A new education facility - The Diploma and Learning Center - is now open at 404 Lincoln Street in Clay Center. Its primary goal is to help persons 18 years of age and older earn their high school diploma. The Center can also help those student currently nearing the completion of high school, but having a difficult time finishing credits.

"This is not a GED program," state Barbara Baldwin, Center coordinator. "There are businesses and some military organizations that will only accept a high school diploma. This program allows students to receive their diploma in order to qualify for certain jobs."

The Diploma and Learning Center is sponsored by Greenbush and the Clay County Community Schools. For a variety of reasons, young people may not be able to complete their high school education and graduate with their class. The Center and the local school are working together very closely to offer students an alternative to the regular classroom. At the Center, students will work to complete standard academic curriculum using computer-based course instruction and applications. Each student can advance at his or her own pace with teacher assistance when needed.

A motivated student can conceivably complete the coursework in much less time than in a traditional classroom. This is because the instruction is highly focused and the student can spend as much time on a given subject each day as they want. Upon completion of all necessary credits, a diploma is issued from the individual's sponsoring high school.

"This program does not replace the traditional school," Baldwin states. "However, if a person is 18 years or older and their class has already graduated, this may be the program they need. It doesn't matter how long ago they should have graduated, or whether it would have been at Clay Center. We can request a transcript and put them on track to finish what they started."

The Center will be open 9-9 Monday through Thursday and 9-6 on Friday to offer flexible hours for those who work. Class begin Sept. 4. Call 785-632-2529.