By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch A new program in the Bethel School District is giving high school dropouts a second chance to earn their diploma. The Bethel Acceleration Academy, paid for mostly by the state, has served more than 100 students since beginning last July in response to a requirement by the Legislature to open the door to former students who want to complete their high school educations. The academy (BAA) offers a traditional diploma and a career credential (the National Career Readiness Certificate). It also provides avenues for higher education and career and technical programs. Students complete their studies in a learning style and schedule that fits their lives, which often include jobs and parenting. The academy, located at 163rd Street and Pacific Avenue, is open 13 hours a day. Each student is given an Amazon Kindle to support their learning at the academy and for broadband Internet access at home. Since its launching July 28, BAA's largest enrollment has been 141 students. Their ages range from 16 to 21. Twenty-one is the maximum age for eligiblity. Lisa Bowman-Macklin, who helps run the academy, said the few 21-year-olds who enroll "don't stay long" for various reasons, including that they're eligible only if they reached that age after Sept. 1. "We have more male students than females," Bowman-Macklin said, partly because "males drop out of school more frequently and earlier than females." She noted they also run afoul of the law and "interface with the criminal justice system earlier than females." The state funds nearly all of the cost of the academy. There is no cost to the Bethel School District. The teachers come from Atlantic Education Partners, an organization that specializes in instruction and support services for students at risk of leaving high school diploma or who've already dropped out. Bethel and Federal Way are the only school disricts in the Puget Sound region that are working with Atlantic Education Partners. Education experts point out studies that show high school graduates have better jobs, earn more money, are less likely to ever be in jail and are more likely to become homeowners. According to American Education Partners, the students it serves are typically parents, need a smaller or more personalized school environment, are working full-time to support family members, and are caring for family members who are disabled or unable to work.
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