NEWS--

For immediate release

August 8, 2008

South Hennepin

adult education consortium results

outpace state

Learners in the South Hennepin Adult Programs in Education (SHAPE) has one of the highest adult student achievement rates in the state, according to a report released by the Minnesota Department of Education.

The MN Adult Basic Education Report Card shows adult learners working towards their high school diploma and as part of the English as a Second Language program made gains that surpassed state averages for those programs.

Bloomington Community Education manages the SHAPE consortium that serves Bloomington, Richfield, Edina and Eden Prairie school districts. Minnesota has 54 education consortiums.

Of the 2,993 adult learners in SHAPE, 48 percent achieved a level gain compared with 41 percent for all adult learners in Minnesota's education consortiums. Over 50 percent of the 547 adult learners working towards their high school diploma achieved a level gain, compared with the state average of 41 percent. In the English as a Second Language program, 47 percent of the adult learners achieved a level gain, compared with 44 percent statewide.

Tom Holton, executive director of Bloomington's Community Education Department, praised SHAPE's director, Tamra Sieve, and the program's educators for the results.

"Tamra has done an outstanding job of leading her team to a ranking that exceeds the state average in all categories and has us at or near the top for all large education consortiums," said Holton. "We've significantly improved in all categories since the state began issuing the report cards."