“I am a native Spanish speaker and I am having problems writing essays for my English class. Are there any agencies who offer free or low cost tutoring?” – 14 year old

General Education Development Test (GED)

If you have dropped out, GED can open doors to jobs, colleges, trade schools or apprenticeship programs. This program is for students over 18 years old (See exceptions to age rule below) who have not graduated from high school. Call your local high school and ask them to give you the number of the nearest Adult School — all Adult Schools offer GED classes. They can also inform you about when, where and how you can take the test.

Exceptions to age rule: You can take the GED if you’re 17 and:

• are 60 days from your 18th birthday whether or not you’re enrolled in school
• if you were within 60 days of graduation when you dropped out
• if you’ve been out of school at least 60 days and you have a letter of request from a prospective employer, a college, community college or university, or the military.

800-629-9433GED Hotline

M-Sun 6am – 10:30pm Central Time
Website: www.gedtest.org
Information on GED & how to get an Official Practice Test.

California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE)

The CHSPE is the legal equivalent of a high school diploma. The exam is offered twice a year for students 16 or older who have completed the 10th grade. (Mid-term students can take the exam the summer after their first semester of 10th grade.) Information can be obtained at your local high school or library.

Higher Education

Your school counselor can provide information to share with you about different schools you could attend. You also might want to inquire about trade or vocational schools where you can learn skills which will help you qualify for a particular job.

Financial Aid

There are many forms of financial assistance available for students in need. Your school counselor should have information on what kind of financial assistance is available to you. If you are interested in a particular college or school, you can also talk to someone in that school’s Financial Aid Office. They’ll tell you what kind of financial assistance their school can offer you.

EDUCATION/ESL PROGRAMS

323-756-7203Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center

Office M-F 9-6pm; Program M-F 2-6pm
Website: www.wootencenter.org
Ages 8-18 years. Offers tutoring, computer classes, recreation, and field trips. Also offers Gang Prevention.

310-390-4477Boys and Girls Club of Venice -Tutoring Assistance

M-F 2pm-7pm
Website: www.bgca.org
Bilingual. Offers arts and culture, fitness and recreation, life skills, career advice, character/leadership education, and volunteering opportunities.

480-844-0963Brentwood Girls and Boys Club-Tutoring Assistance

M-F 2:30pm-6:30pm
After-school program and summer program: Summer 7am-6pm, school year 11am-7pm.  Bilingual.

818-710-4178Bridge to Success

M-Th 9am-7:30pm; F 9am-3pm
Website: www.piercecollege.edu/bridge
We specialize in career pathways and job readiness assistance. All are welcome.

213-385-7800CARECEN (Central American Resource Center)

M-F 9am-5pm
Website: www.carecen-la.org
Immigration legal services, computer lab, afterschool programs for Elementary through High School-aged children and youth, and civic participation training. Pico-Union/Koreatown area.

323-732-1350 Center For Lifelong Learners-Tutoring Assistance

M-F 10am-6pm                                                                                                                
Website: www.centerforlifelonglearners.com
After school, homework guidance.

213-241-0908Central City Action Committee-Recreational and Tutoring Assistance

M-F 11am-6pm
Bilingual. Events, no new clients.

323-971-6161Challenger Boys and Girls Club of Metro L.A.-Tutoring Assistance

Club Hours: (September-May) M-F 7:30am-7pm; (June-August) M-F 7am-6:30pm
Website: www.cbgcla.org
Bilingual. Provides mentoring, tutoring, field trips, and other activities for teens.

213-744-9090City of Los Angeles One Source Youth Opportunities System

M-F 8am-5pm                                                                                                                     
213-744-7206 for LA Workforce (if voicemail, check again).
Website: www.onesourceca.org
Youth employment opportunities, career, education, and support services for youths ages 14-21 who are residents of Los Angeles and income eligible.

310-253-6645Culver City Teen Center-Tutoring Assistance

M-F 2pm-6:30pm
Website: www.culvercity.org
Free activities and tutoring for Culver City residents and students.

213-747-4046Family Source Center

M 8am-7pm, T 8am-5:30pm, W-Th 8am-6pm, F 8am-5:30pm
Website: www.childrenscollective.org
Free family support services. Includes mentoring, homework assistance, tutoring, employment support, counseling, and food stamps.

323-262-9115Garfield Community Adult School

M-Th 8am-9pm; F 8am-4pm; Sat 8am-12:15pm.
Continuation school. Alternative education/work center/drop-out prevention.

