Two Area Agencies Offer New Diploma Completion Program

The Concho Valley Workforce Development Board has partnered with Graduation Alliance to offer an online diploma completion program, said a press release Tuesday. The program will also offer workforce training and help put dropouts on a path to success.

The program will help young adult dropouts in the rural Texas area with education and training to help them qualify for living-wage jobs. Participants will receive laptops and will engage in online courses, which they will complete at their own pace, to earn a fully accredited high school diploma.

Mike Buck, executive director of the Concho Valley Workforce Development Board, stated, "Engaging out-of-school youth and encouraging them to continue their education is a big challenge for us. Our partnership with Graduation Alliance will allow us to meet this challenge by giving us a successful method to reach young adults and a more flexible way for them to learn important skills, coupled with the kind of support we know is critical for success. This service will be a great complement to the existing job training and placement services we provide, and we're excited about the possibilities that it offers."

Graduation Alliance's Workforce Diploma program targets working-age adults who left high school before graduating. The program is fully portable and flexible, and those who complete the program will have the opportunity to explore other higher education options.

Rebekah Richards, chief academic officer and co-founder of Graduation Alliance, said, "Young adults with a high school diploma are much better positioned for success in life. High school diplomas provide a gateway to higher paying jobs that offer lifelong careers, enabling diploma holders to break the cycle of poverty that historically has plagued dropouts. Our Workforce Diploma program provides an opportunity for a fresh start."

According to the press release, Concho Valley's partnership with Graduation Alliance is also timely. A new law requires workforce investments boards to spend 75 percent of their funding for youth-related services on out-of-school youth, defined as ages 16 through 24.

The program will include over 200 online courses, 24/7 academic support from highly qualified teachers, personal tutors and career transition counselors. The program is now available to Concho Valley residents at http://www.cvworkforce.org.

For more information, the Concho Valley Workforce Solutions Center can also be reached at 325-653-2321, ext. 1274.

To learn more about Graduation Alliance's Workforce Diploma Program, including its average return on investment, visit http://www.graduationalliance.com/w…