Founded in 1994 by the Community School, Passages is a home-based high school degree program for young parents, age 14 to 20, who live in Knox, Lincoln, Waldo, Washington, Cumberland, Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Counties and whose education was derailed by early parenthood.
Our teachers and students together create trusting, supportive and resilient relationships. They meet weekly in the student’s home and via the phone and Internet. Self-directed learning, undertaken within the teacher/student relationship, can provide a young parent with the opportunity to flourish as a responsible citizen and as his or her child’s first teacher.
The students study a combination of academic, parenting and life skills. Through creating personal relevant lesson plans students put their learning to their own real-life tests and in the process “discover their strengths, connect with their families, practice personal responsibility, and contribute to their communities.”
The final “Passage” is an opportunity for students to design an individual project that addresses a particular passion, fear or need in their life. They assemble a committee of staff, students and community members to support them throughout their process.
To graduate, students are required to:
