Lawrence residents looking to finish their high school education soon will have another option.

The Lawrence school board on Monday approved the creation of an Adult Learning Center, which will offer diplomas to adults returning to finish their course requirements.

“I think of this as part of a continuum of services,” Supt. Randy Weseman said. “There’s not one program that picks up every situation. This is another block in providing education for everyone who has a desire to be educated.”

The Adult Learning Center will be operated by the South Central Kansas Education Service Center, based in Clearwater. Sue Noland, director of degree completion programs, said the education center had operating agreements with 40 districts across the state.

Under the operating contract, Lawrence public schools will forward state per-pupil allocations received for the adult students to the education center, and students will be charged a $10 enrollment fee. If the Adult Learning Center generates revenue, it would be split evenly between the education center and the Lawrence district.

The Adult Learning Center will offer individualized, computerized curriculum to adults wanting to receive their high school diplomas. Some courses also will be available online. Students will receive credit for classes already completed in high school.

Unlike a current program offered in Lawrence, the Adult Learning Center will award Lawrence High School and Free State High School diplomas, not general educational development certificates.

Noland said she hoped to begin offering the program in August. She said the education center still was looking for a Lawrence site and might move into the I-70 Business Center, formerly an outlet mall.

She expects the program to be popular in Lawrence.

“There’s a tremendous need out there,” she said. “We’ve proven that.”