Education / Training Resources

The links on this page will take you to classroom-based, online, and other distance learning educational and training opportunities, some of which are free and others for which job hunters may be eligible for financial assistance. Links to sites with information about financial aid can also be found on this page.

Click on any Link Title below to access the website:

Work-Based Learning Initiative - Kent County, Michigan Work based learning activities connect classroom learning to real world applications through hands-on experiences in the world of work. These experiences may include tours, job shadows, internships, mentoring and more.   Michigan Opportunity Partnership The pledge campaign is part of Governor Granholm’s Michigan Opportunity Partnership introduced in her 2005 State of the State message. It is aimed at placing 30,000 unemployed workers into job vacancies that exist throughout the state by the end of the year 2005.   Michigan Adult Education Programs Includes Partnership for Adult Learning (PAL), ABE (Adult Basic Education), GED (General Education Development), HSC (High School Completion), ESL (English as a Second Language), Family Literacy Programs, and Programs for the Homeless.   Basic Educational Options Advice Short articles on: The College Search—When Should Students Start?; Alternatives to University; Choosing a College; Preparing for College; and Armed Forces Education Programs. From Michigan's myDreamExplorer.   Michigan Virtual University Information for students, parents, and educators, corporate training, and career seekers.   Education/Training Program Search thru Career Ed Consumer Report site Search for education and training programs at Michigan institutions using keyword, location, school, occupation, or Individual Training Account (ITA) eligible programs. For example, 175+ programs from a day in length up are located within 10 miles of downtown Grand Rapids.   Michigan Vocational & Adult Education Schools Michigan vocational & adult education schools alphabetical by city and with links to each school.   Michigan Virtual High School Students can get signed up for on-line courses through their high school/school district.   Michigan Financial Aid Merit awards, Education Trusts, Savings programs, student financial aid, and tuition credit eligibility for Michigan residents.

Michigan School-To-Registered Apprenticeship Program More than 800 careers qualify for the apprenticeship program. They include automotive technician, aircraft technician, carpenter, electrician, machinist, tool-and-die maker, firefighter, computer programmer, paralegal, medical laboratory technician and many more. The STRA program is available through more than 70 certified sites throughout Michigan.   US Government Directory of Michigan Apprenticeship Programs Search for Michigan apprenticeship programs first and then by County and type of apprenticeship at this website.   Michigan Community Colleges Site with map links to the 28 community colleges throughout Michigan.   Virtual Learning Collaborative of the Michigan Community College Association Michigan community college students can take courses from other member colleges for credit while at their designated home college.   Michigan Certificate Schools & Programs Listed alphabetically by city and phone number.   National College/Program Search Search for a college anywhere in the US and its territories by region, state, type or program. From the National Center for Education Statistics, Institute for Educational Sciences, US Department of Education.   Training & Education Center from US Government Find information on the impact of training, determining your training needs, and where to find training. From CareerOneStop.org.   Federal Student Aid This website explains student financial aid programs the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) office administers. Approximately 2/3's of all student financial aid comes from the federal programs you’ll read about here.   FinAid.org Considered by many as the most comprehensive annotated collection of information about student financial aid on the web. It has won awards from The College Board and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.