The CARIBE Refugee Program (Career Recruitment and Instruction in Basic English) was established in 1996 through the partnership of the Hillsborough County Public Schools Adult Education Program, the Tampa Bay Refugee Task Force, and the Department of Children and Families, Office of Refugee Services, to provide support and direction to eligible new entrants in eliminating barriers to employment through English Language Instruction and Adult Basic Education.

Since 2002, the CARIBE Refugee Program has served over 25,000 refugees, asylees, and parolees from different nations such as Cuba, Haiti, Afghanistan, Burma, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Liberia, Nicaragua, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Vietnam. CARIBE also offers U.S. Civics classes to prepare clients for the naturalization interview and test, as well as bilingual Integrated Education and Training (IET) Programs in Patient Care, Electrical, and Information Technology (IT).

The CARIBE Program maintains multiple sites in the county, offering in-person and virtual ESOL class options in the morning, afternoon, evening, and on Saturdays. Eligible students may receive adult education services, tuition/testing vouchers, school supplies, textbooks, transportation assistance, and counseling services for career technical and adult programs across the district.

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Start your journey to success in the United States with the CARIBE Program!