(posted on November 6, 2009)

Horry County Schools Adult Education has been awarded a $9,500 grant for a one-year Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program. Funded by the South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, the grant will provide programs and services to directly support Adult Education students ages 18-19 in reducing the number and frequency of teen pregnancies. The award will be presented to the Adult Education program on Monday, November 9 at the Myrtle Beach Family Learning Center located at 3101 Oak Street at 1 p.m.

The Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, or T3P, meets for one hour each week at three Adult Education Centers in Conway, Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. Each group of eight to 10 students, male and female, ages 18-19, receives health information, resources and instruction provided by Jessica Lowery, Teen Health Educator with Family Outreach of Horry County. Career & College Transition Specialist Tony Kroll and Adult Education Director Dr. Virginia G. Simmons coordinate the program.

The Horry County Schools Adult Education program offers daytime and evening classes at 11 different Learning Centers for residents age 17 or older who have officially withdrawn from school. Classes are held Monday through Friday and students may select from flexible time slots to accommodate their individual schedules. Registration and intake testing is $20, each high school course is $25, and the GED preparation course is $25.

Additional services for adult education students include Basic Skills classes; WorkKeys Career Readiness training for students interested in earning a portable skills credential; English as a Second Language classes; and College and Career Counseling. Educational childcare is available for children up to age five whose parents are participating in Adult Education programs. Childcare is free, however parents must participate in Parent & Child Together time and parenting classes.

For more information, call the Adult Education Office at 843-488-6200 or visit www.edtheturtle.com.