At present, over 70% of employers want to hire people with good writing abilities, and it has been estimated that by 2020, 70% of occupations will require math skills to be successful. At the same time, writing and math are the two most challenging areas for GED test takers, showing the weakest pass rates. Even those who pass the test often struggle when they move into postsecondary or work environments. The goal of the Teacher Excellence in Adult Literacy (TEAL) project was to provide resources and training to help instructors teach writing and math more effectively.

Improving the quality of instruction is not just about sharing evidence-based practices. Teachers need training to guide them in supporting student learning so learners are prepared to enter post-secondary education and the workforce. The TEAL project developed materials to increase the knowledge, skills, and abilities of instructors, administrators, and other adult education staff for adult learners with diverse backgrounds and needs. There were two iterations of this project, one that focused on writing instruction and another on math instruction. Eight courses were produced as well as 12 fact sheets. Professional development was provided to 12 states and a training of trainers model was developed.