Division of Adult and Career Education

What Division of Adult and Career Education does

The Division of Adult and Career Education (DACE) is a publicly funded operating division of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second-largest school district in the United States. DACE delivers adult education services across Greater Los Angeles through three programmatic pillars: English language acquisition (ESL), high school diploma completion (including HSE/GED preparation), and career technical education — including administration of what the organization describes as the largest apprenticeship training program in the country. The division serves nearly 50,000 students annually across multiple physical campuses and skills centers throughout the LAUSD region, which spans approximately 710 square miles and covers the city of Los Angeles along with portions of 25 additional cities and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Programs are offered tuition-free, with supplemental student benefits including free Metro TAP transit passes (Metro GoPass), high school equivalency testing, disability accommodations, and wellness services.

DACE operates on a government appropriations revenue model, funded through LAUSD and California state adult education allocations as well as federal workforce development grants. As a public entity, it does not charge tuition or generate commercial revenue from students; "customers" in the conventional sense are adult learners enrolling directly through the LAUSD enrollment system, with year-round intake periods. The technology stack is standard for public education delivery: the Edlio content management system powers the DACE website, Focus School Software handles course catalog and registration, Microsoft Outlook supports staff communication, and Google Translate provides website language accessibility. There is no proprietary technology platform, no API offering, no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, and no mobile application. Distribution occurs through a multi-campus physical network combined with an online course catalog and self-serve enrollment flow. Marketing is conducted primarily through LAUSD institutional channels — Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, and the LAUSD district website — with no paid acquisition, no sales motion, and no third-party channel partners. The entity is wholly owned by LAUSD (a government entity), has no subsidiaries, no external investors, no board of directors as a separate legal entity, and no independent management team disclosed beyond standard LAUSD administrative oversight.

Name

Division of Adult and Career Education

Legal name

Los Angeles Unified School District

Website

https://lausdadulted.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1903

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DACE is a publicly funded division of the Los Angeles Unified School District providing adult ESL instruction, high school diploma completion, and career technical training — including the nation's largest apprenticeship program — to nearly 50,000 students annually across Greater Los Angeles, tuition-free.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAACAA

General ESL Programs (Multi-level Adult ESL)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/English as a Second Language (ESL) & Adult Language Learning

SECONDARYEDAAABAB

Adult High School Diploma Completion Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Secondary Education (ASE) / High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET)

SECONDARYEDAAABAA

GED/HiSET Preparation & Instruction

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Secondary Education (ASE) / High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET)

SECONDARYEDAAABAO

Curriculum, Instructional Materials & Practice Testing for GED/HiSET

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Secondary Education (ASE) / High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET)

Keywords

• Adult education
• ESL instruction
• Career technical training
• High school equivalency
• Apprenticeship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles, CA

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government/Federal Funding: Funded through LAUSD and California state adult education allocations, as well as federal workforce development grants. As a public education entity, DACE operates on appropriated public funds rather than commercial revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DACE delivers tuition-free adult education services to nearly 50,000 learners annually across Greater Los Angeles through three core programs: English language (ESL) instruction, high school diploma completion, and career technical training including the largest apprenticeship training program in the United States. Students also access supplemental services such as high school equivalency testing, disability accommodations, wellness support, and a free Metro transit pass, all delivered through multiple physical campuses and an online course catalog.

Product overview

The Division of Adult and Career Education (DACE) operates as a unified educational services platform providing tuition-free adult education programs across Greater Los Angeles. The organization offers three core programmatic pillars: Learn English (ESL instruction), Earn Your High School Diploma (secondary education completion), and Train for a Career (vocational training). DACE administers the nation's largest apprenticeship training program. Students access programs through a course catalog and registration system, and receive supplemental services including free Metro transit passes, high school equivalency testing, disability accommodations, and wellness support. The portfolio serves approximately 50,000 students annually across multiple campuses throughout Los Angeles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Learn English Program ESL and English language learning programs for adults to develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, serving immigrants and non-native speakers in Greater Los Angeles.
• High School Diploma Program Adult education program allowing students to earn their high school diploma through credited coursework, for adults who did not complete high school and wish to earn their diploma.
• Career Training Program Vocational and technical career training programs designed to prepare students for specific occupations and industry certifications.
• Apprenticeship Training Program The largest apprenticeship training program in the United States, providing paid on-the-job training combined with classroom instruction.
• Metro GoPass Free transit pass program providing eligible students with unlimited access to Metro bus and rail services for transportation to and from classes.
• High School Equivalency Test Center Testing center offering GED, HiSET, and other high school equivalency exams for adults seeking to obtain their equivalency credential.
• Disability Support Services Accommodations and support services for students with disabilities to ensure equal access to educational programs.
• Wellness Program Health and wellness resources and services supporting student well-being, including wellness centers and mental health support.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Houston Community College Adult Education: Texas's largest community college, providing free HSE/GED prep, ESL, integrated education & training, and apprenticeship-eligible CTE to adult learners across the Houston metro — a comparable large-urban publicly funded adult education provider, anchored in a broader community college footprint.
• New York City Department of Education Adult Education Programs: NYC DOE Office of Adult & Continuing Education delivers free ESL, HSE/GED prep, and CTE programs for adult learners across the five boroughs — a major urban public-school-district adult education program with overlapping student demographics and programmatic pillars.
• Miami Dade College — School of Continuing Education & Professional Development: The nation's largest institution of higher education by enrollment, with a substantial adult ed/CE offering including ESL, GED prep, HSE, and CTE for adults in Miami-Dade County — comparable scale and mission, with adult ed as part of a wider portfolio.
• City Colleges of Chicago — Adult Education: Chicago's public community college system runs large-scale free adult ESL, GED/HSE prep, and career pathway programs serving adult learners across Cook County — a similarly large urban public adult education operation with overlapping ESL and CTE focus.

Direct peers

• San Diego Continuing Education: San Diego Mesa College's adult education division offering tuition-free ESL, HSE/GED prep, high school diploma completion, CTE, and apprenticeship pathways across San Diego County — the closest direct programmatic and structural analog to DACE within California community college adult ed.
• Santa Ana College School of Continuing Education: Part of the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD), SCE delivers free ESL, GED, adult diploma and career training to Santa Ana and surrounding Orange County communities — a directly comparable Southern California public adult education provider.
• Saddleback College Continuing Education: South Orange County Community College District's Continuing Education division offering ESL, GED preparation, adult high school diploma, CTE, and apprenticeship-style programs — a neighboring direct competitor serving an overlapping Southern California labor market.

Others

• ProLiteracy America: The largest U.S. nonprofit membership organization dedicated to adult literacy and ESL service delivery — provides policy advocacy, professional development, and national infrastructure that influences funding and practice for public adult ed providers such as DACE.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/LAUSDAdultEd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8yFxLQBE-1CIHrqBOs7l0w
• Facebookfacebook.com/LAUSDAdultEd
• Instagraminstagram.com/lausdadulted
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lausdadulted

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Division of Adult and Career Education