MassLINKS Adult Education Online Academy

MSL001: Introduction to MassLINKS

In this required course students are introduced to all elements of the MassLINKS Digital Ecosystem building foundational skills for success at MassLINKS and the contemporary education and workplace setting. Students activate all necessary accounts and gain valuable experience navigating and utilizing both day-to-day and specialized functionalities of the MassLINKS learning environment. Students will demonstrate the ability to log-in and access all applications and web-based educational technology utilized by the program as well as fluidly navigate communications systems used both within the MassLINKS Classroom (Zoom chat features, gestures such as reading hand, sharing screen, etc.) as well as the MassLINKS Community (email, Google Sites, Google Chat, etc.). Students will also participate in the technology assessment process and those needing technology assistance will be identified for technology distribution, ensuring all students start their academic classes with the needed technology for success.

Prerequisite: N/A

EFLs Served: ALL

MSL094: Foundations of STEM

Classes will concentrate on improving foundational numeracy skills embedded within content areas tested on both the GED and HiSET exams. This course covers contemporary issues relevant to the lives of MassLINKS students supporting systems navigation and increasing access to community and statewide resources. Multiple educational platforms support the development of digital literacy skills and all students take practice tests through the GED to develop test ready goals and academic plans. Students begin the career planning process while building critical academic, student success, and workplace readiness competencies.

Prerequisite: MSL001, MSL091 or Placement

EFLs Served: ABE1, ABE2, ABE3

MSL097: Humanities for All

Students in Humanities for All focus on the development and application of college-ready literacy, critical thinking/analysis, and social emotional competencies necessary for successful postsecondary enrollment and/or workplace success. Course content explores the historical human connections and interactions that have contributed to the lived experiences of diverse individuals today while providing students opportunities to practice discreet test-taking skills aligned to both the GED and HiSET high school equivalency exams. Students begin the career planning process while building critical academic, student success, and workplace readiness competencies. Coursework incorporates multiple web-based educational platforms embedding digital literacy instruction into the fabric of the course.

Prerequisite: MSL001, MSL091 or Placement

EFLs Served: ABE1, ABE2, ABE3, ABE4, ABE5, ABE6

MSL098: Advanced STEM for College Preparation

Coursework will focus on the application of advanced literacy and content competencies mastered at the STM094 level through the exploration of the connections between critical thinking, problem solving, mathematics, the sciences (Earth, Life, and Physical), engineering, and technology. Coursework will be designed to develop college-ready literacy, critical analysis, and content-based knowledge and skills necessary for college and career success while practicing discreet test-taking skills aligned to STEM subject tests of both the GED and HiSET high school equivalency exams. The course incorporates multiple web-based educational platforms embedding digital literacy instruction into the fabric of the course.

Prerequisite: MSL001, STM094 or Placement

EFLs Served: ABE4, ABE5, ABE6

MSL001: Introduction to MassLINKS

In this required course students are introduced to all elements of the MassLINKS Digital Ecosystem building foundational skills for success at MassLINKS and the contemporary education and workplace setting. Students activate all necessary accounts and gain valuable experience navigating and utilizing both day-to-day and specialized functionalities of the MassLINKS learning environment. Students will demonstrate the ability to log-in and access all applications and web-based educational technology utilized by the program as well as fluidly navigate communications systems used both within the MassLINKS Classroom (Zoom chat features, gestures such as reading hand, sharing screen, etc.) as well as the MassLINKS Community (email, Google Sites, Google Chat, etc.). Students will also participate in the technology assessment process and those needing technology assistance will be identified for technology distribution, ensuring all students start their academic classes with the needed technology for success.

Prerequisite: N/A

EFLs Served: ALL

MSL090: Foundations of Language Acquisition for College and Career Success

This course will introduce foundational elements of the English language in areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Coursework focuses on building language and English literacy skills in areas critical to classroom and workplace success while promoting self-advocacy and independence. Courses are offered in collaboration with WIOA core partners and other community-based organizations across the Commonwealth.

Prerequisite: MSL001 and Placement

EFLs Served: ESL1, ESL2

MSL091: Applied Language Acquisition for College and Career Success

This course will build on the foundational language skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing acquired in MSL090. Coursework increases the intensity of assigned work and its focus on building academic and workplace reading and writing skills to accompany developing verbal and listening comprehension skills. Coursework prepares students for advanced level academic coursework and successful academic and workplace communication sufficient for successful employment or advancement.

Prerequisite: MSL001, MSL090 or Placement

EFLs Served: ESL3, ESL4

MSL092: Advanced Language Acquisition for College and Career Success

This course will provide students with the academic and workplace language skills necessary for successful postsecondary enrollment and/or advancement within their occupation. Students will learn and apply advanced workplace and academic English language skills. Coursework will build reading comprehension and academic writing skills while introducing English language competencies associated with basic and intermediate academic and workplace mathematical concepts preparing students for continued academic studies and workplace success.

Prerequisite: MSL001, MSL091 or Placement

EFLs Served: ESL5, ESL6

Apply to Join our Waitlist

MassLINKS utilizes the LACES Prospective Student Portal. This web-based, online application, allows students to create an account and successfully complete and submit an application to MassLINKS. Information submitted by students in this application maps to required fields in LACES. A completed application does not constitute enrollment in the program. Rather, it automatically adds students to the MassLINKS waitlist. Once all applications are reviewed by MassLINKS staff and all required information confirmed received, a submitted application is moved to the official MassLINKS Waitlist.

MassLINKS Online Application

MassLINKS Waitlist Policies

Waitlist Verification Policy

Per page 40 of the FY24-28 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education, a  student who has received two direct outreach attempts (Text, Email, etc.) with no response will have their status on the waitlist changed to “Removed from the Waitlist.”

Student Placement Test Scores (if applicable) remain valid for the current program year.

Invitation to Enroll

Students are added to the official MassLINKS Waitlist once they have submitted an online application and had all of the required information fields confirmed. Enrollment opportunities to officially waitlisted students are based on the following:

• Selected Service Type
• Time Preference (Day, Afternoon, Evening)
• Student Standing (A student must be in good standing to receive an invitation to enroll)
• Days on the Waitlist

**MassLINKS reserves the right to review and adjust this policy as needed to support the equitable access of students to MassLINKS programming.**

Partner Agency/Shared Customer Agreements

Agency referrals are tracked in the LACES Data System as part of the MassLINKS Online Application. Shared customers as defined by ACLS in their Policies and Procedures are identified based on information provided by each student on their application. MassLINKS will hold 20% of its seats in MSL001 course sections for individuals referred from WIOA Core Partner Agencies. Eligible individuals will be invited to enroll on a first-come-first served basis.  Any seats reserved for Shared Customers that are not claimed by eligible individuals will be released to eligible waitlisted individuals.

**MassLINKS reserves the right to adjust this percentage and policy as needed to ensure equitable access to programming for waitlisted students.**

DCF Waitlist Policy Addendum

Eligible individuals under the age of 18 and in the care of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families may forgo the MassLINKS waitlist entirely and enroll in courses immediately provided all other enrollment requirements are met and space is available in the appropriate course offerings.

MassLINKS utilizes the LACES Prospective Student Portal. This web-based, online application, allows students to create an account and successfully complete and submit an application to MassLINKS. Information submitted by students in this application maps to required fields in LACES. A completed application does not constitute enrollment in the program. Rather, it automatically adds students to the MassLINKS waitlist. Once all applications are reviewed by MassLINKS staff and all required information confirmed received, a submitted application is moved to the official MassLINKS Waitlist.

MassLINKS Online Application