Harmony Adult Education reports enrollment gains but says ICE activity hammered evening attendance
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Summary
Harmony Adult Education told the ISD 622 board it served more than 1,500 adults last year but experienced a steep drop in in‑person evening attendance after recent immigration‑enforcement activity; the program also said the state now charges a $26 fee for GED testing but the program will help students who cannot pay.
Scott Holland, director for Harmony Adult Education, presented the adult education program at the Feb. 17 board meeting and described its services, demographic makeup and recent enrollment trends.
Holland said Harmony offers English‑as‑a‑second‑language classes, GED and HiSET testing, career pathways and other brush‑up classes across multiple locations. "We have over 1,500 adults participate this past year," he said, and described Harmony as part of a multi‑district consortium that includes ISD 622 and neighboring districts.
He also told the board the program saw a sharp decline in in‑person evening attendance following Operation Metro Surge and related immigration enforcement: "We went from 65 students in December in our evening classes to 13 earlier in January attending in person," Holland said. He said some families face immediate safety concerns and that Harmony has shifted some teaching online to meet learners where they are.
Holland also reported a change in state support for GED testing fees: he said the state contacted him that morning to report the testing subsidy was no longer available and that the fee now is $26 per student. He said Harmony will work with students who face cost barriers.
Holland highlighted other program features — citizenship classes, online options, and a May 13 graduation for GED and CNA completers — and noted the program’s volunteer base and partnerships (including Merrick Services) that support job‑readiness services.
Board members thanked Harmony for advocacy and flexibility and asked staff to continue coordinating supports for students affected by enforcement activity.