IACEA

IACEA is the voice of adult education in Illinois! Throughout the 1950’s and ‘60’s the IAEA continued to function as a viable and meaningful organization.

The mission of IACEA is to provide leadership, representation, and advocacy for adult education and literacy practitioners in order to advance, unify and professionalize the field. IACEA History

The Illinois Adult Education Association originated in 1937 in staff meetings of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) education leaders. Two years later, representatives of local libraries, the State L

ibrary, University of Illinois, Chicago University, public school officials and other interested persons reorganized the association. The original purpose of the organization was to provide a medium for exchange of ideas of adult educators and to promote all sorts of educative devices for adults. With the birth of the Public Adult and Continuing Educators Association of Illinois, many adult educators held membership in both organizations. Public Adult and Continuing Educators Association of Illinois (PACE)

Increased interest and firm recognition of the need for strong leadership to develop new techniques in support of adult education programs throughout the state led to the formation of a new association of adult educators, PACE. A steering committee of teachers and administrators from throughout the state first met in an open general meeting held at the University of Illinois Circle Campus. This committee worked on the constitution and by-laws for the organization. The first organizational meeting was April 24, 1969. The PACE organization was strongly teacher oriented, but it attracted many administrators and counselors as well. Membership in the two organizations grew quite rapidly in the 1970’s, but these were years during which the field of adult education faced serious funding reductions on the national and state levels. Through the joint legislative efforts of IAEA and PACE, funding was restored. According to some observers, those experiences provided the foundation for the eventual merger of IAEA and PACE. Illinois Adult and Continuing Educators Association, Incorporated (IACEA)

As joint activity expanded, the possibility of an actual merger of PACE and IAEA was discussed. The opening general session of the 1977 conference in Peoria attended by nearly 300 people, focused on the history of both organizations and looked at the experiences of Minnesota educators who recently effected a merger of their state organizations. A survey conducted at that time served as a mandate to the boards of PACE and IAEA to specifically explore merger possibilities. A joint constitution committee made up of teachers and administrators in adult centers, public schools, community colleges and universities was established. This committee wrote, revised and rewrote the proposed constitution. Every effort was made to build upon the current strengths of PACE and IAEA, to create opportunities for developing new strengths, and to avoid duplication of services and activities. The new constitution was approved and the merger became a reality. Ninety-three per cent of those voting approved the merger. As of February 1, 1979, all members of the IAEA and PACE became members of the Illinois Adult and Continuing Educators Association, Incorporated. From its inception, IACEA has advocated the improvement of adult and continuing education standards in the state of Illinois; promoted the availability of adult and continuing education to all people; and stimulated the intellectual and professional growth of its membership including those who administer, teach, or provide support services in adult and continuing education programs. IACEA members represent all facets of the field including public schools, community extensions and evening colleges, corrections, health, community and social welfare agencies, university continuing and extension education, business, arts and religion, media, libraries and many more. We are in the mainstream of the most important movement of the century.

04/17/2026

Thank you, Senator Dick Durbin, for signing the bipartisan FY27 Adult Education appropriations letter and for your recognition that an increased investment in adult education is critical to meet workforce demands and support learners nationwide.

04/10/2026

Join IACEA and Fred Tsao from ICIRR for a vital webinar on the latest immigration updates. Friday, April 24, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM. We’ll be covering the new citizenship test, updated policies, and providing practical resources for your classroom.

This session will NOT be recorded due to the timely nature of the updates

Click here to register: https://shorturl.at/7Krz3

04/08/2026

HB5503 is still in committee.

While it’s concerning that the bill remains active, it also means we have more time to advocate and make our voices heard.

As a reminder, HB5503 would:
• Create a parallel system outside of existing adult education programs
• Allow for-profit and out-of-state providers to access public funding
• Introduce major funding inequities that could impact community-based programs

This poses a real threat to Illinois adult education—its funding, its students, and its long-standing workforce partnerships.

Now is the time to act.
Contact your legislators via this link or the QR code: https://app.oneclickpolitics.com/campaign-page?cid=GPYgdjHb6ZkDlU9z3l4es
A few minutes can make a real difference in protecting adult education in Illinois.

03/19/2026

Illinois adult education professionals: Your Voice Matters!

