Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

6/17/08
Story by Peggy Graham

At 25 years, Project Finish Changes Name

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – For 25 years, Project Finish has given people a second chance at education. Sponsored by Johnson County Community College and Johnson County Library, Project Finish has helped adult students improve reading, writing and math skills; learn English as a second language; and prepare for the GED test.

But as of July 1, Project Finish has a new name – Johnson County Adult Education.
 
“The new name better reflects our mission,” said Susan McCabe, program director, Johnson County Adult Education. “Passing the GED test, which results in a Kansas high school diploma, is the ‘beginning’ not the ‘finish’ of an education.”

The new name is also a better umbrella term for the program which, after a quarter century, now includes Adult Basic Education; English as a second language; GED test preparation; citizenship classes; Migrant Even Start, a program designed to improve the literacy of migrant families by integrating early childhood education, adult literacy, and parenting education into a unified family literacy program; and the Olathe Family Resource Center, a comprehensive program that offers educational, vocational and case management services to families who live in the Olathe School District.

In August, the Johnson County Adult Education Program will add two new classes – Connections, a class for ESL learners before they begin Adult Basic Education classes, and Transitions, English and algebra classes for Adult Basic Education students who want to transition to college.

In 2007-2008, Project Finish served 2,300 students, a 5 percent increase over the previous year. Of those 2,300 students, 75 percent improved their reading, math or listening skills on national, standardized tests. In the same year, 175 volunteer tutors gave 10,000 hours to work one-on-one with students on assigned curriculum under the direction of professional instructors.

Johnson County Adult Education has eight  locations throughout the county  –– Antioch, Oak Park and Gardner libraries; JCCC’s Olathe Center; Olathe Family Resource Center; Center of Grace, Olathe; Briarwood Elementary School, Prairie Village; and its newest location at JCCC’s West Park Center, 8780 W. 87th St., which will have daytime and night classes beginning in August. With 10 classrooms, West Park will provide more ESL and GED classes.

“West Park will allow us to serve more people and reduce the wait-list for ESL classes,” McCabe said.

Project Finish opened its doors in March 1983, serving more than 40,000 students in the intervening years. Sporting a new name, the program will celebrate its 25th anniversary with events in 2008-2009. 

“Johnson County Adult Education is a life-changing program,” McCabe said. “It’s a springboard to further education and more life opportunities.”

For more information about Johnson County Adult Education, contact McCabe at 913-829-8742.