Students and instructors at one of the Dallas Public Library Adult Learning GED classes. Photo courtesy of Debra Johnson.
Starting next Tuesday, Sept. 2 class is back in session for community members planning to take courses through the Adult Learning Department at the Dallas Public Library.
Specifically in the Oak Cliff neighborhood, two branches host the bi-weekly classes. At the Hampton-Illinois Branch there are in-person classes from 3 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 7:30 p.m. in general English. The course is also available at the North Oak Cliff Branch Library from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., but in addition to general English there are also in-person classes available to study to earn a GED.
“Our program is just so important because it really is just ‘come to the library.’ If there’s a class you want to attend all you have to do is come and you can start” Adult Learning manager Debra Johnson said.
For each class, no pre-registration is required, individuals can simply show up as needed without any library card or ID requirements, making the education accessible to all adults.
Enrollment even stays open up until a month before the end, Johnson said. So with the September start date for the fall semester those just finding out about the opportunity can join in November before the course ends Dec. 20.
Johnson previously taught GED classes in both English and Spanish at Mt. View College, then transitioned to her role as an Adult Learning GED coordinator at the library. She has served as the Adult Learning manager since 2022.
Working with grant-funded programs in the past, Johnson said there was a lot more that went into the requirements in order to operate and maintain funding. The Dallas Public Library programs make learning more accessible to those that need it.
“As a library, we are very open to the community,” Johnson said. “That’s the goal of the library and so our classes are just very open to the community. Very accessible and so I see that as just a huge wonderful service to offer the community. A place where they can come and just feel safe.”
Even with the online classes, there is no application process. Just registering for the Zoom and showing up when you can allow individuals to join in on the learning, an adaptation that came with the COVID-19 pandemic but has continued due to popularity, Johnson said.
“We’ve had the same (online) instructor since that time,” she said. “He’s really an amazing instructor. He teaches Spanish GED Mondays through Thursdays 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday mornings.”
In person classes can range from five students to 25 at full capacity, with individuals coming and going as they can. Johnson said there is often a core group that sticks with it when it comes to those in-person meetings.
“Hampton-Illinois is typically, closer to 25 (students). We won’t really know until that first day,” Johnson said.
There are 23 English Language Learning classes that are all taught by volunteer instructors, in addition to four full time instructors, Johnson said. There are also 12 GED classes available throughout 17 branches, an in-person citizenship course at the Vickery Park Library and more available through online programs.
However, within the City of Dallas Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Proposed Annual Operating and Capital Budget, located on page 282 the document states “Refresh the Adult Learning and Connection Program by collaborating with community partners to phase out two positions.”
Heather Lowe, assistant director of technology and strategic direction for the Dallas Public Library said that there is no specification for which paid instructor position would be removed. Rather she said that the one instructor removal from Adult Learning would depend on community needs.
Lowe said restructuring would occur with volunteers and paid instructors across all branches, and that she understands that some folks can’t afford to just volunteer.
Throughout her time with the program, Johnson said she has not seen any major changes due to the city budget, but the volunteer pool has continued to get back to pre-COVID numbers.
“It’s coming back, but it’s just taking some time,” she said.
To be a volunteer, applicants can file an application with the Dallas Public Library to select which classes they would be interested in teaching. From there, a program service specialist trains the volunteers for their specified course, setting the volunteers up with the materials needed to teach the course.
For more information about the Adult Learning Department at Dallas Public Library, visit https://dallaslibrary2.org/adultlearning/.
Hampton-Illinois Branch Library is located at 2951 South Hampton Road.
North Oak Cliff Branch Library is located at 302 W 10th Street.
