Lafayette Adult Resource Academy

What Lafayette Adult Resource Academy does

Lafayette Adult Resource Academy (legally LARA Educational Opportunities, Inc.) is a private nonprofit adult education organization founded in 1976 and headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana. It provides free instruction to adults aged 16 and older across five Indiana counties (Lafayette, Delphi, Monticello, Kokomo, and Peru) and serves a highly diverse learner population drawn from 46+ countries and 25+ languages. Core programming comprises English Language Learning (ELL), High School Equivalency (HSE) preparation, HSE Boot Camps, and a growing catalog of career training certifications in fields including Construction, HVAC, Paraprofessional, Community Health Worker, Logistics, and Child Development Associate.

The organization operates as a service-based educational provider without a proprietary technology platform; its digital infrastructure consists of a self-serve enrollment portal powered by ConnectAble (pathway4ward.org) and a Banzai-hosted financial wellness resource. LARA also runs an Indiana-approved public HSE testing site (GED and HiSET) and delivers employer-sponsored on-site classes at partner workplaces such as Kirby Risk.

LARA became an independent nonprofit in 2024 after decades operating under the Lafayette School Corporation, and in 2025 relocated its Lafayette headquarters into the First Christian Church's education center while federal oversight of adult education moved from the U.S. Department of Education to the U.S. Department of Labor. Revenue is generated through state-administered federal workforce development funding, individual donations at specified tiers ($50-$15,000), and corporate sponsorships structured at three levels (Skills Builder $5,000, Pathway to Success $10,000, Workforce Champion $20,000). All educational services are provided at no cost to students, with financial assistance available for testing fees.

Name

Lafayette Adult Resource Academy

Legal name

LARA Educational Opportunities, Inc.

Website

https://laralafayette.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lafayette Adult Resource Academy is an Indiana nonprofit founded in 1976 that delivers free adult education, including English language learning, high school equivalency preparation, and career training certifications, to adult learners across five Indiana counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education and Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Adult High School Diploma Completion Programs (EDAAABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET/TASC) Preparation (EDANAJAG), Workplace-Based ASE & Employer-Sponsored High School Equivalency (EDAAABAN), General ESL Programs (Multi-level Adult ESL) (EDAAACAA), Tutoring, Study Skills & Learning Strategies for ASE (EDAAABAL), Adult Learner Support Services (Advising, Case Management, Wraparound Supports) (EDAAABAJ)

Keywords

• Adult education services
• English language learning
• High school equivalency preparation
• Career training certifications
• Workforce development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lafayette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As an adult education provider, LARA receives federal and state funding administered through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. In 2025, federal oversight of adult education moved from the U.S. Department of Education to the U.S. Department of Labor.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Annual corporate sponsorships at three tiers: Workforce Champion ($20,000), Pathway to Success ($10,000), and Skills Builder ($5,000). Sponsors receive recognition on website, newsletters, social media, and at events.
3. Individual Donations: Individual donations at specified amounts: $50 for student materials, $145 for testing fees, $250 for ParaPro training, $500 for ELL program seats, $1,000 for digital literacy classes, $15,000 for on-site ELL class.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lafayette Adult Resource Academy provides free adult education programs across Indiana, including English Language Learning classes, High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma preparation and accelerated HSE Boot Camps, and a portfolio of Career Training Certifications such as Construction, HVAC, Paraprofessional Educator, Community Health Worker, Logistics, and Child Development Associate credentials. Services are delivered in person at five regional classroom sites, through employer on-site workplace classes, and at an official Indiana HSE public testing center administering GED and HiSET exams.

