city_hall

Official websites use .boston.gov

A .boston.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the City of Boston.

lock

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Last updated:

Adult Literacy Initiative

A consortium of adult literacy programs throughout the City of Boston.

The Boston Adult Literacy Initiative (ALI) is a collection of adult literacy programs. Programs provide adult learners with a wide range of services, including:

  • basic literacy skills classes
  • high school equivalency exam preparation
  • distance learning
  • job skills training
  • college preparation, and 
  • English language classes for non-native speakers.

Find a Program in Your Neighborhood

Find a Program
Name Address Contact Class Information
Gardner Pilot Academy Adult Education Program 30 Athol Street,

Allston, MA

02134

Michelle Duval

617-635-8365

m.duval@live.com

Focus: ESOL

ESOL Level: Basic, Beginner, Advanced

Hours per week: 5

Schedule: evening 
Jackson Mann Community School 500 Cambridge Street,

Allston, MA

02134

Carolline Pontoppidan De Paula

617-635-5153

carolline.depaula@jacksonmanncc.org

Focus: ABE, ESOL

ABE Grades: 9-12 

ESOL Level: 1-6

Hours per week: ABE 6, ESOL 9

Schedule: Evening

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

ABE = Adult Basic Education

Name Address Contact Class Information
Charlestown Adult Education, Workforce, and Reentry 76 Monument Street,

Charlestown, MA

02129
Lori D'Alleva

617-337-5612

cccae@comcast.net
Focus: ESOL, ABE

Level: All Levels

Hours per week: 20

Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening

ABE = Adult Basic Education

Name Address Contact Class Information
Asian American Civic Association (AACA) 87 Tyler Street,

Boston, MA

02111
Shinobu Ando

617-426-9492

x223

Shinobuando@aaca-boston.org

Focus: ESOL

Level: Student Performance Level 0-7

Hours per week: 5-8

Schedule: Morning/Afternoon

Note: Daytime ESOL synchronous classes as well as asynchronous ESOL class available.

Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) 38 Ash Street,

Boston, MA

02111
Stephen Hunter

617-249-2995

stephen.hunter@bcnc.net
Focus: ESOL, Customer Service Skills Training

Level: Student Performance Level 0-4

Hours per week: 10

Schedule: Morning/Evening

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

Name Address Contact Class Information
BCYF Perkins Adult Learning Program 155 Talbot Avenue,

Dorchester, MA

02124
Papa Diop

617-635-1894

papa.diop@boston.gov
Focus: ESOL

Level: Student Performance Level 2-5

Hours per week: 9

Schedule: Evening 
Haitian Multi-Service Center 185 Columbia Road,

Dorchester, MA

02121
Phillip Howard

617-508-6600

phillip_howard@ccab.org
Focus: ABE

Level: Grades 0-12

Hours per week: 6-16

Schedule: Morning/Evening
IFSI-USA Adult Education Program Various sites are available, including in Dorchester. Makendi Henry Alce

617-322-1348

alcehenry8@ifsi-usa.org
Focus: ESOL

Level: 1-4

Hours per week: 5

Schedule: Morning/ Afternoon/ Evening

Note: Interested students should visit the Mattapan main office to register or visit the website.
Mujeres Unidas Avanzando 54 Clayton Street, 

Dorchester, MA

02122
Johannah Malone

617-282-3500

contact@muaboston.org

Focus: ESOL, ABE

ESOL Level: Student Performance Level 0-6

ABE Grades: 5-12

Hours per week: 8-9

Schedule: Morning/Evening

Note: The ABE program is in Spanish only.

St. Mark Community Education Program 25 Beach Street, Dorchester, MA

02122
Mike Oliver

617-288-8515

stmarkesol@gmail.com

Focus: ESOL, Citizenship

Level: Basic level, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3

Hours per week: 5

Schedule: Evening/Weekend

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

ABE = Adult Basic Education

Name Address Contact Class Information
Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Bridge Academy) 47 West Street,

Boston, MA

02111
Diana Saintil, Ed.M.

617- 982-7006

dsaintil@bridgeotw.org
Focus: ABE

Level: All Levels

Hours per week: 20

Schedule: Morning/Afternoon

Note: Bridge Academy is committed to mobilizing resources for students through education and career development to facilitate self-sufficiency.
International Institute of New England Boston 2 Boylston Street, 

3rd Floor,

Boston, MA

02116
Kristan Fitah

617-695-9990

kfitah@iine.org
Focus: ESOL

Level: All Levels

Hours per week: 9

Schedule: Morning/Evening 
Jewish Vocational Service, Bridges to College & Careers 75 Federal Street,

3rd Floor,

Boston, MA

02110
Rachael DeNoncour

617-399-3324

rdenoncour@jvs-boston.org
Focus: Pre-College

Hours per week: 12

Schedule: Morning/Evening
The Rian Immigrant Center 1 State Street,

Boston, MA

02109
Joseph Valle

617-542-7654

jvalle@riancenter.org
Focus: ESOL, Citizenship, Career Advising, Computer Classes

ESOL Level: 1-3

Hours per week: ESOL 4

Schedule: Morning/Evening
YMCA International Learning Center 100 Franklin Street,

Lower Level,

Boston, MA

02110
Hailan Wang

617-927-8244

lwang@ymcaboston.org
Focus: ESOL

Level: 1-5

Hours per week: 7.5

Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening

ESOL: English for speakers of other languages

ABE: Adult Basic Education

Name Address Contact Class Information
East Boston Harborside Community School 312 Border Street,

Boston, MA

02128
Carol A. Baglio

617-635-5114

cbaglio@ebhcs.org
Focus: ESOL, ABE

ABE Grade: 0-12 

ESOL Level: 0-7

Hours per week: 6.75

Schedule: Evening
YMCA International Learning Center 215 Bremen Street,

Boston, MA

02128
Hailan Wang

617-927-8244

lwang@ymcaboston.org

Focus: ESOL

Level: Student Performance Level 1-5

Hours per week: 7.5

Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening

Note: Interested students should visit the Downtown main office to register or visit the website.

