50 Years of Success

The ABE program has accomplished more than 50 years of success in serving the diverse needs of members of the Minneapolis community. What started as one teacher and seven students is now a multidimensional organization that has helped thousands of people learn the skills they needed to become effective members of our community.

Mid 1960 – 1969

• The Adult Basic Education program began in a North Minneapolis community center with one teacher and seven students as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s domestic initiative to end poverty in the U.S. at the local level.
• Holmes Elementary School became the first official ABE Center in Minneapolis with seven classrooms, seven teachers and 115 students. ABE class locations expanded to include evening classes at South and North High Schools.
• ABE’s first GED site opened at a bank building on a grant from Northwest Banks. That site, now part of Wells Fargo Bank, remains the ABE GED site to this day, 40 years later.
• State funding for GED classes began.

1970 – 1990

• The ABE program continued to grow, expanding into the evenings and different sites.
• Graduations began in local gymnasiums several times a year.
• Minneapolis Adult Basic Education consortium was formed with Minneapolis Public Schools as its fiscal agent.

TODAY

• ABE instructs eight levels of English Language Learning classes (ELL), basic reading, writing, and math instruction, citizenship classes, college prep, pathways to employment training, and GED preparation and testing.
• Over 9,000 people enroll in ABE programming with Minneapolis Public Schools or one of ABE’s partner programs every year.
• ABE is currently supported by a staff of 100 teachers and associate educators who speak primarily non-English languages, Learner Support Services and community volunteers.
• ABE extends its reach through more than 15 strategic partnerships with community organizations.