Mission Statement - The mission of the Dickson County Adult Education program is to provide the educational training needed for adults to achieve the literacy levels required to meet their goals and become productive citizens in today’s workforce.

Vision - The vision of the adult education program is to continuously improve the services needed to meet the changing population of the workforce in Dickson County.

Values - The program strives to:
- have respect for the learner
- provide a safe environment that welcomes learners
- meet the needs of the changing population
- serve all who need and want to learn
- understand that by helping one family member, we help the entire family

History - The Dickson County Adult Education program began in the 1970’s with G.E.D. classes provided on-site for workers at the Schrader Automotive Industry, a large manufacturer in Dickson. The program grew and obtained part-time funding for a literacy component in 1986. The program acquired its first learning center in the old Burns School Building in the fall of 1988. The program was housed there until June 2002 when it moved to the old Oakmont School Building located at 220 McLemore Street in Dickson. The old Oakmont building has provided the program with more classroom space, networking capabilities, and a more central location for students needing adult education services.

Other components were added to the adult education program through the years. The adult high school and the 17-year old dropout prevention programs began in 1994, and the first E.S.O.L. (English for Speakers of Other Languages) class started in 1998. The Summit Adult High School began in 2005. The program continues to offer alternative ways for the adults in Dickson County to receive a high school diploma or a G.E.D.

Dickson County Adult Literacy Council - The Dickson County Adult Literacy Council was established in 1988 to provide assistance and additional funding for the adult education program. This requires publicity about illiteracy in Dickson County, recruitment activities for students and members, and fund-raising endeavors to enable the program to serve as many participants as possible. The council is a 501 © 3 non-profit agency and has received United Way funding since 1988. The council has quarterly meetings and welcomes new members.

----Equal Opportunity Program----
This project is funded under an agreement with the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development.