# Adult Education is Experiencing a Renaissance That is Reshaping the Educational Landscape

By Education Technology · Published 2023-10-05 · Updated 2026-05-19 · Education Technology on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/adult-education-is-experiencing-a-renaissance-that-is-reshaping-the-educational-landscape
Creator hub: DisruptED

> Millions of Americans are returning to school, forcing institutions to rethink how they serve adult learners with competing demands

## Key points

- Millions of adult Americans are re-enrolling in educational institutions, creating a growing and underserved student demographic.
- Colleges and universities are being forced to redesign programs, delivery formats, and support services to accommodate adult learners' competing demands.
- The adult education renaissance is accelerating adoption of flexible, technology-driven learning models across higher education.

Block Field

The crux of [adult education](https://marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/the-alliance-for-adult-education-furthering-educational-opportunities-in-workforce-development/), once a marginal segment, has come into sharp focus as a crucial tool for economic and social empowerment. Per the [Center for Law and Social Policy](https://www.clasp.org/sites/default/files/public/documents/GED-Landscape-2-5-23-13.pdf), nearly 40 million adults in the U.S. have not completed high school, representing approximately 12 percent of the population. But even as adult learners make their way back to school, it raises another question.

How can the educational ecosystem pivot to accommodate, support, and uplift adult learners, dispelling myths and addressing the unique challenges they face?

> How can the educational ecosystem pivot to accommodate, support, and uplift adult learners, dispelling myths and addressing the unique challenges they face?

For the first segment of the two-part edition of “Supporting Adult Learning in a [DisruptEd](https://marketscale.com/shows/disrupted/) World,” host Ron J. Stefanski chatted with **Vicki Greene**, CEO of the [GED Testing Service](https://ged.com/about_us/meet-the-team/#teamModal_Board+and+Leadership8), and [**Dr. Howard Liebman**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-howard-liebman-631b5217), CEO and Superintendent of Schools at [**Smart Horizons Career Online Education**](https://www.shcoe.org/). Their conversation explored the transformative potential of adult education, and the strategies to foster an inclusive, empathetic, and empowering learning environment for adult education.

Some standout points from their conversation included:

- The Evolution of GED, which includes adapting to computer-centric model from paper, and how many learners it impacts annually.
- Dr. Liebman's groundbreaking research on the trauma associated with disrupted education and the imperative to craft learning pathways that mitigate this trauma.
- The integration of skill training with foundational education to deliver tangible, immediately applicable results.

### About the Speakers

[**Vicki Greene**](https://ged.com/about_us/meet-the-team/#:~:text=Vicki%20Greene%20is%20the%20President,a%20high%20school%20equivalency%20credential.) is the CEO of the [GED Testing Service](https://ged.com/about_us/meet-the-team/#teamModal_Board+and+Leadership8), a program committed to ensuring anyone has the opportunity to earn a high school equivalency diploma. Under her leadership, the organization has developed innovative partnerships with employers, implemented programs to support learners, and has redefined what adult education looks like.

**Dr. Howard Liebman** is the CEO and Superintendent of Schools at [Smart Horizons Career Online Education](https://www.shcoe.org/). He is recognized for his initiatives in re-engaging adults into the educational system.

Tags: adult education, adult learners, DisruptED, Dr. Howard Liebman, GED, GED Testing Service, Ron J Stefanski, Smart Horizons Career Online Education, Vicki Greene

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