Education programs cover high school equivalency (GED) prep and testing, adult literacy, English classes, college access and programs that continue college work started in prison. Most adult education here is free.
Tip: if you earned credits, a certificate or a diploma while incarcerated, request your transcript from the facility or the college that ran the program, so you get credit for that work instead of repeating it.
Brooklyn is large, so check the address and travel time before you go, and ask whether the program takes walk-ins.
24 services based in Brooklyn, plus 70 citywide
Full tuition-scholarship, accredited college program where students earn a Bard College Associate in Arts degree attending classes at the Brooklyn Public Library's Central Library or a location on 125th Street in Harlem, with faculty, tutors and academic advisors.
Provides free Adult Basic Education, multiple High School Equivalency (HSE) pathways (including NEDP, Fast Track, and Spanish-language GED), industry-recognized credential classes, ESOL, computer literacy, citizenship prep, case management, and laptop/hotspot loans.
Provides free virtual financial counseling and classes on budgeting, investing, student loans, and retirement planning, plus tax help and one-on-one guidance connecting patrons to entrepreneurial, employment, and education opportunities.
Free HSE prep or college prep track with tutoring, counseling, parenting seminars, financial incentives and job preparation.
Offers free small-group and one-on-one classes in basic literacy, ESOL, HSE test preparation, pre-HSE, and math tutoring.
Provides alternative-to-incarceration programming, mental health and substance use treatment, and youth education and employment services for court-involved New Yorkers.
Employment training centers for adults and youth offering HSE preparation, adult literacy, ESOL, foundational industry courses, and advanced hands-on training in fields such as construction, healthcare, and technology, plus job placement.
After-school tutoring, summer camp, mentoring, a licensed mental health clinic and family engagement services for children of incarcerated parents.
Serves low-income and houseless New Yorkers, primarily of Caribbean descent, with health and fitness programs, adult literacy, housing placement assistance, HIV/AIDS testing and prevention education (including PrEP/PEP), and mental health counseling at its Be Well Center.
Immigration help, English classes, youth programs and family support in Bay Ridge.
Free Computer Basics, Internet Searching and Microsoft Word workshops.
The Community Health Team connects people to health and wellness services through education and resources, provided via virtual webinars, programming, trainings, and community partner events.
Offers free in-person and virtual citizenship classes; for more information email immigrantservices@bklynlibrary.org. Offers programs in multiple languages including English language classes and conversation groups, family cultural events, free citizenship classes, and adult literacy courses.
Offers a range of programs, services, resources, and events for adults ages 50 and over and their caregivers including lectures, health and wellness series, musical performances, art classes, classes on computer basics, and more. Also provides retirement literacy, estate planning workshops, and job-readiness programs.
Offers a range of materials and programs for young people, birth through teens, and their families and educators. Programs include Babies and Books; Storytime; Ready, Set, Kindergarten!; STEM programs; Inclusive Services programs for children and teens with and without disabilities; and more.
Provides services to youth, both court-involved and non-court-involved, including case management, financial literacy and life skills workshops, civic engagement opportunities, community benefits projects, internships, unsubsidized job placements, and mentoring. Visit the website for more information and requirements.
Job readiness, training and placement in Cypress Hills and East New York.
Offers support services to youth where mentees receive one-toone case management, general issue advocacy training, as well as wrap-around family support.
An 11-week paid apprenticeship program in culinary training for refugees, asylees, or survivors of human trafficking ages 18 and over, who are authorized to work in the US. Offered throughout the program are weekly English classes focused on culinary vocabulary and interview preparation, job-readiness workshops,...
Education and paid internships for court-involved youth.
Hospital- and school-based violence prevention with counseling and mentoring for young people.
Legal services, adult education, job help and organizing for immigrant and working-class communities.
Provides a range of services to Spanish speaking immigrants in NYC. Offers ESOL classes, computer classes, and adult basic education and literacy classes in Spanish.
The Brooklyn location offers the Mentorship and Advocacy Program (MAAP) for court-involved and underserved youth ages 12–21, where participants are matched with a mentor after a referral from either the Juvenile Justice Initiative (JJI), Close to Home, or the Family Assistance Program (FAP).
These serve people from every borough, often by phone, online or at more than one office.
Free ESOL, ABE and English-for-Work classes in 10-week cycles.
A joint program of NYC's three public library systems offering free, one-on-one tech support to help New Yorkers use devices, connect to the internet, set up online accounts, and build tech skills.
Free computer-training workshops: internet basics, Microsoft Office, video chat, coding, online job searching.
State office providing information on all pathways to a High School Equivalency diploma: application forms, eligibility, required documents and test sites. The call center gives recorded information Tue-Thu 10am-12pm.
Provides services to children, families, and adults, including therapeutic, educational, vocational, and supportive services for young adults on Rikers Island before and after release, Multi-Systemic Therapy for court-involved youth, foster care, early childhood education, and family/community services such as counseling, employment, and substance use treatment.
Free ESOL, Basic Education and HSE/GED preparation classes at CUNY campuses.
Free basic education, ESOL and HSE test preparation for adults 21+ without a US high school diploma or equivalency, plus tuition-free career and technical education classes; some classes may have material/exam fees.
Offers free or low-cost early childhood education for children ages six weeks to three years old who are not yet eligible for 3-K, including education, health, nutrition, and social services.
Offers counseling, substance use treatment, early childhood mental health and education programs (including Head Start and Early Head Start), and after-school and enrichment programs for youth in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. The Jamaica Family Wellness Center serves court-involved youth, and the Benefits Access program helps families enroll in entitlement benefits and health insurance and get referrals for financial and legal assistance.
26 colleges plus adult education (ESOL, HSE, college transition). Support page for students with conviction records.
A faith-based organization offering housing, continuity-of-care support, and education for formerly incarcerated individuals at Abraham House and Ignacio House. Residents can access scholarships to partnering colleges and job-readiness and career-development support, plus help finding permanent affordable housing; a food pantry operates Saturdays at its Bronx location (340 Willis Avenue).
Scholarships for Native students at accredited nonprofit colleges.
