Alternative Education

Program Introduction

COIC offers alternative high school education to allow students ages 14-24 to make up credits and return to their regular classrooms, or to earn a state high school diploma or GED. Students may also participate in Work-Education, a work-experience program that combines classroom credits with community service and natural resource projects.

Classes are held in Bend, La Pine, Redmond, Lakeview and Prineville in conjunction with the school districts of Bend-La Pine, Redmond, Crook County, and Lakeview. COIC also provides instructors for Deschutes County Juvenile Community Justice.

In addition, COIC offers summer work experience, giving students the opportunity to earn minimum wages and learn valuable hands-on work skills.  During the school year, students earn high school diplomas, GEDs and high school credits on behalf of their local high schools. Students spent more than 18,000 working on community service and natural resource projects.

Talk to your school counselor about attending COIC or call one of our classrooms today!

Student Handbook (click to download)

The New GED Option, A Way to Family Wage Jobs
Publication by Dr. John Bouchard, COIC Youth Program Planner and Keith Hollenbeck, University of Oregon.
Supplemental Tables

Teacher Contacts

Bend – 1645 NE Forbes Road, Suite 108
For High School information contact:
Dr. John Bouchard (541) 420-2239, Youth Education Manager

For GED information contact:
Sally Hollister (541) 322-2422, Classroom Instructor

LaPine – 16493 Bluewood Place, Suite 3
For GED and High School Program information contact:
Toby Wilson (541) 536-5380 x 210, Classroom Instructor

Prineville – 2321 NE Third Street
For GED and High School Program information contact:
Amy York (541) 447-9292 x 112, Classroom Instructor

Redmond - 2326 SW Glacier Place
For GED and High School Program information contact:
Patrick Jordan (541) 706-1458, Lead Classroom Instructor

Work-Education Contacts
Josh Lagalo (541) 815-6893, WIOA Youth Employment and Training Manager
Bend – Matt Mahoney (541) 403-0099, Youth Employment Counselor
Prineville – Jeff Warren (541) 447-9283, Youth Employment Counselor
Redmond - Kyle Stott (541) 815-9045, Youth Employment Counselor

Thank you to our Community Partners!

Bend-La Pine School District
Crook County School District
Klamath County School District
Lakeview School District
North Lake School District
Redmond School District
Bend Metro Park and Recreation District
Crook County Park and Recreation District
Bureau of Land Management
Crook County Road Department
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Deschutes Basin Land Trust
Deschutes River Conservancy
Deschutes National Forest
Edumunds Well Wildlife Sanctuary
Heart of Oregon Corps
Jefferson County Fairgrounds
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Oregon Parks Department
Oregon Workforce Alliance
Oregon Youth Authority
University of Oregon
Upper Deschutes Watershed Council
US Forest Service