Product overview

LARA Educational Opportunities provides free adult education programs across Indiana, offering a unified portfolio of core academic programs (English Language Learning, High School Equivalency Diploma) alongside accelerated HSE Boot Camp options, and an expanding set of test-based Career Training Certifications including Construction, HVAC, Paraprofessional, Community Health Worker, Logistics, and Child Development Associate credentials. Services are delivered through in-person classes at five regional locations (Lafayette, Delphi, Monticello, Kokomo, Peru), employer on-site workplace programs, and a public HSE testing site. The organization also provides supplementary resources including financial wellness tools. The overall offering functions as a coordinated pathway from foundational literacy and diploma programs through to career certifications and employment outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• English Language Learning Classes Free English language instruction for adult non-native speakers covering reading, writing, vocabulary, listening, conversation skills, and US citizenship civic education, delivered in person across LARA's Indiana locations.
• High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma Program Free adult education classes preparing students aged 16+ to earn the Indiana High School Equivalency diploma through math, science, language arts, and other academic subject instruction.
• HSE Boot Camp Accelerated, intensive HSE preparation program for existing LARA HSE students delivered as 3-day daytime or 5-night evening sessions per month, with acceptance based on pretest scores.
• Construction Certification Career training certification program preparing adult learners for construction trade careers, scheduled to begin classes in September 2026.
• HVAC Certification Career training certification program preparing adult learners for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technician careers.
• Paraprofessional Educator Certification Career training certification preparing adult learners for education paraprofessional roles, scheduled to begin classes in Fall 2026.
• Community Health Worker Certification Career training certification preparing adult learners for community health worker roles in healthcare settings, scheduled to begin classes in Fall 2026.
• Logistics Certification Career training certification preparing adult learners for logistics and supply chain management careers, scheduled to begin classes in Fall 2026.
• Child Development Associate (CDA) Career certification for early childcare workers, accepting applications from current childcare employees for a September start date.
• On-Site Workplace Classes Employer-sponsored ELL and HSE classes delivered on-site at partner business locations with flexible scheduling tailored to employee needs; employers provide classroom space and paid class time.
• HSE Public Testing Site Official Indiana-approved public HSE test center administering GED and HiSET exams with scheduled assessment lab hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of HSE graduates secure employment within their field
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GE AerospaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate volunteer partner that organized campus improvement projects including yardwork, outdoor space renovation, and supply organization. Their efforts created a welcoming environment for students and teachers.
• Kirby RiskcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing company partnered with LARA for on-site English Language Learning classes. Results include increased employee retention, stronger communication across teams, and greater employee satisfaction. Demonstrates LARA's ability to customize workplace training programs.
• ConnectAblecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing the pathway4ward.org enrollment platform used by LARA for student registration, appointment scheduling, and program management across Indiana adult education programs.
• First Christian Church (Lafayette)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing educational center facilities housing LARA's Lafayette headquarters since 2025. LARA maintains its own lease, signage, and independent operations within the shared building.
• United WayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner organization displayed as a supporter/affiliate on LARA's website, contributing to community empowerment initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• EmployIndy: Indianapolis-area workforce development intermediary funding and coordinating adult education, HSE, and job-training programs; comparable funding model and target population, but concentrated in the Indianapolis region rather than LARA's north-central Indiana footprint.

Broad incumbents

• ProLiteracy: National nonprofit membership organization supporting adult literacy and HSE programs across the U.S., including provider training, curriculum, and advocacy; comparable at the program-design level, but operates at a national rather than regional scale.

Direct peers

• Indiana Adult Education Providers (state network): The network of Indiana Department of Workforce Development-funded adult education programs (including regional operators like Adult Student Education Services and community-based programs) that compete with LARA for the same state-administered federal funding and learner pool.
• Ivy Tech Community College: Indiana's statewide community college system offering adult education, HSE preparation, ESL, and short-term career/technical certificates across the same counties LARA serves; the dominant public alternative for the same learner and employer segments.
• Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana: Indiana-based nonprofit operating adult education, HSE/ELL, and workforce-training programs funded through state and federal workforce dollars — directly comparable in mission, funding mix, and learner population to LARA.
• WorkOne Indiana: Indiana's statewide American Job Center network administered by the Department of Workforce Development, providing adult education, HSE prep, and workforce services; operates on the same state-administered federal funding streams as LARA.
• Literacy Indiana: Indiana's statewide literacy nonprofit network supporting adult basic education, ESL, and HSE preparation programs; directly comparable in mission and learner base, with shared state funding and referral pathways.

Others

• Conexus Indiana: Indiana nonprofit focused on advanced manufacturing and logistics talent pipelines, partnering with employers, schools, and training providers — adjacent to LARA's career-training certifications in Construction, HVAC, and Logistics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LARA_Adult_Ed
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCErKYPX23IOME8m7x7-egPw
• Facebookfacebook.com/LARA-Lafayette-Adult-Resource-Academy-175768869267856
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lara-educational-opportunities
• Instagraminstagram.com/lara_adulted

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lafayette Adult Resource Academy