ALBANY — The Albany International Center was officially opened on Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the North Albany Academy on North Pearl Street.

The program was created as an optional facility for students in the Albany school district who are new to the country and need additional help learning English. About 80 students are expected to start there on Tuesday when the new school year begins. The school will have a maximum capacity of 175. Most students will spend two years studying there while their English language skills improve and will then transition to other schools in the district.