Literacy Rochester and OACES have partnered to provide adults in Monroe County pathways to achieving their goals. This is done through Literacy Rochester’s Digital Literacy program, which
- Refers individuals to OACES
- Shares information about OACES programs
- Helps individuals schedule an intake session to enroll at OACES
- Shows customers how to like and follow OACES on Facebook
- Works with OACES students at
- OACES
- Refugees Helping Refugees
- Mary’s Place Refugee Outreach
Giving adults the tools and support needed to pursue the life they want to live.
FAQ
Office of Adult and Career Education Services (OACES), A division of the Rochester City School District that provides:
- Adult education classes / High School Equivalency (HSE) preparation and testing
- English classes for speakers of other languages
- Career and technical training
- Job placement assistance
- And more!
Adults ages 21 and older who live in Monroe County.
OACES also offers youth an alternative to high school:
- Former Rochester City School District students must be at least 17 years old to enroll at OACES
- Students from other districts must be at least 16 years old to enroll at OACES
OACES students vary in age, nationality, and race. They come from all backgrounds and life experiences. But what they have in common, is that they want to:
- Earn their high school diploma
- Prepare for post-secondary education
- Get a better job or career
- Earn more money
- Improve their reading or math
- Learn English
- Put in the work to meet their goals and create the life they want
As of 2019, OACES offers:
Adult Ed & English Classes
- Adult Basic Education (ABE): help students improve their basic skills in reading, writing, and math. If needed, ABE classes are taken prior to taking ASE classes.
- Adult Secondary Education (ASE): (typically for students at or above a 9th grade level) prepare students for further education, career training, or employment. Classes are focused on preparing students for the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC). The TASC must be passed to get an HSE diploma; it can be taken in Spanish as well as English.
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESL)
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
These programs are set up as real work environments (e.g., hands-on training using industry standard equipment and supplies, students wear uniforms, etc.).
- Assembling/Manufacturing
- Building Maintenance
- Customer Service
- Printing and Promotions
COE Accredited Programs: are nationally accredited by the Council on Occupation Education (COE), which ensures program quality and integrity. This means that students receive the highest-quality education. Additionally, prospective employers may be more inclined to hire graduates of these programs because of the positive reputation COE accreditation has.
- Automotive Technologies
- Culinary
- Electrical
- Nurse Aide/Nursing Assistant
Classes and programs are offered year round and OACES offers continuous enrollment so students can sign up at any time. In fact, new students are enrolled weekly.
Adult education classes (ABE, ASE, ESL) are available:
Mornings: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – Noon
Afternoons: Monday – Friday, 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Evenings: Monday – Thursday, 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Students select the session that works best with their schedule (this means they may need to ask their employer for a fixed schedule, if possible).
Career and Technical Education classes are held:
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Depends on the curriculum and student, although it typically takes 2, 3 or 6 months to complete a class/program.
- Adult Education and English for Speakers of other Languages are taken for as long as needed.
- Automotive, Culinary, and Electrical – level 1classes run for 3 months; level 2 classes run for 6 months. Nursing classes run ~2 months.
Yes. OACES is uniquely designed for students to get their High School Equivalency diploma or learn English while attending Career and Technical Education classes.
Adult education and English classes are provided for free, with the exception of a one-time registration fee of $20 for Adult Basic Education (ABE).
Tuition is required for CTE programs; 2019 – 2020 school year rates are listed below:
- Automotive Technologies: $6,000
- Culinary: $6,000
- Electrical: $6,000
- Nursing Assistant: $3,000 (plus ~$300 for uniform, NYS exam, and background check)
However, financial aid is available through grants and scholarships. Eligibility for financial aid is assessed at intake. Many students qualify for free tuition.
Yes, if OACES cancels a class for any reason that a student has paid tuition for, 100% of the tuition will be refunded within 45 days of the scheduled class start date.
If a student chooses to withdrawal, they are required to meet with a School Counselor to complete the Withdrawal Form.
- Withdrawal before the start of class: 100% of tuition is refunded
- Withdrawal the end of the first week of classes: 75% of tuition is refunded
- Withdrawal before the end of the second week of classes: 50% of tuition is refunded
- Withdrawal before the end of the third week of classes: 25% of tuition is refunded
- Withdrawal after the end of the third week of classes: no refund
Adults ages 21 and older need to schedule an intake session at oaces.net/intake/ to register for classes.
Each intake session runs for five days, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Students must attend every day, be on time, and stay the whole time. Typically, a new intake session starts on each Monday throughout the year. Steps to schedule an intake session:
- Chose an intake date
- Read through the description / check required documents
- Click “register now”
- Complete the form and submit
To take English for Speakers of Other Languages
ESL intake occurs daily, usually resulting in immediate program placement. Contact:
Quyen Luu, OACES Counselor
(585) 262-8000 x2160
Quyen.Luu@rcsdk12.org
Interpreters may be provided.
Individuals 17 to 21 years old, and their guardian, are required to meet with the school counselor before scheduling an intake session. To make an appointment, contact:
Jose Torrealba, OACES Counselor
(585) 262-8000 x3250
Jose.Torrealba@rcsdk12.org
- Paperwork is completed (photo ID and educational/work history is required)
- Assessment tests are taken
- The student learns about OACES programs and different jobs and how to get them
- Eligibility to enroll in classes is evaluated
- Financial aid for CTE classes is assessed, if applicable
- The intake session is complete when the student enrolls in an OACES program or is referred to another location for services
Yes, OACES offers the National External Diploma Program (NEDP) as an alternative to in-person classes for students who want to get their High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma.
OACES also offers online career training programs and professional development classes in partnership with Education2Go.
OACES does not accept any credits earned from other educational institutions or agencies towards OACES CTE program completion requirements.
OACES works with donors, employers, and many others in our community to help students get what they need to stay in school. In the past, OACES has worked to provide a student with:
- A 30 day bus pass
- Attire for interviews
- Financial aid for CTE programs
- A voucher for work boots
- Housing – a student needed an apartment within a certain price range and OACES was able to find one for her while also finding a loan to cover the cost of the deposit.