Basic Organization Information
X-Cel Inc.
- Also Known As:
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x-cel, excel, college prep, ruggles, adult education
- Physical Address:
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Jamaica Plain, MA
02130
- EIN:
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04-3492163
- Web URL:
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x-celeducation.org
- NTEE Category:
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B Educational Institutions
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B60 Adult, Continuing Education
- Year Founded:
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2000
- Ruling Year:
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2000
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Mission Statement
X-Cel's mission is to make high school completion and college-level study more accessible to low-income adults in Greater Boston, by providing flexible customized instruction at no cost in convenient community locations.
Expert Assessment
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Impact Summary from the Nonprofit
2011-2012: During this past school year, X-Cel staff and volunteers worked with 326 youth and adults, enabling them to increase their reading, writing and math skills, study for their GED exam and prepare for successful entry to post-secondary education. Of those students we worked with in our Pre-GED and GED prep classes over the past school year: * 100% were able to start classes immediately and none were placed on a waiting list * 62 passed their GED exam * A record 60% of these GED graduates will be enrolled in post-secondary education this September, more than double the national average of 25% Of those students we worked with in our Youth-to-College and adult College Prep programs over the past school year: * 45 students enrolled in post-secondary education * 75% of our students who enrolled in college in September 2011 completed two semesters by June 2012.
Leadership
Mr Don L Sands
Term:
Since
Jan
2000
Profile:
27 years of experience in adult education17 years of experience in administrationCo-founder of X-Cel, Inc. Adult Education13 years as executive director of X-Cel, Inc. Adult Education
Leadership Statement:
Two major concepts drive the innovative work we do at X-Cel. The first is based on an old English proverb: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. X-Cel educates students - we teach them how to fish. The second is to identify obstacles within the current education system that hinder out-of-school youth and adults, and to find innovative ways to eliminate those barriers. These concepts have led us to our current program model, which is unique among Boston-area education programs. Unique features include: no waiting lists, rolling admissions so interested students can enter our program immediately, individualized and customized instruction so our students get exactly what they need to advance quickly, collaborations with partner non-profit organizations, and a large pool of dedicated volunteer instructors so that every dollar donated to X-Cel goes much further and serves many more students than in traditional adult education programs. Every week roughly a dozen new students walk through our doors without a high school credential; they are able to begin their path to educational success that same day. With a customized educational plan they begin preparing to pass the GED exam. However we don't stop working with them once they pass the GED exam. We work with each student to develop an educational plan to take them beyond the GED. We provide college prep classes as well as academic and personal support once they enroll in college so that they will succeed in their post-secondary studies. We work to ensure that each student is on track to receive the education and training to enter a career that pays a living wage and offers opportunities for advancement. Not only does the individual student benefit, but, as research indicates, the student's children will now have more educational and career opportunities. We have a ways to go, but we envision the day in Boston when, instead of remaining on a waiting list for months, every out-of-school youth and adult will be able to study for their GED exam and prepare for post-secondary education without delay.
Highest Paid Employees & Their Compensation
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Program:
X-Cel ABE/Pre-GED Classes
- Budget:
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$60,000
- Category:
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Education, General/Other
- Population Served:
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Adults
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Poor/Economically Disadvantaged, Indigent, General
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Offenders/Ex-offenders
Program Description:
X-Cel offers free ABE/Pre-GED classes at four locations in Dorchester, Roxbury, Mission Hill and Chinatown. Our policy for all classes is to have no waiting lists and to accept students on a rolling admissions basis, so that students can begin classes immediately. These classes serve adult who have reading levels between 3rd grade and 6th grade. Students' grade levels are assessed upon intake and then every four months, using the TABE, a nationally recognized assessment of adult academic skills. Classes are taught in small groups and cover basic reading, writing and math skills. Some classes focus on reading and writing skills only, to allow more time rapidly increase students' reading skills. The goals of these are classes are to raise students' grade levels to a minimum of 6.0 so they can advance to GED Prep level classes as well as help them develop academic skills for everyday life so that they can help their children with homework and handle tasks such as reading instructions at work or writing a letter to their children's teacher, landlord, etc.
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Program:
X-Cel GED Prep Classes
- Budget:
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$60,000
- Category:
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Education, General/Other
- Population Served:
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Adults
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Poor/Economically Disadvantaged, Indigent, General
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Offenders/Ex-offenders
Program Description:
X-Cel offers free GED Prep classes at four locations in Dorchester, Roxbury and Mission Hill. All classes have no waiting lists and a rolling admissions policy, so that students can begin classes immediately. These classes serve out-of-school youth age 18 and older and adults who have reading levels at 6th grade and above. Students' grade levels are assessed upon intake and every four months using the TABE, a nationally recognized assessment of adult academic skills. Reading, Writing, Social Studies and Science classes are taught in small groups and Math is taught individually, as experience has taught us that students come to us with a wide variety of backgrounds in math skills and they learn math concepts at very different paces. Instruction is individually customized so students can focus on the one or two subject areas they need to pass the GED (high school equivalency) exam. The goal for these classes is to raise students' grade levels so that they will be able to pass the GED exam. As part of these classes, each high-level GED Prep student meets with an X-Cel staff member to create an individualized education plan, to discuss, set, and prepare for educational goals beyond the GED.
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Program:
College Prep Classes
- Budget:
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$120,000
- Category:
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Education, General/Other
- Population Served:
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Adults
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Poor/Economically Disadvantaged, Indigent, General
-
Offenders/Ex-offenders
Program Description:
X-Cel provides free college prep classes to our GED graduates and out-of-school youth and adults with a high school diploma or GED because in today's economy a high school diploma alone will not make much difference in a student's ability to secure a job paying a living wage and offering opportunities for advancement. Over the past couple years the unemployment rate for adults with a post-secondary degree has been half the unemployment rate of adults without a high school credential. X-Cel offers college prep classes at three locations in Roxbury, Mission Hill and downtown Boston. All classes have no waiting lists and a rolling admissions policy so that students can begin classes immediately. These classes serve adults who have a high school diploma or GED and want to begin college for the first time or return to college after dropping out. Our college prep classes cover pre-college reading, writing, math and computer skills. The goals are to assist the students to develop the study skills and life skills necessary to succeed in college, give students experience doing college-level work, and to increase students' academic levels so they will perform better on the college entrance exams, avoid remedial classes an place into credit-bearing classes. Students work with a counselor to complete a financial aid application, select the best college and program of study for them, complete and submit their college application, and register for their college classes. As part of X-Cel's Youth-to-College Initiative, X-Cel staff members have office space on the campus of Bunker Hill Community College. X-Cel instructors and counselors track students' attendance and performance and provide support to ensure post-secondary success. Our goal is not only college access, but completion of a post-secondary credential for each of X-Cel's college students.
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Evidence of Impact
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