[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 97 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1201-E1202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SUPPORT FOR DURHAM CENTER ALTERNATIVE BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIZABETH FURSE

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 1996

  Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support alternative schools 
across our nation, and to highlight the Durham Center alternative based 
learning experience [ABLE] located in Tigard, OR. The ABLE program is 
offered by the Tigard-Tualatin School District's 21st Century Academy 
and provides education, support, and job seeking assistance to students 
like Denise Saavedra who struggled through high school and is the 
mother of a 2-year-old child. Denise, at age 20 is the first one in 
their family to graduate from high school and has learned firsthand 
about the value of an education and the ABLE program. The education and 
tools she has received through ABLE will better prepare her and open 
more doors for her as she seeks employment. She will be better 
qualified to compete in the job market and to financially support 
herself and her child.
  There are many stories like that of Denise Saavedra. Many young 
people drop out of high school for reasons ranging from teen pregnancy 
to problems with fitting in. That is why it is so important for us to 
invest in alternative schools, such as the ABLE program, which provide 
an option for young people to go back and get their high school diploma 
in

[[Page E1202]]

a welcoming environment. Without alternative schools, many young people 
such as Denise would not have the opportunity to obtain her high school 
diploma. I urge my colleagues to continue supporting funding for 
alternative schools.

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