It's back to school season. Celebrate adult education and family literacy the week of September 13th and learn more about Library and Chicago-area offerings.
Here are some family story times and these are the adult learning opportunities scheduled at branches throughout the city.
Check out our partner scaleLIT's events and programs this week. They are also running an "Adult Education Matters" campaign. Record a 15–30 second video, take a photo, or create a Pass the Sign chain through your classroom or organization. Then challenge another organization to keep it going! Submit Your Pass the Sign Videos, Photos & Participation, opens a new window
scaleLIT especially wants to hear directly from Adult Education learners and professionals. Tell them: “Adult Education Matters to Me Because…” Stories can highlight education, English learning, HSE, digital skills, employment, family, confidence, career pathways, future goals, or the difference Adult Education has made in someone's life.
Enter scaleLIT's AEFL Week Writing Contest 2026, opens a new window
Local Organizations that offer Adult Education, Literacy, and English-Learning Programs
North/Northwest
- Centro Romero (6216 N Clark): GED in English and Spanish; English classes
- Metro Family/Howard Evanston Community Center (7648 N Paulina St) ESL; tutoring
- Indo-American Center (6328 N California): ESL; tutoring
- RefugeeOne (6008 N California): English classes
- Heartland (4822 N Broadway; 5715 W Belmont): English language; tutoring
- Chinese Mutual Aid: (1016 W Argyle; 2424 W Peterson): ESL classes, tutoring
- Ethiopian Community Association (5800 N Lincoln): English language and grammar
- Rohingya Culture Center (2740 W Devon; classes in other locations) literacy tutoring; ESL classes
- JARC (classes or meetings mostly offsite): 1:1 and small group tutoring in adult ed, ESL, and GED
- Trellus (2838 W Peterson): ESL
- Hanul Family Alliance (5008 N Kedzie): high school equivalence; English tutoring
- HANA Center (4300 N California): English tutoring; Spanish/Korean citizenship classes
- Wright College (4300 N Narragansett): ESL, GED classes
- Truman College (1145 W Wilson-Uptown): ESL, GED classes
- MENA Community Center (6230 W Addison): English classes
- Polish American Association (3817 N Cicero; 2008 W Chicago; 4849 N Milwaukee): GED; ESL
- South East Asia Center (5120 N Broadway)
Central/West/Near Southwest
- Erie Neighborhood House (1701 W Superior; 1347 W Erie; 4225 W 25th St; 1634 W Van Buren St West Town, Pilsen, Little Village, across city): ESL; ABE
- A Safe Haven (2750 W Roosevelt): ABE; GED
- Safer Foundation (571 W Jackson Blvd): HSE/high school equivalency classes and tutoring
- Malcolm X College and West Campus (1900 W Jackson; 4624 W Madison for a few GED-) GED/HiSet (high-school equivalency); ESL
- CASL 2141 S Tan Court-Chinatown): English classes
- Pui Tak (2216 S Wentworth-Chinatown) ESL and tutoring
Southwest
- The Learning Center (2153 S Millard – North Lawndale; Little Village): ABE; ESL: HSE ((high-school equivalency)
- Poder (3357 W 55th St): (in person) Integrated English/ESL
- Aquinas Literacy Center (1751 W 35th St – McKinley Park; Bridgeport; ): (flyers) 1:1 and small group ESL
- Instituto del Progresso Latino (2520 S Western) (in person) GED; ESL
- Universidad Popular (2801 S Hamilton Ave-Little Village; Pilsen; West Lawn; Chicago Lawn): ESL
- Arab American Action Network (3148 W 63rd St): ESL
- Kennedy King College (747 W 63rd St; 6301 S Halsted St): ESL
- Daley College (7500 S Pulaski Rd & Arturo Velasquez at 2800 S Western): ESL; GED/HiSet
- Polish American Association (6276 S Archer Ave); ABE; ESL; GED
South
- Corazon a Corazon (12731 S Wood St – near Walker, West Pullman, Mt Greenwood) (flyers) 1:1 tutoring and ESL classes
- Hyde Park Refugee Project (Mailing address: 5500 S Woodlawn): English classes
- Olive Harvey College (10001 S Woodlawn; 3055 E 92nd St for ESL;) ESL, GED/ABE and HiSet (high-school equivalency)
- Family Legacy Foundation (2319 E 71st St) 1:1 tutoring for ABE; some assistance or testing for GED
- Touch Gift Foundation (640 E 79th St) Adult Ed; GED/HiSet (high-school equivalency)