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Career Readiness Education Academy (CREA) is an academic and career readiness education program for older English learners in MCPS.  Students in CREA are provided with opportunities to prepare for the GED exam, learn valuable work skills, and earn industry certifications.  Students are referred to CREA if they are at least 18 years old and unlikely to meet all graduation requirements prior to turning 21 and if they are interested in pursuing an alternative pathway to a high school diploma via GED preparation.  

The CREA program is currently offered at both Seneca Valley High School and Thomas Edison High School of Technology as a full-day programs. The evening program is offered at Thomas Edison High School of Technology.  Day and evening program options provide flexibility for students to continue their education on a schedule that best meets their needs. All CREA students have the opportunity to continue their education in MCPS until they turn 21. Students who participate in either the day or evening program are considered full-time MCPS students.  

 

WHO IS ELIGIBILE TO PARTICIPATE IN CREA?

Students are eligible if they:

  • are residents of Montgomery County and enrolled in a MCPS high school
  • are 18 years old or older by the first day of the school year
  • are enrolled in an English language development program in MCPS
  • are unlikely to meet Maryland state graduation requirements by the end of the academic year in which the student turns 21, based on a completed graduation plan regarding the 4-year or 5-year cohort options
  • are interested in pursuing an alternative pathway to a high school diploma through General Education Diploma (GED) preparation. 

CREA FULL-DAY PROGRAM

Where: Seneca Valley High School* and Thomas Edison High School of Technology 

When:  regular school hours, Monday through Friday

Students are picked up from their home school and transported to either Seneca Valley High School or Thomas Edison High School of Technology where they are scheduled to take their academic classes and their career classes. They are then transported back to their home school to go home.

Students in the full-day program receive instruction in one of multiple career pathways:

*For the 2023-2034 school year, all new referrals for the upcounty CREA day program at Seneca Valley High School will be routed to the day program at Thomas Edison High School of Technology.  There are limited transportation routes from upcounty high schools to the CREA day program at Thomas Edison High School of Technology.

CREA EVENING PROGRAM

 Where: Thomas Edison High School of Technology

 When:  Monday through Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  

Most students in the CREA evening program work during the day. Students are provided with a light dinner.  Students take their academic classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings.  Students take their career classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Both day and evening CREA programs provide additional support for students and their families by facilitating access to additional services, such as resources for housing, health and wellness, and legal services.  CREA community partnerships include Nourish Now, Inc., Manna, and Bare Necessities to help feed some of our neediest students and their families.  We also partner with the School Based Wellness Centers and Identity, Inc. to provide comprehensive case management for all students. 

Students in the evening CREA program receive instruction in one of six career pathways:

Program Offerings and Additional Supports

  • Summer Program - extending learning in English language development, math, science, and social studies

Referral Process

Both the CREA full-day and evening programs accept referrals throughout the year for ongoing enrollment.  The CREA referral form (MCPS Form 280-82) should be completed by a staff member who works with the student being referred to the program.  Once the referral form is complete, attach supporting materials and submit all documents to the CREA program manager via email at maria_m_treminio-ramirez@mcpsmd.org.  CREA staff will schedule an intake meeting with the referred students and their parents/guardians.  After the intake meeting, CREA staff will communicate enrollment decisions to home school staff.

DOCUMENTS

CREA Referral Form (280-82)

CREA Entry Criteria

CREA Brochure (English/Spanish)

CONTACT US

CREA Program Specialist, Dr. Lindsay Walberg, Lindsay_Walberg@mcpsmd.org

CREA Program Manager, Maria Treminio-Ramirez, maria_m_treminio-ramirez@mcpsmd.org

CREA Parent Community Coordinator, Leticia Schoenthal, leticia_d_schoenthal@mcpsmd.org 

CREA Parent Community Coordinator, Pablo Molina Chemali (Mondays & Tuesdays), pablo_i_molinachemali@mcpsmd.org 

CREA Attendance Secretary and Outreach Specialist, Tania Perez-Fuentes, tania_e_perez-fuentes@mcpsmd.org

CREA Office: 240-740-5295