When some native Spanish-speaking parents of Rosemary Elementary School found themselves struggling to help their children with homework or read translated public documents, they asked school administrators for help.

In response, the Campbell elementary and high school districts spent roughly a year working to bring a program created by the Mexican government and various organizations that offers a chance for Spanish-speaking adults in the community to forge ahead in their educational careers in the realms of literature, math and science.

Both school districts are enrolling adults in Plazas Comunitarias, a free program where they can earn primary and secondary certificates of completion that are equivalent to middle and high school educations, according to Daisy Garcia, support staff for the program.

The program works to transition participants into English adult basic education classes. The ultimate goal is to prepare participants to pass the GED test, which can also be taken in Spanish, according to Campbell Adult and Community Education program organizers and school district administrators.

“From our school’s perspective, this has grown out of a grassroots desire by our parents who expressed a need to us–over and over and over again over several years–to have basic skills education to prepare them to start taking classes for high school equivalency exams,” Rosemary principal Brian Schmaedick said during an April 18 event that introduced the program to the broader community. “The discovery of this Plazas Comunitarias was something that fit a need that we had here at Rosemary.”

According to the Campbell Union School District, of the 501 students enrolled at Rosemary in 2015-16, 83.4 percent identified as Hispanic or Latino and 77.2 percent were English learners, meaning their first language was not English.

Plazas Comunitarias is sponsored by the Mexican Instituto Nacional para la Educación de los Adultos (Mexican National Institute of Adult Education). Classes are taught entirely in Spanish and are held in the mornings and evenings during the school week.

Created in 2001, under the administration of Mexican President Vicente Fox, the program began in the United States through a memorandum of understanding between the Mexican and U.S. governments in November 2004.

For the Campbell program, Spanish-language workbooks and computers were acquired through a grant, according to Fanny Arango, Rosemary Elementary’s linked services coordinator and community liaison.

Arango said Campbell Adult and Community Education services, South Bay Consortium for Adult Education and the Mexican Consulate in San Jose were all major players in putting the program together. She added that it took nearly a full school year to launch the program.

Administrators traveled to Salinas Alisal Union School District to see Plazas Comunitarias in action. Arango said what was being done there was a prime example of what the Campbell school districts wanted to offer to parents.

Though classes began at Rosemary Elementary and Del Mar High School in March, the April 18 was a kick off of sorts for Plazas Comunitarias.

“Saber es poder (knowledge is power),” Bob Harper, director of the Campbell Adult and Community Education told program participants.

Current participants shared stories of why they are taking the classes. Some participants said they wanted to be a role model to their children, while some wanted to continue their studies beyond earning a GED and possibly enter college at some level.

Garcia said there are 51 students enrolled in the program, with 32 in morning classes and 19 in the evening.

Those interested in the program must visit the Campbell Adult and Community Education office, 1224 Del Mar Ave. in San Jose, to sign up to take an assessment test. The test focuses on word identification, reading comprehension and some basic math.

Tests determine if a participant should be in primary or secondary classes. After students are assessed and enrolled in classes, they must pass five tests to get their certificate of completion. Program instructor Heather Simonovich said those scores are recorded and sent to the Mexican Instituto Nacional para la Educación de los Adultos. A certificate of completion is then sent to the participant.

Garcia said a birth certificate and small photo of the participant are needed to enroll in the program.

Classes are offered at Rosemary Elementary on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Evening classes are available at Campbell Adult and Community Education from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Rosemary Elementary School and the Campbell Adult and Community Education also offer English as second language classes. GED classes in Spanish are offered.

For more information, contact Campbell Adult and Community Education at cace@cuhsd.org or 408-626-3402.