Program offers boost to dropouts

6/28/2012

A new collaboration among Owens Community College, Toledo Public Schools, and Gateway to College National Network is designed to help high school dropouts continue their education.

The program allows those between ages 16 and 20 who are high school dropouts or likely to drop out to complete their high school diploma requirements while also earning college credit. They will be dually enrolled at TPS and Owens until completion of a high school diploma.

During the first term, students take reading, writing, math, and college skills courses in small groups. They later take classes with the general Owens student population. They receive advising, mentors, and coaches.

The program is free, and students also receive books, lunch, and transportation to Owens' Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo. Students must live in the Toledo Public Schools district to be eligible.

Owens received a $325,000 start-up grant in 2011 for the program, which will serve up to 150 students during the next three years. Applications for the program must be submitted to the Owens Gateway to College Office by Aug. 3. Classes begin Aug. 20.

Owens is one of 35 colleges nationwide to participate in the program, and the only in Ohio. For more information on the program, call 567-661-7241, 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7241, or email at gateway@owens.edu.