Thanks to a $ 1.5 million, 5-year grant from the Federal Department of Education, Palo Alto, along with Our Lady of the Lake University and Texas A&M-Kingsville, hopes to change those statistics by offering General Education Degrees and career planning services to high school migrant students.
“It’s a valuable service to the community, especially to the migrant community that doesn’t get an opportunity to take a program and get the additional support services that Palo Alto offers,” said Irene Zamora-Dennis, Palo Alto’s High School Equivalency Program director.
The program that will
begin this summer will select 125 students from seven school districts,
including South San Antonio, Edgewood and Harlandale, to participate in
the year-long GED curriculum. Along with the GED curriculum, the program
will also emphasize goal setting and academic testing.
“For many of
these students, college is a far away concept, but we hope that through
this program more of our migrant students not only graduate from high
school but go on to college,” said Ed Suarez, South San Antonio Independent
School District spokesperson.
The tuition-free GED program will offer day and evening classes. Dennis
said the program begins with a one-week “student success” orientation
to prepare students for the intensive study toward their GED. After graduating
with their GED, the program offers students options on how to best use
their newly acquired diploma. College recruiters and financial aid information
will be made available.
“What’s going to be the key to seeing if these students go on
to college is offering what they need as far as specific tutoring, day
care facilities and financial aid services,” said Dennis.