LYNN – Operation Bootstrap has picked up a $50,000 grant aimed at helping adult learners not only get into college or a career, but stay there.”There really is nothing else like this anywhere else in the state,” said Bootstrap’s Executive Director Edward Tirrell. “It’s very exciting.”The grant, from the Van Otterloo Family Foundation in Marblehead, will fund a new College and Career Readiness Program set to begin in September.Tirrell said it’s about raising standards for high school graduation and adult learners receiving their GED. As it is now, students leave Bootstrap, the city’s center for adult learners, with a little English under their belts and get their GEDs, Tirrell said. If they pursued college typically they would end up in developmental education classes, for which they would get not credits and “where they would use up their financial aid and get burned out,” he explained.The program is aimed at preparing students to walk out of Operation Bootstrap and into credited college classes, Tirrell said. He attributes the need for the program to the new Common Core State Standards, which went into effect this fall for high school and adult education students. The new standards require higher academic and higher analytical and critical thinking skills, Tirrell said, which current Operation Bootstrap students don’t necessarily possess.”We went after the grant, got introduced to the foundation, met with the director and invited to submit a proposal,” Tirrell said. “And we got funded.”The program will be offered with both morning and evening classes in language arts, social studies, math and science as well as classes in writing and college readiness for college credits, Tirrell explained.There will be student information sessions Monday, June 3 at 6 p.m. and Wednesday, June 5 at 10 a.m. to explain the one-year certificate program. Anyone 18 years or older who wants to prepare for college admission should attend, Tirrell said.Students can RSVP to cornycarew@operationbootstrap or by calling 781-599-8543.”The goal,” he added, “is for each student, by the end of the one-year certificate program will be college and career ready. It’s really exciting.”Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].