Ashland Community and Technical College participates in GED+ program
Prospective students of Ashland Community and Technical College can now access resources to earn a GED, a common barrier faced by many who want to attend college.
The GED+ program is the result of a partnership between the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and KY Skills U. As a participating school, Ashland Community and Technical College now offers a program that allows students to earn their GED and enroll at the college simultaneously. Participants can access GED preparation courses, financial aid assistance, and academic advising, according to an ACTC news release.
Chrisha Spears, GED+ coordinator at ACTC, described the program and her role, "I'm with students every step of the way. Our educational partners at CEOC will help students complete the ACTC admissions application, FAFSA, and Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship application. I then help with enrollment in classes and act as a liaison between you and your college and GED instructors. Students receive a lot of support and encouragement along the way."
The GED exam, also known as the General Educational Development Test, assesses the general education knowledge of those who did not obtain a high school diploma. The exam consists of four areas including language arts, math, science, and social studies. It is available for free and students can access preparation courses either online or in person.
The GED+ program is underway and some of the participants offered reflection on their experiences so far in the news release from ACTC. Jacob Layne is enrolled in the Criminal Justice program after completing his GED earlier this year. Layne said, "I want to stand up for everyone, and make sure their voices are heard, their pain is felt, and they get their justice. I would've never thought of working in law enforcement, but when you have a great group of supporters in your corner, Chrisha included, you could do some unbelievable things."
Braden Spears decided to pursue his GED after completing homeschooling and deciding he wanted to attend college. Spears encourages anyone worried about the test to enroll in the program: "No matter how prepared you are, there's still a sense of uncertainty. That's okay, and as long as you take the proper steps to prepare and study, you will have no trouble succeeding."