Kent ISD — Grand Rapids resident Jawanda Hodges knows if she wants to move forward in her medical career, she needs to get her general educational development diploma, better known as the GED.
She has been working to do that since 2021, but has run into some challenges such as health and, at times, transportation. However, Kent ISD’s expansion this school year of its Adult Education program to Grand Rapids Community College has made it easier for Hodges to reach her goal.
“It is now only eight minutes from my house,” Hodges said. “I am able to drop my daughter off at (Grand Rapids) University Prep (Academy) and then come here. It’s very convenient.”
Convenience was just one of the reasons the decision was made to move the Grand Rapids adult education site from its former location at GRPS’ Beckwith School to GRCC’s Sneden Hall, 415 E. Fulton St., said Shanna Hogan, a community outreach coordinator for Kent ISD Adult Education. The program at GRCC offers morning and evening GED and English-language learner classes.
“We felt that (GRCC) was more of a centralized location for those who live here in Grand Rapids,” Hogan said, noting the location is on The Rapid bus line and bus tickets are available for students who need assistance with transportation. “Also, by being at GRCC, it gives our students the opportunity to explore other opportunities and consider their next steps.”
Centralized Location Offers More Opportunities
Having a central location allows Kent ISD Adult Education to increase its capacity in the downtown area, Hogan said, adding they have seen an increased demand for its programs.
For the 2023-2024 school year, the program enrolled 1,700 students at its locations in Grand Rapids and Wyoming. It offers GED and ELL classes along with career training. Hogan said about 60% of the students are in ELL programs and 40% are working toward earning a GED.
“We try really hard to make attending school with us as easy as possible because we know our adult students have jobs, families and other responsibilities, but that they also want to improve their lives through returning to school to improve their English or get their GED,” she said.
The flexibility of being able to come in the morning, plus the Grand Rapids location being only a few blocks from her home, is what attracted Grand Rapids resident Roxana Coevas to the adult education program. Originally from Nicaragua, Coevas said she was looking for a program to help improve her English skills.
“I clean and I have to be able to communicate with people about their cleaning needs,” Coevas said.
While Coevas and Hodges are focused on their current classes, both have also taken a look at what GRCC offers, which ranges from job and workforce development to two-year degrees in several areas such as business and medical.
Third Location in Kentwood Opening Soon
Kent ISD Adult Education also will be opening a third location this fall at Kentwood’s Crossroads Alternative High School, 28 60th St. SE. This location will only offer evening classes.
“We have been in Wyoming (at 3600 Byron Center Ave. SW) for a number of years and we were seeing a high number of Kentwood residents coming to that location,” Hogan said.
Kentwood has a high immigrant population, Hogan noted, and Kentwood Public Schools has been recognized for its diversity with more than 80 different languages spoken at the high school.
“Kentwood Public Schools exists to serve our community,” Kentwood Superintendent Kevin Polston said in a press release. “We see this collaboration with community partners to provide GED and ESL classes at Crossroads as a great learning opportunity for adults in our community and are pleased to be part of this effort.”
Students who participate in any of the Kent ISD Adult Education programs at all three sites are also eligible to take technical training courses and receive credentials for careers such as phlebotomy, construction, auto maintenance, medical interpretation and school paraprofessional, Hogan said.
In addition to the new GRCC and Kentwood locations, ELL and GED courses and testing are available at the Wyoming location in morning, afternoon and evening classes. All Kent ISD Adult Education programs are free. Enrollment is open now for adults age 18 and older.
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