The Adult Basic Education Innovation Grant, which was initially part of Lone Star College-Montgomery's Developmental Education Demonstration Project grant, is now Accelerate TEXAS. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) created Accelerate TEXAS in response to the growing demand for adult basic education services at a time when Texas needs more of these students to transition to college-level degree and certificate programs. A total of 14 community colleges in Texas now participate in Accelerate TEXAS via grant funding from THECB.

Accelerate Texas will host on open house dessert reception on Tuesday, November 13, from 2:15-3:30 p.m., at Lone Star College-Conroe Center (777 Conroe Park North Drive, Conroe, TX 77303). The reception celebrates Accelerate Texas and the incredible things the program is doing for its students who, in one semester, are able to obtain certification in a number of in-demand workforce programs. The program stacks intensive advising, college and career readiness, contextualized support skills classes and a selected workforce certificate that moves students through education to employment in just a few months.

"We focus on transitioning students to not only to jobs, which many of them need right away, but also to other college-level classes that will give them an even greater advantage when trying to increase their employability," said Tristyn Davis, program manager for Accelerate TEXAS at LSC-Conroe Center. "We also work closely with Jobs for the Future (a national entity) and area employers to increase the success rates for students moving into the workforce upon completion."

So far, Accelerate TEXAS has served 250 students in over 20 cohorts at both LSC-Conroe Center and Lone Star College-North Harris campuses. The program has a total passing rate of 87 percent among those who first begin taking classes. Program areas include Certified Nurse Aid, Welding, Accounting Assistant, Phlebotomy and Pre-Apprentice Machining. The total grant awarded $800,000 over a three-year period, which concludes in May 2013.

For more information about Accelerate TEXAS within LSCS, visit http://www.lonestar.edu/abeinnovation.htm.

LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call 936.273.7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.

With 75,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball, and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.