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Written by Staff Reports
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Thursday, 11 March 2010 20:00 |
There aren’t too many options for teens who quit high school. Some may study to take the GED exam, but for most, a high school diploma is forever out of reach. Students in the East Allen County School district, however, have another alternative.
The Crossing Educational Center in downtown New Haven is an accredited private school that has partnered with EACS to help students who have dropped out of traditional school earn a high school diploma. The Crossing has seven other sites in Indiana.
Coincidentally, it occupies rent-free space adjacent to The Crossing Community Church. The two entities are not affiliated.
According to site coordinator Luke Caldwell, the school opened in August 2009 after the program was approved by the school board, which provides funding for up to 25 students. While EACS provided referrals, Caldwell said, “We had to find the students ourselves. We literally knocked on doors.”
There are currently 21 students, who attend either a morning or an afternoon session.
“Ideally, we could have 25 students in each session, and we could add a third session if we needed it,” Caldwell said.
The school is accredited by the state of Indiana. Students can receive a diploma from either The Crossing or from their home district. Four students are on track to graduate in 2010, with two at the end of the third quarter and two at the end of the fourth quarter.
“Kids who have quit traditional school don’t understand how a diploma can benefit them,” Caldwell said. “But when students get close (to graduating), they can taste it, and they start to pick it up and you can see them seeing how this can affect them,” Caldwell said.
Students earn high school credit by completing coursework on-line. Students can stay in the program as long as they are involved and making progress, Caldwell said.
An important component of the faith-based curriculum at The Crossing is “family time,” a half hour that is set aside each day where the discussion turns to topics such as forgiveness, anger and jealousy. Discussion includes scripture readings and concludes with prayer requests.
“When a teen is going through life issues, the academic part is secondary,” Caldwell said.
“The Crossing has helped me a lot,” said Allison Turner, 17. “It’s a good place, especially if you’re struggling in high school. There’s no drama here.”
She is close to completing a class, and will be able to complete one more before her baby is born in May. She plans to come back to finish her final class after the birth.
“I’ll graduate earlier than I would have if I stayed in school,” Turner said. “I can get it done on my own time, not seven hours a day.”
Brandon Hale, 18, hated traditional high school classes, but likes The Crossing.
“The teachers let you be yourself,” he said. “They don’t force you to be something you aren’t.”
Hale has made up four credits in the last six months, is almost done with three more, and will need an additional three to graduate.
Attending the alternative school has made him more confident, he said.
“I have confidence in myself, in the way I carry myself,” he said. “It’s changed the way I feel towards me and towards other people.”
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