The Career Advancement Charter (CAC) is an Independent Study program for adult learners to earn their high school diploma while gaining academic and technical skills that will lead to college and career readiness.
Outreach Successes
The CAC team has been actively conducting outreach in the community to connect adult learners to services in the CAC and CALS departments. In August, our transition specialists conducted outreach at the Cabrillo College Fall Registration Fairs in collaboration with GOAL–Santa Cruz County’s Adult Learning Consortia. Later in the month, in partnership with the Community Action Board, the CAC participated in the Reiter Berry Farms Resource Fair to bring essential information on resources and educational opportunities to our farm workers.
ESL Evening Classes
We are excited to continue to offer English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to CAC students and community members. ESL classes are offered every Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Sequoia Schools. The advanced level ESL class takes place every Wednesday, and the beginning level ESL class every Thursday. Upon enrollment, students will take an evaluation for placement into a level.
Plazas Comunitarias
The CAC is proud to continue to partner with Watsonville Public Library (WPL), INEA (Instituto Nacional para la Educación de los Adultos), and the Mexican consulate to offer free basic skills education classes in Spanish. This Spanish literacy program is known as Plaza Comunitaria. Plaza Comunitaria classes aim to help adult learners who have immigrated from a Spanish-speaking country finish or begin their elementary or secondary education in Spanish. In addition, interested students develop the skills necessary to pass high school equivalency exams (GED) in Spanish or to enroll in the CAC as a high school student to earn a high school diploma.
Classes are offered at Sequoia Schools in Freedom every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Classes are also offered at the Watsonville Public Library (main branch) every Monday and Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more information or to enroll call 831-750-5053 or 831-768-3410.
PSC (North and South County)
The CAC program partners with the Probation and Corrections of Santa Cruz County to support those taking steps to fulfill their high school education. The Probation Success Center or PSC are places where high school teachers offer math, computer literacy, and English classes along with 1-1 tutoring for students to prepare for high school equivalency exams. Students can choose either path for achievement and receive credits towards their high school diploma as they study. The Independent Study program is an integral part since most clients are also using the PSC for other resources such as job search, counseling, parenting courses and more.
Adult Learning Enrichment Opportunities
All students enrolled in the CAC have the opportunity to participate in a variety of evening courses, ranging from culinary arts, to hands-on math tutoring, to ESL support classes. CAC students also have the option to pursue Dual Enrollment or non-credit career education classes at Cabrillo College. Additionally, we are pleased to share that we continue to offer work-readiness and job skills certification opportunities to our students through Certiport.