Prospective Students
Welcome
At SBLC, learning works for you: for your learning style, your schedule, and your personal goals. Let SBLC help you take the next steps towards meeting your goals to gain a brighter future.
What is SBLC?
SBLC is a community non profit that provides education and career skill training that transforms the lives of adults in Baltimore City and the surrounding areas. Adult Learners come to SBLC for two main reasons: improving their general education to prepare you for the GED exam to earn your high school diploma or learning or improving specific skills to enter or advance in your career. All programs at SBLC are free of cost to enroll.
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Learn More About Earning
Your High School Diploma
Learn More About
Advancing Your Career
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Goal Setting
Everyone that walks through our doors has a different reason for taking the step to improve their education. Some want to earn their high school diploma; some need to improve their math skills to open up job opportunities; some want to learn new skills to earn more money in their current jobs. Whatever your reason, SBLC is here to help you define your goal and make a plan for achieving it.
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What Makes SBLC Different?
SBLC is unique in that it provides literacy programs, career pathway planning, and technology training in our dedicated historic facility, along with learning support services through partnerships, professional staff, and volunteers. We are a resource center with small classes and flexible options to be sure you get the attention you need, on your schedule. Our teachers are experienced educators and our volunteer tutors complete a rigorous training program to be able to support you through your educational journey. SBLC is more than a school, we are a community. SBLC learners come to study, but they leave with more than passing grades and a diploma: they acquire the ability to put their learning to work for life. What they learn at SBLC stays with them forever.
Learn about our Academic Learner Support resources here
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General Education and GED Preparation
SBLC meets you where you are. Meaning we will work with you to set your goals and lay out a plan to help you achieve them, with support along the way. Staff will work with you to determine your level in each subject area: Math, Science, Language Arts/Reading/Writing, and Social Studies.
The first step is to complete the intake form and placement tests.
About the General Education Exam or GED
It is commonly misunderstood that individuals who pass the GED™ exam earn a “GED.” In Maryland, an adult over the age of 17 who passes the GED™ exam earns a Maryland High School Diploma issued by the Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation.
While SBLC is not a testing site for the GED, we do offer many ways to prepare for the exam to earn your diploma.
Pathways to a high school diploma
Our learners are all at different points in their life, some work full or part time, others are raising a family, and some are searching for jobs. No matter your situation or schedule restraints, we want to work with you to find the best way for you to prepare for the GED Exam. That is why we provide three pathways to a high school diploma:
- Adult basic education classes
- IDEAL 101
- National External Diploma Program (NEDP)
About Adult Basic Education
SBLC offers adult education courses in Math, Science, Language Arts/Reading/Writing, and Social Studies from Kindergarten through 12th grade levels. Depending on your schedule you can choose between day, evening, or Saturday class. Classes are offered during 12 week academic sessions. To qualify for these classes, learners must be a Maryland resident, at least 18 years of age and officially withdrawn from high school.
The majority of classes are held on-site at our main facility on 28 E. Ostend St., but we also offer instruction at a variety of partner locations around the city.
**COVID-19 Update**
In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, all classes are being held online until further notice.
About NEDP
SBLC is the only organization to offer The National External Diploma Program (NEDP) in the Baltimore area. The NEDP is a great option for self-directed learners with demanding schedules and a general familiarity with the computer. This is a web-based program that draws from work and life experiences and evaluates skills based on the Common Core College and Career Readiness standards. Learners complete a series of tasks in 8 competency areas which include: Cultural Literacy, Health Literacy, Civic Literacy, Financial Literacy, Geography, History, Science, and Twenty-First Century Workplace. Upon completion of the series, a learner earns their Maryland High School Diploma.