877-994-3588H.E.L.P. Group

Regular schools in session: M-F 9am-3pm                                                 
Office hours: 9am-5:30pm
Infoline hours: M-Th 8am-8pm; F 8am-6pm
Website: www.thehelpgroup.org
Also: (877) 943 – 5747
Special education classes and group homes/outpatient services.

800-527-8839Homework Hotline

M-F 3:30pm-6:45pm
Help with homework including English, Math, and other subjects. Open Year-round.

323-564-5233J.A.D.E Family Services

M-Th 8am-6pm
Provides family/individual counseling, group counseling and parenting education classes all during evening hours. Public Education Presentations. Information and Referral. Bilingual.

213-365-7400Korean Youth Community Center

M-F 9am-5pm
Website: www.kyccla.org
Education. Environmental unit. Youth and family counseling.

323-292-8111Los Angeles Urban League Milken Youth Center

M-Th 8:30am-8pm; F 8am-6pm
Website: www.laul.org
GED preparation; FREE employment training and placement for 14-21 years old; afterschool literacy classes. 5414 Crenshaw blvd.

818-503-6330New Directions for Youth

M-Th 8am-8pm, F 8am-5pm, Sat-Sun 11am-2pm
Website: www.ndfy.org
School for students in 9th-12th grades. Nonprofit counseling after school. Serves San Fernando Valley.

323-778-8905People Who Care Youth Center

M,F 8:30am-5pm, T,Th 8:30am-6pm
Sat, Sun 7am-3:30pm (community service only)
Website: www.pwcyc.org
Provides after-school programs as well as case management and counseling to teens age 13-17. Also provides parenting classes, tutoring, and community service.

323-567-2278Roy W. Roberts Watts/Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club-Tutoring Assistance

M-F 2:30pm-7pm; summer and breaks: 10am-6pm                     
Website: www.wwbgc.net
Membership: 7-18 years old and pay Summer program, social, arts and craft, computer, music, and sports activities. $5.00 annual fee plus two $7.50 shirts.

415-397-3068Salesian Boys and Girls Club-Tutoring Assistance

M-F 3pm-7pm, Summer: 10am-5pm and 7-9, Sat 10am-4:30pm
Website: www.salesianclubs.org
Bilingual. Youth facility.

213-381-3747Salvation Army Red Shield Youth and Community Center-Tutoring Assistance

M-F 9am-9pm; Sat 10am-2pm                                                                               
Program: 2:30pm-5:30 (ages 6-13), 6:30-9:30 (teens-adults)
Website: www.losangelesredshield.org

661-254-2582Santa Clarita Valley Boys and Girls Club-Tutoring Assistance

M-F 11am-7pm
Website: www.scvkids.org
Tutoring.

310-458-8688Teen Center at Virginia Avenue Park

M-Thur: 3pm-9:30pm; F: 3pm-8pm; Sat: 10am-2pm
Website: www.vapark.smgov.net
Offers afterschool homework assistance, recreation, cultural arts workshops and volunteer opportunities.

213-228-7290Teen ‘Scape at L.A. Central Public Library

M,W,F,Sat 10am-5:30pm; T,Thur 10am-8pm
Website: www.lapl.org/central/teenscape.html
Various teen programs, computer and recreational programs and library orientation. Volunteer opportunities.

626-573-2831West San Gabriel Valley Boys and Girls Club

M, T, W, F, 2:30pm-6:30pm; Th 12:30pm-6:30pm
Website: www.wsgvbgc.org
Bilingual. Provide homework assistance.

818-708-1661We Lift LA

Open every day except Fridays
Website: www.weliftla.org
Provides help to youth who are transitioning out of foster care. Offers academic support, career development, and counseling.

818-610-1054West Valley Boys and Girls Club

M-F 8 am – 6:30 pm
Website: www.wvbgc.com
Variety of programs including recreation, sports, and arts workshops. Homework help for all members 6-17 years old. Membership $20 a year.

323-789-4731Youth Opportunities Unlimited Alternative High School

M-F 7:50am-3pm
Additional phone: (323) 789-4717
High school courses and employment training for students ages 14-21.

951-683-5193Youth Service Center

M-Th 8am-8pm, F 8am-5pm
Website: www.wyliecenter.org
Mental health therapy, preschool, autism clinic, parenting clinic