AES LiteracyEducation That Leads to Opportunity.
AES Literacy Institute prepares youth and adults for entrepreneurship, business readiness, and their next step through practical, credential-aligned learning.
Our Flagship: Entrepreneurship & Small Business (ESB)
One focused credential pathway, with age-appropriate learning for youth and adults. Develop foundational business knowledge, put it to work through the ESB Readiness Lab, and prepare for the certification exam. The credential is earned by passing the exam.
One Credential. Two Pathways. Your Next Opportunity.
Youth ESB
Explore business and career possibilities through guided learning, practical activities, and supported exam preparation. Build confidence, communication, and a plan for what comes next.
Adult ESB
Strengthen the business knowledge behind your next move. Prepare for entrepreneurship, business formalization, or career advancement through structured learning and exam readiness support.
Learn IT. Apply IT. Build on IT.
Inside the ESB Readiness Lab
Work through Real Business Decisions: Customers, Pricing, Marketing, Operations, and Financial Foundations. Guided Practice Connects What You Learn to the Situations You Will Face in Work and Business.
How IT Works
Connect
Choose Youth or Adult ESB and share your goals. AES confirms the available cohort, eligibility, and next steps.
Prepare
Complete structured coursework, applied learning, and practice activities with support.
Test
Take the ESB certification exam when ready. Passing the exam is required to earn the credential.
Advance
Use what you have learned to plan a business, pursue career growth, or continue your education.
Entrepreneurship & Small Business Pathways
Participants develop foundational knowledge in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and business concepts that support informed decision-making.
Pathways are aligned to support credential readiness for individuals interested in validating their business knowledge and skills.
Learners engage in practical exercises and guided activities that connect concepts to real-world business and career contexts.
Outcomes We Track
Participation matters. So does what happens next. AES will track completion, exam participation, credentials earned, skill growth, and post-program next steps. These are measures of the ESB pathway, not published results from a completed cohort.
Program Completion
Participants who complete the ESB readiness pathway.
ESB Exam Participation
Participants who take the ESB certification exam.
Credential Attainment
Participants who earn an industry-recognized ESB credential.
Business/Career Readiness
Participants who demonstrate business and workforce readiness skills.
Post-Program Next Steps
Participants who move into education, employment, or business pathways.
About AES Literacy Institute
Founded in 2019 by Jermaine and ShaKimberly Cooper, AES Literacy Institute has built a legacy in GED preparation, college access, and career guidance.
By October 2025, AES reported 231 GED graduates and 116 college or trade-school transitions. Today, that foundation powers our flagship ESB pathways for youth and adults.
Creativity with a Record of Impact.
Named United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’s 2022 Social Innovator of the Year, AES also received the Innovation and Presentation awards at The Pitch. We bring that same inventive, practical approach to our ESB relaunch.
Your Next Chapter Starts with a Conversation.
Find the pathway that fits your goals, or help bring ESB learning to your school, organization, or community.