Adult High School Program - Adult Education and Literacy Services

The Adult High School Program establishes an alternative method for adults, who did not graduate from high school, to earn a high school diploma and potentially earn post-secondary credit or an industry-recognized certification in an environment that meets the needs of the adult learner.

The Adult High School Program will address the needs of adult learners and improve their quality of life by providing:

• Academic services that lead to a high school diploma
• Postsecondary education and training opportunities
• Industry recognized credentialing opportunities, and
• Wraparound services that address challenges.

This will provide learners with the necessary tools and skills to meet their current and future academic and career aspirations.

The pilot program, established by House Bill 1381 (pdf), became effective July 1, 2017.

Authority

The Adult High School Program is under the joint authority of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the Maryland Department of Labor.

Adult High School Program
Solicitation for Proposals

Eligible Applicants

Private non-profit organizations interested in applying to become a program operator will need to submit a detailed proposal, including a three-year budget. Refer to the solicitation for proposals for the complete description of eligibility.

Funding

The operator must secure financing to develop or have the capacity to secure financing for the development of a physical site for the adult high school. The applicant must present a detailed 3-year budget with the proposal to demonstrate financial sufficiency.

Operators approved to open an adult high school may apply for limited state funding. Funding exists through a grant from the Maryland State Department of Education and is awarded directly to the programs who are approved by the Maryland State Department of Education and Maryland Department of Labor as official Adult High School Pilot Programs. All programs must be approved by the State of Maryland prior to applying for funding. The grant is intended to support the operating costs of approved Adult High School Pilots. For more information about this funding, visit the Maryland State Department of Education Grants Program website.

Key Dates

Solicitation for Proposals Documents:

Solicitation for Proposals (pdf) (Word) Release: August 29, 2024
Application (Appendix A) (Word)
Qualifications of Personnel Chart/Key Staff (Appendix B) (Word)
Budget (Appendix C) (XLSX)

Notice of Intent to Apply deadline: September 9, 2024
Pre-Proposal Webinar: September 11, 2024, 2:00 p.m.

Adult High School Program Contacts

Laura Ostrowski , Maryland Department of Labor
Kellise Williamson, Maryland State Department of Education