The San Lorenzo Adult School will hold in-person registration on Feb. 21-22 for free spring classes to learn English as a second language (ESL) and complete high school -- and also for affordable classes in fabric crafts and certification in computer networking.
School staff will be ready to help interested students 18 and older register for daytime and evening classes that start Feb. 26 or 27 and continue through May.
Upcoming in-person registration opportunities are 9-11 a.m. on Feb. 21 and 9-11 a.m. and 5-7 p.m. on Feb. 22 The school is located at 820 Bockman Road in San Lorenzo, just west of Hesperian Avenue. Students are not required to reside in the San Lorenzo Unified School District. They must have an email address.
Students registering for ESL and high school completion will be asked to schedule and complete a pretest for placement in courses that match their readiness level. More information about the adult school is available online at adu.slzusd.org or by calling 510-317-4200 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The school plans additional in-person registration dates in March, and online registration is continually available at https://slzadultschool.asapconnected.com/?org=4157.
Classes are offered throughout the fall, winter and spring, and students can begin at any point. The school’s largest programs are ESL and Adult Basic Education (ABE). In both of them, students can advance to different levels or classes based on periodic skills testing, said Principal Sharita Williams. Classes are taught in-person, but they include online learning opportunities.
How quickly individual students progress may depend on their family and work demands, prior studies or even their mastery of grammar in their native language, Williams said.
“It really is up to the student,” she said. “We meet people where they are.”
The adult school is a center for both learning and community, Williams said, with an emphasis on recognizing and honoring students’ diversity and life experiences.
“There’s definitely a community of learners here who are supporting each other through whatever they’re experiencing at that time,” she said.
The following types of free and low-cost classes are offered at the adult school:
FREE
English as a second language: Students learn to speak, read and write English for reasons that range from job and career advancement to everyday communication, including helping and advocating for their children. Elective classes are offered in citizenship, financial literacy, computer use and English conversation. Class options: 9 a.m.-12:40 p.m. Monday/Thursday, 9 a.m.-12:40 p.m. Tuesday/Friday and 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday/Thursday.
Adult Basic Education (ABE): These classes are taught in English. They cover basic skills in reading, math, science, history and also prepare students for high school equivalency testing (GED/HiSet). Classes are also appropriate for advanced ESL students.
High school diploma: English speakers (including advanced ESL students) can finish the credits they need to receive a high school diploma, building on any credits they have previously earned. This program is intended for students who are within 60 credits of graduation.
LOW-COST
Community education: The adult school offers free classes in knitting and crocheting, basic quilting and sewing and fashion design. These courses are for beginning to advanced students, and the cost is $95 per term.
Cisco computer networking certification: The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Series, which the adult school began offering this fall as an online-only program, is designed to help students prepare for a career in computer networking. Completion of a three-course series prepares students to take the Computer Networking and Information Technology Certification (CNIT) course, which covers such topics as computer hardware, network administration and network security. The certification qualifies students for employment in entry-level network administration and computer technical support positions. Courses in the CCNA Series are taught on Monday and cost $275. The CNIT course is taught on Wednesday and costs $215.