Tuition-free charter school for adults opens in August

Mar. 13—A new, tuition-free charter school for adult learners will open in Terre Haute in August, providing those 18 and older the opportunity to earn a Core 40 high school diploma and industry certifications.

Called the Excel Center of West Central Indiana, it falls under the umbrella of Wabash Valley Goodwill, but a separate nonprofit entity called Goodwill Workforce Enterprises governs and runs the public charter school.

The Excel Center is state funded, based on enrollment, and it was granted a seven-year charter by the Indiana Charter Schools Board in December 2023.

"It is such a strong model with high success metrics," said Meredith Osburn, president and CEO of Goodwill. Excel Centers exist in other Indiana communities.

It also will provide wrap-around services including transportation, childcare, and life coaching for its students, with a goal of removing barriers to education. Those services will be free to the students.

West Central Indiana has more than 26,000 adults who lack a high school diploma, including 10,000 in Vigo County, Osburn said. The program will open employment opportunities and help break the cycle of generational poverty, proponents say.

Legislative action in 2023 granted the Excel Center of West Central Indiana 300 seats for students, with a goal of enrolling 150 students in its first year.

The local Excel Center is working on a location and is in the process of recruiting faculty and staff. It launched its website Wednesday which can be found at https://www.excelcenterwci.org/

Kristin Craig chairs the Goodwill Workforce Enterprises board of directors. She also is executive director of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce.

"We've been very excited about the Excel Center from a workforce perspective," Craig said. "It is a program that allows individuals who don't have a high school diploma ... to go back and receive an actual high school diploma."

Craig, Osburn and others have toured other Excel Centers in Indiana. "They have incredible ties with companies in the community" that are looking to hire workers or promote from within, Craig said. "It's a big workforce driver."

The Excel Center will help address educational inequities and workforce development challenges, according to a news release.

The program is forging ties with companies, higher education and other workforce development entities, Osburn said. Students will be able to earn dual credit as well as certifications, and some may choose to pursue further education after they graduate.

The Excel Center is open to those 18 and older who don't have a high school diploma, she said. Those with a GED or high school equivalency certificate also can enroll.

The first Excel Center opened in 2010 with one site in Indianapolis and has grown to several sites throughout Indiana. Data shows that 70% of graduates are employed within six months and see a significant increase in earnings, according to an Excel Center news release.

A free drop-in center for children eases childcare barriers, while partnerships with transportation providers ensure access for all students.

Each student is assigned a life coach who addresses barriers to success, ranging from basic needs assistance to mental health support.

Students will receive credit for courses they have already earned in high school, and they will take tests to determine where they are at and what subjects they must still take.

When the Excel Center is at capacity with 300 students, it is expected to have a staff of 24 including about eight to 10 teachers, four life coaches, drop-in center staff and others, Osburn said.

The Excel Center is a public school and follows the Open Door Law, she said. It reports to the Indiana Charter School Board and is subject to audit by the State Board of Accounts.

So far, nearly 20 students have shown interest in attending the Excel Center, Osburn said. Launching the charter school "is so exciting and hopeful for our community."

Carl Conwell, executive director of the Excel Center of West Central Indiana, has a background in education and was formerly an assistant principal and teacher at Gibault's Holy Cross School.

"This is an opportunity for me to continue to help under-served populations," he said. He emphasizes the wraparound services that will help remove barriers so students can succeed.

In addition to the website, those interested can also contact Conwell at cconwell@wvgoodwill.org or call 812-235-1827.

Student applications will be available soon.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com. Follow Sue on X at @TribStarSue.