As you heard about at our conference, HB5503 has been introduced, and it has the potential to significantly impact our field. It could affect how programs are funded, who can provide services, and how adult learners are served across the state.

One of the most important ways to be heard is by submitting a witness slip. This is the official way to go on record with the legislature and show collective support or opposition. When many professionals submit slips, it sends a clear message about the impact this bill will have on our programs and communities.

📢 Learn how to submit a witness slip by using the link or the QR code: https://tinyurl.com/sm4b5kd8

It only takes a few minutes, but it makes a big difference.

Photos from Joliet Junior College Department of Adult Education and Literacy's post

03/11/2026

Thank you so much for coming Joliet Junior College Department of Adult Education and Literacy . See you tomorrow for day two

03/05/2026

IACEA wishes to express our strong concern regarding HB5503 and its potential impact on adult education access and equity.

Illinois programs operate under strict state and federal standards and receive about $850 per learner per year. HB5503 would allow approved providers, including out-of-state, for-profit companies, to receive up to an average of $7,500 per student in state funds without meeting the same standards or maintaining a presence in our communities.

State Representative Edgar Gonzalez Jr. and co-sponsors State Representative Sharon Chung, State Representative Maura Hirschauer, State Representative Justin Cochran, State Representative Joyce Mason, State Representative Norma Hernandez , State Representative Mike Crawford, we respectfully urge you to reconsider support for HB5503 in its current form and work with the adult education field to strengthen, not fragment, Illinois’ public infrastructure.

Advocate for our programs: https://tinyurl.com/4767dm9f

Read the bill https://tinyurl.com/yt7aetsj

Review our notes: https://tinyurl.com/2kxzy9ub

03/04/2026

We are thrilled to announce Bevon Joseph as our Featured Friday Speaker! 🎤

Founder of Grant Logic AI and a nationally recognized social impact leader, Bevon works at the intersection of education, workforce development, and emerging technology. Join us to learn practical, accessible strategies for AI integration that strengthen instruction, improve learner outcomes, and expand economic mobility

Don’t miss Bevon’s session! Register for the conference today at www.iacea.net

03/03/2026

Illinois Adult Education Colleagues:

We're coming to you with an important legislative update. There is currently a bill, HB5503, that could have devastating effects on Illinois’ existing adult education infrastructure.

Our programs operate under strict state and federal standards for instructional quality, accountability, contact hours, and equitable access. We are community-based, employ Illinois educators, and reinvest public dollars locally.

Currently, Illinois adult education programs receive about $850 per learner per year in state funding. HB5503 would allow approved providers to spend up to an average of $7,500 per student in state funds without requiring the same standards or community presence.

This raises serious concerns about equity, oversight, and fiscal responsibility.

📢 Advocate for our programs: https://tinyurl.com/5a2bt3yp
📄 Read the bill:https://tinyurl.com/47vpkt89
📝 Review our notes: https://tinyurl.com/39wmhanu

Remember to use personal email accounts when advocating!

02/25/2026

We are just 14 days away from IACEA Conference 2026! We’ve been working hard to make this the best one yet.

One of the major highlights? Our keynote speaker, Daquanna Harrison, who will be speaking on how "Adult Education is Social Change." It’s going to be a session you won't want to miss!

Shoutout to our friends at Burlington English for being our Keynote Sponsor this year. We appreciate your support for the IACEA community!

Register Here: www.iacea.net

02/19/2026

We are proud to announce Daquanna Harrison, MA Psy, CNPM, as our keynote speaker! She brings over 20 years of boots-on-the-ground experience to our stage—from her time in the classroom to her leadership as a Director of Instruction for Adult Ed.

In her keynote, "Building an Infrastructure of Dignity," Daquanna will show us how to move past institutional isolation and leverage our collective voice to shift policy and funding.

www.iacea.net

02/17/2026

We’re giving you a little more time to save! We’ve officially extended the deadlines for the IACEA Conference:

⏳ Early Bird Registration: Now ends Thursday, Feb 19th
🏨 Room Block Reservations: Now ends Friday, Feb 20th

Don't let these savings slip away. Secure your spot today and get ready for an incredible event!

👉 www.iacea.net

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