Editorial: Charter school’s goal is helping students

When most people discuss charter schools, they almost invariably are referring to programs for children from kindergarten through high school.

But when students pass a certain age, they nearly become invisible in terms of the educational establishment. There are limited resources to help them complete their educations. Certain schools and public libraries offer classes where older learners can work toward passing the GED exam, and a few schools offer classes for these students. But overall, there are relatively few opportunities.

Goodwill Education Initiatives is proposing just such an option. The organization is interested in establishing a charter school in Johnson County in the next three years that would give students who left high school another chance to earn their diplomas. The school would be an Excel center, which offers high school courses. It would be open to all local students but is targeted toward people who have dropped out of high school and want to return.

Excel’s courses are taught by licensed high school teachers, and the state-accredited program offers all of the core courses a student needs to graduate. The charter school also provides life coaches who work with students to deal with problems including transportation, housing and debt, Goodwill Education Initiatives chief operating officer Scott Bess said.

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