We offer multiple levels of Math and English Composition & Reading courses to help prepare you to pass high school equivalency tests. Not only can these courses prepare you for the GED, but they can also serve as TSI prep for those students who qualify!

Our English as a Second Language (ESL) classes go from beginner, to intermediate, and advanced levels to help you full understand with efficient practice on improving your communication skills in the English language.

All students have to attend a 3 hour orientation from either: 
9 AM - 12 PM OR 6 PM - 9 PM at the Venters Business Building to complete intake forms, receive program requirements and policies, and learn about services and support. After that, students will return for mandatory pre-testing before they are enrolled in a class.

Students can contact the Adult Basic Education at
361-698-2450 / 361-698-2101, or you can call the Business & Registration office at 361-698-1328 for assistance in securing a seat at orientation. Students can also submit a physical registration form. This can be completed in person at the Venters Business Building at the DMC Heritage Campus on 101 Baldwin Blvd., or submitted digitally to the Adult Basic Education email: ael@delmar.edu.

Students should bring a copy of their state ID card and social security card if they have one. For students that do not have these, alternative acceptable identification can be a passport (from any country), government ID, or birth certificate.

The orientation is conducted in English. Our staff will do our best to assist with translations as needed.

After orientation, students must attend pretesting, which is conducted on Thursdays at 9 AM OR 6 PM. There are additional daytime testing slots as needed. These test results are used to place the student in an appropriate level class. Classes begin once every month, so a student may wait as little as a few days up to 3 weeks depending on at what point in the month they attend orientation.

This program is free thanks to a grant from the Texas Workforce Commission. Students are required to complete the grant intake process in order to enroll in courses.

Classes are in-person two days a week. Either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. They are held from 9 AM - 12 PM OR 6 PM - 9 PM. Students preparing for their GED exam can choose to take one course or two courses at a time – meaning that they would attend 4 days a week. ESL courses are only available one course at a time – meaning they would attend 2 days a week.

Students are allowed up to 3 unexcused absences. If a student has a valid reason to miss more than that, they just need to communicate it with their instructor/ Assistant Director. Otherwise a student that repeatedly does not attend without any explanation may be unenrolled from their course.

Because every student comes in at a different skill level, it is difficult to set a time frame. Once a student has been pre-tested and has their NRS levels, these can provide a general reference point for a student to know their skill level.

Typically, a score of 6 means a student is ready to take the GED, or has become adept in speaking English, whereas a score of 3 would mean that they are “half-way” there. 1 or 2 are the most basic levels and would indicate a longer time of study is needed.

The email address that you provide at orientation will be used to communicate regarding your assigned schedule. Please ensure that your mailbox has space, and please update our team if your preferred email address changes.