A Christian learning center that offers home-schooled students accredited educational services in classroom settings is moving to Washougal.
Located in Brush Prairie since its inception in 2008, the Hope Learning Center recently moved its elementary classes to the Bethel Community Church, 1438 B St., Washougal, and plans to add middle-school and high-school classes at the Washougal church for the start of the 2023-24 school year.
“Our staff (members have been) working well together,” said Bethel’s lead pastor, Rich Blum. “It’s very symbiotic. If they need something, we look for a way to provide it. We’ve made it easier for them financially. It’s a partnership — we are two separate entities, but really, probably, in name only. We are working together very closely, and it’s going very, very well from my perspective.”
The Hope Learning Center, which has operated out of Hockinson Community Church in Brush Prairie since 2008, serves about 120 students, according to the center’s co-director, Erika Sagert.
“Space is the No. 1 reason (we’re moving),” Sagert said. “Bethel has more space for us to offer more classes. We’ve been wanting to expand (to provide services to) younger students, because for a long time we just had middle school and high school, and we had people asking for classes for younger students as well.”
Classes are taught with a “biblical worldview,” according to the center’s website.
“We definitely are a Christian organization, and we’re unashamedly faith-based,” Sagert said. “We look at our curriculum, I guess you could say, through the lens of biblical truth.”
Hope Learning Center focuses on “core subjects” like math, English, science and history, but could expand its offerings in the future to include electives, according to Sagert.
“That’s where our heart is, to come alongside (the parents) and help with (the basics),” Sagert said. “A lot of times, parents can get out of their comfort zone, especially when it comes to teaching high school science with the labs and all of that, so we’re able to help them with those. We use a variety of curriculums, and they all meet the educational standards of Washington state.”
Hope Learning Center students come to the church “one or two or three times per week” for their classes and work from home during the rest of the week, according to Sagert.
For more information, visit sites.google.com/view/hope-learning-center/, email hlcanw@gmail.coom or call 360-524-2238.
