For young people who couldn't make it through high school, one of the only paths to a better life is via the GED test. They may not have been able to get a traditional diploma, but passing the equivalency test can open a door to higher education and a better-paying job.

It seemed that door was about to slam shut for some Durham youths this week when the Durham Literacy Council's GED program suddenly became homeless. The program, which had 35 teens signed up, was forced out of its space a t the Golden Belt complex on East Main Street. The Center for Employment Training, which uses the building, had its own financial problems and consolidated operations onto one floor, squeezing the GED program out.

But when a door closes, look for a window to open somewhere else.

That's what happened after Literacy Council Executive Director Lucy Haagen approached the Durham County Commissioners this week, seeking either rent money or a place to hold classes. An article about the program's predicament appeared in The Herald-Sun on Thursday. That day the Shodor Education Foundation stepped up and offered the program a house, rent-free on Broad Street adjacent to its main building.

Shodor, a nonprofit agency that helps students improve their math and science education, will also allow the GED students to use its computer lab. And the mentors and volunteers who work at the foundation may be able assist the GED students.

It's a wonderful offer that should allow the GED classes to start in about two weeks. The Shodor Education Foundation deserves much credit for opening the window at such a crucial time.

The reason the GED classes are so important is simple: last year, more than 600 students dropped out of Durham Public Schools. And that was fewer than previous years. Those students need to either be encouraged to return to classrooms or to find an alternative path to a diploma -- and that path is spelled GED. If the dropouts don't join society in a productive way, they will become counter-productive in ways we are all too familiar with: drugs, gangs, crime, etc.

One could argue that the students should have stayed in school and earned their diploma like everyone else. But that's not facing reality. Some students will struggle in traditional classrooms, and some will drop out. We can work to reduce that number in the future, but the problem will probably always be with us at some level. For self-interest if nothing else, the community needs to give these former students a chance to get back on track. The Literacy Council's GED program is one of a small handful of such chances available in Durham.

It was also heartening to note that the offer from Shodor wasn't an aberration. The Literacy Council got a half-dozen calls Thursday from others offering space. They included the Durham Chamber of Commerce and even Triangle Boxing.

Haagen had it right when she said, happily, "It showed Durham at its best."

© Durham Herald Company, Inc.