Three new adult education options are set to expand this summer, filling the gap left by the closure of Union’s Adult Learning Center.
Union will close its adult education program June 30 after providing free classes to around 1,200 adult students annually, citing budget woes. But families learning English as a second language or pursuing their high school equivalency won’t be left without alternatives, according to Oklahoma’s career education agency.
Union’s center was largely supported by grant funding from the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (CareerTech). Now, CareerTech money for similar services will go to YWCA Tulsa, Family & Children’s Services and Central Tech.
“They recognized that we needed to serve the many, many ESL students in the Tulsa community,” said Carlie Sturgeon, senior program director at YWCA. “We appreciate all their support.”
On July 1, funds will begin flowing to expand these programs in Tulsa County:
- YWCA Tulsa, ESL education
- Family & Children’s Services, high school equivalency classes on the northern and eastern side of Tulsa County
- Central Tech, high school equivalency classes on the southern and western side of Tulsa County
Once it became clear in February that Union hadn’t applied for grant funding to support the center, CareerTech began a months-long committee selection process for other recipients, according to Stephanie Coca, the agency’s director of adult education.
“It wasn’t ever that we weren’t going to service those students from Union,” Coca said. “We were waiting to see who was going to service those students.”
Coca is confident the new, expanded trio of programs will be able to accommodate Tulsa’s needs — while reducing waitlists, which were in the hundreds at Union’s center.
“There really shouldn’t be a waitlist,” Coca said. “It’s really hard to wait when you’re trying to better your life or the outcomes for your family and we understand that.”
CareerTech may expand class offerings if demand necessitates it, Coca said, or connect students with educators across the state through online courses.
“The faster we can get them in, to finish their program, to either start it, continue it or take their final test — we’re gonna help them,” Coca said. “We’ll find a way.”
When will new programs start?
Summer rollout will depend on each program.
Family & Children’s Services, for example, has already hosted high school equivalency support through its Women in Recovery Program but won’t be able to hire new teachers and expand until it receives funds July 1. Open houses will be announced shortly after, Coca said.
“We’re sure that they’ll be able to accommodate whatever Tulsa, Union could bring them,” Coca said. “It’s just getting the word out.”
Family & Children’s Services is not ready to comment on its expanded offerings but is “excited to share more soon,” said Lani Burns, who directs Women in Recovery’s employment and education programs.
YWCA will offer ESL classes twice a week for two hours a day over a 16-week semester. The organization is already serving around 150 adult English learners each semester — a number they hope to double next year.
“Even if we exceed that goal, we are ready for it,” Sturgeon said.
YWCA is looking for more ESL teachers, encouraging especially those who taught at Union’s center to come by upcoming tours or open houses. The teaching experience will be a little different at a nonprofit with a mission to eliminate racism and empower women, Sturgeon said.
“We just wanna help people understand who we are and what it means to join our organization,” she said. “We want great teachers and we want teachers who believe in our mission.”
YWCA is hosting two ESL open houses next month, both from 9 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. The first is set for July 13 at the East Community Center, 8145 E. 17th St. The other is set for July 14 at the Southern Ridge Center, 6506 S. Lewis Ave.
“We just wanted to have an opportunity for a warm handoff,” Sturgeon said. “We wanted to put a face on our program and give everyone a chance to ask questions, get to know our staff and just feel comfortable making the change.”
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