Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) in Kirkland has entered into a partnership with three other agencies to form the Eastside Reengagement Center (ERC).

Friends of Youth (FOY), King County Employment and Education Resources (EER) and Seattle Education Access (SEA) will work together to help disengaged youth and young adults in King County gain access to free high school equivalency preparation classes with individualized instruction. Participants also receive career counseling, employment services and college navigation.

“The classes create opportunities for one-on-one instruction at the Friends of Youth’s Kirkland and Redmond locations coupled with wraparound support services,” said Dr. Kim Infinger, who is the principal/dean of high school programs at the college. “It also presents a pathway for students to transition to LWTech’s High School Programs.”

To participate, individuals must be residents of King County,16-25 years old, and not currently enrolled in school. According to Dr. Kim Infinger, principal/dean of LWTech’s High School Programs, this supportive program can provide a second chance for young people who have dropped out of high school or have become disengaged in their education.

“We have sought better ways to engage youth in pursuing their educational goals for many years,” said Friends of Youth President and CEO Terry Pottmeyer. “We are very excited to embark on this new program with our partners, Lake Washington Institute of Technology and Seattle Education Access. Too often the young people we serve have not found the educational success they need through traditional education programs. The Eastside Reengagement Center is a place where they reconnect with education, in a more accessible and personal way.”

The classes prepare students to pass the General Educational Development (GED) exam and earn a GED diploma. The year-round program, taught by LWTech instructors, offers evening and morning classes at the FOY Kirkland and Redmond Youth Service Centers.

The ERC is part of the Open Doors Youth Reengagement program operating under House Bill 1418.

To sign up for free GED prep classes through ERC, contact Darlene Germino, education specialist at Friends of Youth at 425-614-6683 or Darleneg@friendsofyouth.org.