Metro North ABE
Adult Basic Education( ABE) is a free program that helps adults develop basic reading, writing, math and English skills to achieve their goals and thrive in their community. Metro North ABE is a partnership between eight school districts in the north metro area that provides a range of classes, online and in-person with various schedules to meet students’ needs. For more information go to www. metronorthabe. org.
Our mission: To inspire and challenge all learners to reach their full potential. In a safe, supportive environment, we teach the skills needed to succeed as responsible citizens in our changing world.
Our vision: To provide programs that develop the skills needed by individuals Metro North to achieve ABE their goals.
Contact information:
Anoka: Patrick Hobot 763-433-4200
Blaine: Meagan Hymes 763-433-4200
Columbia Heights / Fridley and Brooklyn Center: Kathleen Moriarty 763-706-3833
Centennial: Cori Sendle 763-433-4200
Elk River: Sherry Smith 763-241-3400 ext. 5525
St. Francis: Maria Burnham 763-753-7194
NEWS FROM OUR SITES
Anoka
The ABE sites located at Anoka Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College are re-envisioning two longstanding key programs offered by those sites and staff. Our hope is to bring new, responsive programs to our sites by Fall 2025.
The TEAS( Test of Essential Academic Skills) prep program, long used as an entry requirement for several of the healthcare programs offered at the colleges, is being phased out and replaced by the HSRT( Health Science ReasoningTest). Subsequently, Metro North ABE is redesigning the course to serve learners who will encounter the HSRT while still addressing the needs of TEAS students who are not attending either ARCC or ATC.
Meanwhile, the facilitated GED prep program is also facing a makeover to better serve those students pursuing either the GED or the HiSET tests to earn their high school equivalency certifications. While students in this program will still largely work independently and at their own pace, we intend to increase the amount of guidance and support those students receive and prepare a more specific and linear path to success.
As is often the case, ABE is adaptable to the needs of the students. As those needs have recently changed, our programming and delivery are quickly moving to reach those new benchmarks and promote the success of our students.
Blaine
Metro North-Blaine completed its first cohort for Customer Service Certification, in partnership with the Career Force Center, and was funded through a Drive for Five grant. Five students participated in this first cohort, and they each completed a Digital Literacy course, a Customer Service Representative course, and a Customer Service Representative Exam. All participants also completed a professional resume and cover letter. One participant earned 17 digital literacy certifications. Students went on to complete courses at the local community college, and will be participating in an internship. We look forward to partnering again for future cohorts.
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Brooklyn Center
This fall the BC English level 1 and 2 classes adopted the use of ABCEnglish, an online phonics / alphabetics program. Teachers were grateful to find level-appropriate material for students in the lower-level classes. It includes a library of resources with prepared slides for teaching phonics, vocabulary, grammar, and more! During the Language and Literacy Conference offered by ATLAS at the end of January, a few teachers from both BC and CHF were able to attend a full-day session offered by the founder of ABCEnglish, Jennifer Christenson. BC Level 1 ESL teacher, Toni, shared:“ It was fantastic! I wish I could’ ve had a week with her instead of a day. I learned so much that is helpful for teaching phonics and early literacy, and also a lot about that portion of her website and how to use it.”