Returning to school can be a pivotal step in an adult learner’s educational and career journey. Education and workforce training provide the skills, professionalism, and credentials needed to progress in one’s life. However, if adults are facing personal obstacles or systemic barriers, returning to school might be the last thing on their mind. Why add another hurdle to their life?
It doesn’t have to be that way. Aside from offering FREE high school and workforce pathways (i.e., healthcare and information technology), Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School’s (AoH) Student Success and Academic Engagement Team Team helps mitigate challenges to ensure learners stay focused on school and building a better future. Both AoH campuses have a specialist for the daytime and evening school hours responsible for offering guidance and resources to learners in need.
Student Success and Academic Engagement Specialists:
- Ward 5, Daytime: Shatyra Henry, shatrya@aohdc.org
- Ward 8, Daytime: Porsha James, porsha@aohdc.org
- Ward 5, Evening: Coretta Edwards, coretta@aohdc.org
- Ward 8, Evening: Nathaniel Swinson, nathaniel@aohdc.org
Need is individualized. To best serve each learner, learners are instructed to complete the Self Sufficiency Survey at the beginning and end of each semester. The survey asks if a learner’s needs, such as housing, food, and employment, are being met. Learners respond on a 1-3 scale, No. 1 meaning a learner is in crisis pertaining to that need category.
If a learner is in crisis, their designated specialist will send them a list of curated resources biweekly. Those not on the list, but need resources, can contact their SST Specialist for a personalized list.
Resources can include the contacts to:
- Employment offices (i.e. Department of Employment Services DC (DOES))
- Housing/shelters (i.e. DC Housing Authority)
- Food assistance (i.e. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP))
- Counseling services
- And other wraparound services
These resources can be to private, non profit (i.e. Martha’s Table), or government programs and organizations (i.e. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)). Most local and federal government programs require an application to receive aid. Learners interested in applying to any of these programs can receive application help from their specialist.
AoH is also dedicated to advocating for the wraparound services you need. As a part of the Roundtable for Education and Adult Charter High Schools (REACH), a coalition of nine adult-serving public charter schools in Washington, DC, we deliver advocacy priorities to ensure adult learners can stay on track towards economic mobility.
Most recently, AoH under REACH successfully helped increase the Adult Learner Transit Subsidy (ALTS) to $100 a month. Thanks to the testimonies of AoH learners and staff, and other REACH participants, local officials understood the impact of the ALTS and the importance of raising the monthly subsidy to meet rising transportation costs that could prevent attendance and persistence at school.
By combining in-house support with external advocacy, AoH recognizes that adult education extends beyond high-quality instruction. We are committed to supporting adult learners so they remain motivated, focused, and able to succeed both in and out of the classroom.