2 Local Institutions Offer Aid To School Dropouts

On Nov. 26, Action, Please! published a letter from a local mother asking for information Ion local agencies which help school dropouts. Two institutíons - Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County and Washtenaw Community College - have informed The News they provide such services. The Mothers' Group and Teenage Group, composed of local mothers and teens, are two groups which meet weekly with a caseworker and consulting psy- chologist at the Catholic Services office, 117 N. División, Arm Arbor. Both groups discuss a range of problems, including school dropouts and potential dropouts. The agency also provides counseling for dropouts and theirl parents. I The Mothers' Group meets I weekly at noon on Wednesdays, [while the teen-agers meet at 4 [p.m. Tuesdays. I For further information, cali :atholic Social Services at 6621534. Washtenaw Community College works cooperatively with 2ounty high schools in assisting their dropout students to finish high-school requirements by taking designated courses at WCC. rhe student's high school then accepts the credit earned at the college toward the completion of the high school's requirements, thus allowing the student lo gradúate frotn his high school. Washtenaw Community College also has a policy of admitting a student who is not a highschool gradúate if he is "18 years of age or older and can profít from instructional programs for which he has the proper background, experience and capability." Dropouts might also be interested in the high-school completion program offered by the Continuing Education Department of the Ann Arbor Public Schools. Persons who have completed the eighth grade but have not been graduated from the 12th grade may take courses up to a maximum of four nights per week at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School. There is no charge for any of the courses, as they are reimbursed by the federal government. This fall, 185 people ranging in age from 18 to 60 are takling the high-school completion I courses.