, teachers and programs offering citizenship preparation.
Digital literacy skills are the skills that allow individuals to access, navigate, organize and utilize information from digital or technology resources. In WorkReady U Programs, digital literacy instruction is often embedded into ESL, High School Equivalency (HSE), or Foundational Skills classes. In other cases computer skills classes are taught separately from math, reading, or language classes. Many programs also offer distance learning as a way to help students practice and use digital literacy skills, often while working on other instructional content such as ESL or HSE prep.
Find Free Digital Literacy Classes Near You
WorkReady U students can earn a Northstar digital literacy certificate by passing assessments available through Northstar Digital Literacy. Students can use these certificates to show evidence of their computer and technology skills when applying for a job or promotion.
Digital literacy skills are defined in Louisiana by the NorthStar Digital Literacy Standards, which address 15 different areas:
Essential Software Skills
- Basic Computer Skills
- Internet Basics
- Using Email
- Windows
- Mac OS
Essential Software Skills
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Powerpoint
- Google Docs
Using Technology in Daily Life
- Social Media
- Information Literacy
- Career Search Skills
- Accessing Telehealth Appointments
- Your Digital Footprint
- Supporting K-12 Distance Learning
WorkReady U programs offer many types of classes to help students learn job skills and advance along career pathways. Career pathway programs provide training for in-demand job fields that can help you advance in your current role or learn something new — all in manageable steps and at little or no cost. More and more jobs are adding technical certificate or college degree requirements. Don't let that stop you from launching a successful career! In our career pathway and transition classes, you'll develop workplace and college readiness skills and receive hands-on training in your chosen field. Training is available in health care, manufacturing, technology, education and more.
Workforce preparation courses teach the knowledge and skills that prepare people to get a job, keep a job, or advance in a career. Workforce preparation skills include teamwork, collaboration, customer service, professionalism, critical thinking, time management, and systems thinking. These skills can be taught within foundational skills and ESL classes, or they can be taught in stand-alone courses. Examples of workforce preparation courses are Health Literacy, Study Skills, College Readiness, Critical Thinking, Basic Entrepreneurship, Career Exploration, and Financial Literacy.
An Industry Credential is a certification issued by an occupational or industry group to demonstrate competency or completion of training for a particular job category. It is an industry-recognized assessment, examination, or license that measures occupational competency and demonstrates mastery. Earning an industry based certification is a valuable step within a career pathway and can be a key addition to a student's resume.
Integrated Education and Training (IET) programs use an educational model that combines direct job skills training with reading, writing, math, and English skills as well as workplace readiness skills. Blending all of these skills together through contextual instruction helps students prepare for future college and career experiences with full academic supports embedded along the way. In most IET programs, students can work on earning a High School Equivalency diploma while also earning an Industry Based Certification (IBC).
A career pathway is a series of connected education and training programs and support services that help people to secure or advance in employment within a specific industry or occupational sector. Just like kids can work on career training while still in high school, adults can also participate in adult career pathways. Connect with your local adult education program or career navigator to help you navigate through your options.
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