Tameka Balding (left), a 2025 IECC Adult Education graduate, is now pursuing Early Childhood Education while operating her own daycare business in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. She is pictured with Danyelle Ayers (right), ICAPS and Instruction and Transitions Director for IECC.
This week, September 14th though 20th is National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, a nationwide observance recognizing the power of adult education in strengthening communities and boosting local economies.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC) is spotlighting its Adult Education program, which provides free, high-quality educational and career pathways to adults across its 12-county district in southeastern Illinois.
The need is clear. A 2024 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville report shows that in the IECC region:
9,463 adults lack a high school diploma
3,431 are English as a Second Language learners
Nearly 10,000 live at or below poverty level
IECC’s Adult Education program helps bridge these gaps by offering:
High school diploma preparation
English language instruction
Foundational education and career training
Integrated Career and Academic Preparation Systems (ICAPS) that pair a diploma with industry-recognized credentials in fields like welding, CNA, broadband, and manufacturing
Classes are offered at all four IECC campuses—Frontier Community College (Fairfield), Lincoln Trail College (Robinson), Olney Central College (Olney), and Wabash Valley College (Mt. Carmel)—plus satellite sites in Flora, Newton, and Lawrenceville. Options include day, evening, and online courses, all provided at no cost, including books and supplies.
In the past year, the program served about 300 adult learners and celebrated 85 graduates.
Community members are encouraged to help spread the word. For more information, visit iecc.edu/adulted, call (618) 847-9157, or email maguirea@iecc.edu
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