Joan Brack Adult Learning Center

Program Overview

Based in Framingham Massachusetts, South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc. (SMOC) was organized in 1965 pursuant to Title II of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as part of the nation's "War on Poverty." SMOC is the sole federally designated anti-poverty organization in the region and the primary provider of housing and services in the MetroWest region for homeless families and individuals. SMOC is committed to moving this population towards economic independence and sustained self-sufficiency. SMOC is a nonprofit corporation with a 501(C)(3) federal tax designation; a federally designated Community Action Agency (CAA) for the MetroWest and Blackstone Valley regions; a statewide provider of low-income housing; and, a certified Ch.40H statewide Community Development Corporation (CDC).

The mission of the Joan Brack Adult Learning Center is to provide quality instruction in the areas of adult secondary education, high school equivalency test (HiSET/GED) preparation, English language and US culture, and general studies creating educational pathways to economic independence and personal enrichment for adults, young adults, and young parents.

Student and Volunteer Success Stories

• 172 JBALC students have earned their high school equivalency since JBALC's inception in 1992.
• From 2010 through 2015, 14 students per year on average passed.
• Since 2010, the ESL program has helped more than 350 students increase their confidence in speaking English and continues to grow with an average of 175 new applicants each year.
• 45 students are served in Essential ESL Class each year.
• Since 2013, more than 100 students have participated in at least one 12 week cycle and twenty-five students successfully completed the one year program.
• Of the total students that completed one cycle, 70% completed a second cycle, 40% a third and 25% completed the one year program.
• Since 2014, thirty students obtained a new or better paying job. 10 students moved onto HiSET classes, professional training, or college level classes. Basic ESL serves 25 basic literacy and low beginner students yearly, and overall 50 students have participated.
• 100+ students have taken advantage of the Waitlist Class