The Institute for Extended Learning, one of the three educational institutions of Community Colleges of Spokane, has opened what it calls the Bowdish Valley Center in a Sprague Avenue strip mall near University City.

The institute began leasing about 6,600 square feet of floor space in a retail structure at 11530 E. Sprague late last month, and expects to serve about 200 students there initially, says Geri Swope, the institute's dean for basic skills.

IEL is using the space to provide instruction that prepares students to earn a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, and it also will use the space to help students complete a high-school diploma, in collaboration with area high schools, Swope says.

It also provides instruction there as part of the institute's English as a Second Language program, she says. The institute provides similar instruction at its other locations.

The institute had been offering that instruction in four classrooms of the former University High School building, at 10212 E. Ninth, under an agreement with the Central Valley School District and wasn't paying rent, but the school district now needs that space, Swope says.

The Bowdish Valley Center has six teachers, a reading tutor, an instructional technician, and a family services coordinator, who helps students manage their work and school schedules.

Swope says the new location gives the center more space for students, as well as space for a small computer lab.

In addition to the Institute for Extended Learning, which also operates programs at 10 other locations in Spokane County and eight others in Eastern Washington, Community Colleges of Spokane operates Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community College.