High school equivalency completion rising in area
High school equivalency completion rising in area
Posted: Friday, January 24, 2014 12:00 am | Updated: 7:18 am, Fri Jan 24, 2014.
FORT WAYNE — Northeast Indiana Works and its adult education partners are on pace to see a near-doubling of people earning high school equivalencies in 2013-2014.
Overall, adult education providers affiliated with Northeast Indiana Works are poised to serve more people in 2013-2014 than the previous year.
In the first six months of 2013-2014, July to December, 576 people earned high school equivalencies. That compares to 653 for all of 2012-2013.
A total of 1,877 people received adult education services such as high school equivalency test preparation and English as a second language instruction in the first six months of 2013-2014. That compares to 2,699 for all of 2012-2013.
According to Northeast Indiana Works, earning high school equivalency is a first step toward individual prosperity and is a critical component of the region’s Big Goal of ensuring 60 percent of adults in northeast Indiana have achieved quality post-secondary credentials or degrees by 2025. Presently, fewer than 35 percent of northeast Indiana adults have achieved those levels of education.
“We are thrilled to see the success of adult education programming in the region,” said Northeast Indiana Works President and CEO Kathleen Randolph. “As the region pursues attainment of the Big Goal, it would be easy for individuals without a high school credential to be left behind. Now, the increasing number of people who are obtaining equivalency can seek employment that pays a better wage. We can also support them in their efforts to continue their education.
“The growing number of people achieving high school equivalency is reflective of their dedication and the collaborative spirit of adult education providers in the region,” Randolph said.
Adult education providers affiliated with Northeast Indiana Works include Anthis Career Center in Fort Wayne; Huntington County Community School Corp.; Impact Institute in Kendallville; Learn More Center in Wabash; The Literacy Alliance in Fort Wayne; Marion Community Schools; and WorkOne Northeast.
