Program sends parents back to school in Camden

CAMDEN, N.J. (WPVI) -- Twenty-four parents who have children at Leap Academy in Camden were given the chance to go back to school.

They graduated Wednesday night from a special course offered by their children's charter school.

In January they started taking classes on time management, study habits and how to handle stress.

This is the first class of graduates from the newly created Parent Institute for Adult Learning.

The adults have already been accepted to Rowan University with financial assistance covering most of the costs. This is a chance for the parents to reinvent themselves after dropping out of college to support their families or never going at all.

"I just look forward to bettering myself, and being a better role model for my children" said Jean Shepard, graduate.

"It prepares you for what's to come when you get back into college," said Julio Sanchez, graduate.

"For me to keep pushing forward and actually follow through and actually obtain my degree, it will mean the world to her, it will mean the world to me, and that's all that matters," said Melissa Ramon, graduate.

Parents can pursue several different majors at Rowan including sociology, law, construction management, disaster preparedness or human services.

"We are providing on this campus four programs from Rowan University that are very much high in demand," said Global Learning Rowan Vice President Dr. Horacio Sosa.