Changing lives Through…
Education
Classes in English as Second Language
High School Equivalency Prep and citizenship classes
El Centro has offered English classes for adults for the last 47 years. Up until the pandemic shut down, thanks to a partnership with BOCES, we offered at El Centro Hispano’s Technology Center a daytime and evening ESL BOCES class for adults, a Citizenship class and an HSE (High School Equivalency) class in Spanish. However, during the first half of 2021, El Centro Hispano and BOCES worked together to continue providing the community these courses via online platforms.
Starting in September 2021, our courses were cautiously moved back to the classroom, open to only 12 fully vaccinated students at a time. Along with the limited in person sessions, BOCES also continued to offer the classes online. Last year, a total of 350 students were enrolled in person and virtual ESL, GED, and Citizenship classes.
Computer Classes for Adults and Seniors
From January to July 2021, El Centro offered 6 virtual computer classes: 3 Review and 3 Accounting Classes. As eligibility for vaccine access continued to expand, our administration was very excited to reopen the Technology Center for our adult students.
From July to December 2021, El Centro resumed 6 in-person computer classes:
2 Beginners, 2 Intermediate, 1 Advanced, and 1 Accounting class.
A total of 71 students completed the classes offered this year. Unfortunately, the prolonged COVID state did not allow us to honor our students with a special graduation ceremony as we have done in years past. We are incredibly proud of our students and of their accomplishments during these difficult times.