History

The English Center (TEC) is part of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. It was established in 1962 as a special center for English instruction to address the needs of the large numbers of refugees arriving at the shores of South Florida. Although the center continued to fulfill the needs of thousands of immigrants from many different countries, the demand to diversify its education offerings became imminent. The growing population surrounding the center needed career/technical training to compete in the workforce. Rising to the challenge to fill this need, TEC embarked on its quest of offering quality career/technical training. Thus, evolved the motto: There is more than English at The English Center. TEC remains a gateway to education and opportunities for arriving immigrants, as well as a symbol of pride and a reminder to many Americans of their first educational and cultural experience in the United States.

Facilities

The English Center is a full-service adult education center and technical college that offers career/technical education and Adult General Education programs on a full-time and/or a part-time basis.

The 380,000 square foot campus houses a faculty and staff of almost 200 people, including administrators, counselors, teachers, clerks, paraprofessionals, security, and custodians. The school operates Monday through Thursday from 6:00 A.M. to 10:15 P.M., Friday from 6:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., and Saturday and Sunday 8:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.

Program Overview

Career/Technical Education post-secondary certificate programs are offered in five different career clusters: Architecture and Construction – Art, A/V Technology and Communication – Education and Training – Human Services – and Information Technology. The Adult General Education (AGE) curriculum includes the following: English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) – Adult Basic Education (ABE) – Citizenship – and General Educational Development (GED) which is to obtain a high school diploma and basic skills remediation. Guidance counselors assist all students. Case managers work on introducing new students to Career Pathways, a program which assists with future career choices, providing support and follow-up to ensure their progress.

Open-Entry / Open-Exit Programs

Programs are open-entry/open-exit which means that students may enroll at any time during the trimester. Prospective students are encouraged to check with a counselor or instructor to determine the specific admission requirements of their program of interest.