Friends of Portland Adult Education is a non-profit organization founded to support Maine’s largest, most dynamic adult education program. In 2011-12 Portland Adult Education provided 4,434 students with courses for English language attainment, job skills, high school completion, college readiness, citizenship, and community enrichment. With just 25% of adults in Maine holding bachelor’s degrees a
nd every recent economic report calling for a more highly educated workforce, PAE provides essential skills and credentials. This year 1,705 Academic students, 905 Workforce students, and 2,106 Enrichment students enrolled in PAE's classes. Not only do the nearly 100 community partners, such as LL Bean, Maine Medical Center, Unum, and Barber Foods, benefit from employees improving their skills independently, but these organizations also partner with PAE to offer classes directly to their associates. Contracts and successful grants enabled PAE to leverage its support from Portland Public Schools in 2011-12 by increasing revenue $500,000. Approximately 1% of Portland Public School's local budget supports PAE’s 4,434 students, making Portland Adult Education an inexpensive and vital asset in this city.