ESOL: English for speakers of other languages

ABE = Adult Basic Learning

Name Address Contact Class Information
Jewish Vocational Service (Hyde Park) 35 Harvard Avenue,

Hyde Park, MA

02136
Riva Pearson

617-699-9116

rpearson@jvs-boston.org
Focus: ESOL

Level: Pre-beginner-4

Hours per week: 9 

Schedule: Morning

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

Name Address Contact Class Information
El Centro de Cardenal Cushing Center 19 St. Joseph Street,

Jamaica Plain, MA

02130
Lydia Spataru

617-552-4040

lydia_spataru@ccab.org
Focus: ESOL

Level: Student Performance Level 0-7

Hours per week: 20

Schedule: Morning/Afternoon
IFSI-USA Adult Education Program

Various sites are available, including in Jamaica Plain.

Makendi Henry Alce

617-322-1348

alcehenry8@ifsi-usa.org
Focus: ESOL

Level: 1-4

Hours per week: 5

Schedule: Morning/ Afternoon/ Evening

Note: Interested students should visit the Mattapan main office to register or visit the website.
Jamaica Plain Community Centers Adult Learning Program 20 South Street,

Jamaica Plain, MA

02130
Amina Hilowle

617-356-7102

info@jpadulted.org
Focus: ESOL, ABE, CNA Training

ESOL Level: Basic Literacy to Level 5

ABE Grade: 1 & 2

Hours per week: 9-12

Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/ Evening 

Note: Classes are in-person, virtual and hybrid.

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

ABE = Adult Basic Education

Name Address Contact Class Information
Action For Boston Community Development 535 River Street,

Mattapan, MA

02126

Cheyenne Deveney

617-298-2045

Cheyenne.deveney@bostonabcd.org

Focus: ESOL

Level: Student Performance Level 0-7

Hours per week: 6

Schedule: Morning/Afternoon
IFSI-USA Adult Education Program 1626 Blue Hill Avenue,

Mattapan, MA

02126
Makendi Henry Alce

617-322-1348

alcehenry8@ifsi-usa.org
Focus: ESOL

Level: 1-4

Hours per week: 5

Schedule: Morning/ Afternoon/ Evening

Note: Interested students should visit the Mattapan main office to register or visit the website.

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

Name Address Contact Class Information
Educational Development Group (EDG) 1534 Tremont Street,

Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120
Frances Laroche

617-357-5717

frances@edginc.org
Focus: ESOL

Level: Low Beginner, High Beginner & Intermediate

Hours per week: 12-16

Schedule: Morning/Evening

ESOL = English for speakers of other languages

Name Address Contact Class Information
Action For Boston Community Development 19 Corinth Street,

Roslindale, MA

02131
Lisa Garrone

617-327-1152

x204

Lisa.garrone@bostonabcd.org
Focus: ESOL

Level: Student Performance Level 0-7

Hours per week: 6

Schedule: Morning/Evening

ESOL: English for speakers of other languages

Name Address Contact Class Information
Action For Boston Community Development 714 Parker Street, Roxbury, MA 02120 Amauris Ferreiras

857-399-9144

amauris.ferreiras@bostonabcd.org
Focus: ESOL

Level: Student Performance Level 0-7

Hours per week: 6

Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening
Boston Public School 55 Malcom X Blvd,

Roxbury, MA

02120
Kristen D'Avolio

617-635-9300

kdavolio@bostonpublicschools.org

Focus: ABE

Level: Grades 8-12

Hours per week: 9-10.5

Schedule: Morning

Project Hope 550 Dudley Street,

Roxbury, MA

02119
Patricia Goulbourne

617-442-1880

x253

pgoulbourne@prohope.org
Focus: ABE

Level: Grades 4-12

Hours per week: 12

Schedule: Morning/Afternoon
X-Cel Education 39 Smith Street,

Roxbury, MA 

02119
Don Sands

617-504-6261

x-cel@x-celeducation.org
Focus: ABE, Post-secondary Support

Level: Grade 4-12

Hours per week: N/A

Schedule: Morning/Evening 

ESOL: English for speakers of other languages

ABE = Adult Basic Education

Name Address Contact Class Information
Laboure Adult Education Center 275 West Broadway,

South Boston, MA

02127
Rosalba Yanez

617-464-8551

laboure_esol@ccab.org
Focus: ESOL

Level: 1-5

Hours per week: 16

Schedule: Monday/Evening
Julie's Family Learning Program 133 Dorchester Street,

South Boston, MA

02127

Anna Fernandez-Buehrens

Call 617-269-6663 ext. 34, Text 617-297-7828

registration@juliesfamily.org

Focus: ABE

Level: Grades 0-12

Hours per week: 8-20

Schedule: Morning/Afternoon/Evening

ESOL = English for speakers of others languages

ABE = Adult Basic Education

Program Map

Volunteer

ALI member organizations are frequently looking for volunteers. You can contact program directors directly to inquire about volunteer opportunities.

Back to top