MEMPHIS, Tenn. — While Shelby County children do not have to go back to school for another few weeks, hundreds of adult learners have already hit the books.
Free classes began at Goodwill’s Excel Center on Norris Road Monday.
WREG met parent Nicole Hayslett who registered for classes at Excel Center.
She said she aimed to “get my high school diploma and further my education, so I can go to college and get a better job.”
She said she wanted to set an example for her young son.
Hayslett said back when she originally attended high school, she skipped classes.
Now, she wanted to get her diploma and become an EMT.
Excel Center organizers said it was the first adult charter school in Tennessee.
School Director Eric Cooper said there was a definite need in Memphis.
He said about 120,000 adults here did not have high school diplomas, and each year about 7200 more drop out.
“Which means our pool is growing faster and faster. Well, we feel that this is the option that can maybe help decrease those numbers,” Cooper said.
Cooper said their funding came from the state, the same way a K-12 education would be funded.
Classes at Excel Center were free for adults 18 and over.
WREG was told more than 360 students have undergone orientation.
Excel Center had a child care facility on site and offeeds bus passes for students who need transportation.
Hayslett said she only had a few credits left and she hoped to have her diploma in hand next summer.
The program began in Indianapolis in 2010.
Cooper said demographics in Indianapolis were very similar to Memphis.
