Passages at the Cobscook Community Learning Center (CCLC) is a home-based, self-paced, high school diploma program for pregnant and parenting teens in the Washington County area. For many, completing school within the public school setting after having a child is simply not possible. Passages at the CCLC offers a way for young parents to finish high school from home.

Planning for Passages at the CCLC began when a young woman approached the CCLC asking for just such a program. This led Executive Director Alan Furth to engage in a series of conversations with Community School co-founder Emanuel Pariser, and over time Passages at the CCLC was born. Passages at the CCLC is the first Passages program satellite site anywhere in Maine. Students receive a state-approved high school diploma from the Community School.

Passages uses a model of relational education that aims to make instruction as relevant as possible. Students benefit from ample flexibility and lessons that are built upon what is going on in their lives. They experience long-term, caring relationships with their teacher, who is instructor, guide, resource provider, and trusted ally.

Passages students work one-on-one with their teacher on coursework that focuses on twenty-four core skills involving parenting and life skills and academic subjects. Teen parents living in rural communities develop life skills in order to survive and raise their children. The Passages curriculum helps students build on those skills. The curriculum is also designed so that students may translate capabilities acquired in other schools, agencies and through life experience into academic credit.

As a group, Passages students meet regularly at the CCLC to participate in workshops that connect with the core skills, with reimbursements provided for child care and transportation. Students are also required to complete six hours of community service. Before graduation, each student designs and completes a final project called The Passage, an in-depth exploration of a particular passion, fear or need. Depending on a number of variables, students can complete the program in months or it may reasonably take several years.

Passages serves students between the ages of fourteen and twenty-two. The program is free to those who apply and are accepted. Funding comes from a portion of public school tuition, grant funding, and other sources. Passages is a year round program with no set semesters; openings occur as students graduate from or leave the program.

To apply, complete the online application, or print and mail it the Cobscook Community Learning Center. The Passages Teacher/Coordinator will contact you to schedule a home visit. New students complete an initial interview, math and reading assessments, and a set of challenges assigned by the Teacher/Coordinator.

For more information about the Passages program model and literature on relational education, visit The Community School. For questions about Passages at the CCLC, contact Charley Martin-Berry or call 207-733-2233.

Click here to apply to Passages