Liberty Township residents looking to earn a high school diploma or improve their English now have free classes right on Steitz Road.

The Delaware Area Career Center's Aspire program expanded its partnership with the Delaware County District Library in August, bringing a GED preparation class and an English for Speakers of Other Languages session to the Liberty Branch library at 7468 Steitz Road in Powell.

All classes are free.

The expansion adds to a program that has run for several years at other DCDL locations. Nicole Fowles, the library system's communications coordinator, announced the new offerings in her Aug. 5 column in the Delaware Gazette, writing that the opportunity to earn a diploma is now free and available locally, and that investing time in education can mean significant returns.

What's offered at Liberty Branch

The ESOL class meets Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. The GED prep class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m. Both run three hours per session.

GED prep covers four test subjects: math, science, social studies and reasoning through language arts. Students work through practice tests and build skills toward passing the exam. According to the GED Testing Service, adults who earn a GED can expect to make about $9,000 more per year on average.

The ESOL sessions give non-native English speakers a chance to practice English in a supportive setting. Two additional ESOL sessions also meet at the Orange Branch library in Delaware on Mondays and Wednesdays (9 a.m. to noon and noon to 3 p.m.).

How to sign up

First-time students must complete an orientation class held at the Delaware Area Career Center, 4565 Columbus Pike, Room 1517. To register, call DACC Aspire at 740-203-2267 or sign up online through the career center.

Sara Arango, the Liberty Branch manager, and her staff can point visitors toward the classes, though registration goes through DACC directly.

Class schedule and events

  • ESOL at Liberty Branch: Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m.–noon, 7468 Steitz Road, Powell
  • GED prep at Liberty Branch: Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon–3 p.m., 7468 Steitz Road, Powell
  • DCDL Board of Trustees meeting: Tuesday, Aug. 18, Liberty Branch Library