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Organization: College of the Canyons
Date: September 8, 2008
College of the Canyons and Sulphur Springs Union School District Join Forces to Offer Free English as a Second Language Classes
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — The local community can now take free, noncredit English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at convenient locations throughout the Saugus Union School District through a partnership with College of the Canyons.
Similar to the ESL partnerships created last February with the Even Start Family Literacy and the Community-Based English Tutoring (CBET) programs at the Newhall and Sulphur Springs school districts, respectively, the Saugus partnership aims to help non-native English speakers learn the language, which will enable them to help their school-age children.
"With funding from the CBET program, this gives us a great opportunity to partner with local school districts and reach out to students throughout the community," said Jennifer Brezina, interim dean of noncredit division and community extension at the college. "I'm particularly pleased that we were able to expand our offerings in Canyon Country and are now able to offer class locations in the North Valencia area."
The seven classes, with options spanning three different levels of competency, will be offered at the following elementary schools: Cedarcreek, Skyblue Mesa, Rio Vista, Bridgeport and Tesoro Del Valle.
"This partnership will allow more than 120 parents to take ESL classes at five local school sites," said Donna Smith, director of categorical programs for the Saugus School District. "Learning English will increase their access to their child's school environment and the adult educational community."
Instruction is free or subsidized by the CBET program for parents who agree to tutor children in English skills.
All three ESL partnerships provide students with books and free childcare.
"By working together, we're able to meet the needs of students in a way that none of us could if we were working alone," added Brezina.
For more information about the ESL noncredit classes, contact the college's community education program at (661) 362-3300.
