Tribal Empowerment program will offer high school completion to build tribal members’ ability to reach educational goals and succeed in the up-and-coming workforce.
El Paso, TX, December 19, 2017 — Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, a federally recognized Native American tribe and sovereign nation, has announced that they will offer Career Online High School to tribal members through their Tribal Empowerment Department. The program will be provided free of charge in an effort to enable members to earn an accredited high school diploma and improve their immediate and long-term employment outlook.
Located in El Paso, Texas, the Department of Tribal Empowerment is partnered with the Department of Economic Development’s Native Pathways Program funded by the Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovations and Opportunities Act (WIOA), and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo education program, which is funded by various sources, such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The Department of Tribal Empowerment addresses the education and employment development needs of the tribal community, where more than 20% of adults do not have a high school diploma. Its overarching intent is to provide individuals the opportunity to improve their professional lives and further their education, resulting in a positive ripple effect for tribal families and the community.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Career Online High School to provide an accessible program for our community members seeking a high school education that seamlessly transitions into a career training program,” said MarySue Femath, Assistant Director of the Tribal Empowerment Department.
Career Online High School, offered by Cengage Learning, is part of Smart Horizons Career Online Education (SHCOE), the nation’s first accredited online school district. The program provides competency-based, workforce-aligned high school education for the millions of adults in the U.S. without high school diplomas. The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo program offered through the Departments of Tribal Empowerment and Economic Development will include both in-person and online support, as well as access to onsite computers.
In addition to a high school diploma, tribal members will earn a workforce training certificate in areas such as Retail Customer Service, Protection Officer, Commercial Driving, Child Care, Food and Hospitality, and Office Management.
“We are pleased to be partnering with Ysleta del Sur Pueblo to make a positive impact in this community,” said Dr. Howard Liebman, SHCOE Superintendent of Schools. “Earning a high school diploma builds a critical pathway to brighter futures, opening doors to employment opportunities or further educational attainment.”