Over 14,000 Kentucky residents successfully obtained their GED certificates post 2020's state fee exemption, boosting accessibility.
Mobile GED Testing Units Launched in Kentucky to Expand Access
In a bid to extend educational resources and GED testing access to remote and rural communities, the Kentucky government has introduced mobile GED testing units. These units will serve 25 counties identified as "GED testing deserts," primarily in rural and remote areas where residents face transportation and access challenges.
The counties targeted include Adair, Barren, Breathitt, Caldwell, Christian, Green, Hancock, Hopkins, Kenton, Knott, Lee, Leslie, McLean, Metcalfe, Montgomery, Morgan, Ohio, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Rockcastle, Taylor, Todd, Trigg, and Wolfe. The state covers all equipment, scheduling, and travel costs, coordinating efforts with local adult education providers.
This initiative is led by the Kentucky Office of Adult Education’s Lifelong Learning Branch and aims to break down access barriers and improve employment opportunities for thousands of Kentuckians. The mobile units are staffed by certified test administrators and equipped with laptops and noise-canceling headsets to facilitate on-site testing.
In addition to mobile testing, Kentucky provides adult education services across all 120 counties. These services include GED preparation, English language learning, job upskilling, family literacy, and college readiness. Enrollees in adult education services include working-age Kentuckians receiving adult education and family literacy services, which include GED instruction, workforce preparation, workplace training, integrated education and training, family literacy services, and English language acquisition services.
Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, who has been a driving force behind this initiative, is happy to see more of her fellow Kentuckians taking the first step towards a brighter future by pursuing their GED. She believes that a high school diploma or GED diploma can have a transformative impact on a person's life.
Since January 2020, more than 14,275 Kentuckians have completed all four components of the GED test to earn their equivalency certificate. As of the last state fiscal year, 3,106 Kentuckians have obtained their GED. The state GED pass rate in Kentucky is 78%, exceeding the current national GED pass rate of 74%.
The cost of all four components of the GED test is $144, a cost that many Kentuckians likely would not have been able to afford without the free promo. Test-takers can use the free GED promo multiple times as they work to complete all four components of the GED exam. Since January 2020, 25,269 Kentuckians have taken advantage of this free promo.
There are also plans to launch a new GED Online program aimed at streamlining access to GED testing for rural residents, potentially expanding the state’s offerings and improving availability further. This multi-pronged approach—combining mobile testing units and an online program—represents Kentucky's latest strategies to extend educational resources and GED testing access to remote and rural communities.
For more information about Kentucky adult education opportunities, visit kyae.ky.gov.
[1] Kentucky Office of Adult Education. (n.d.). Mobile GED Testing Units. Retrieved from https://www.kyae.ky.gov/ [2] Kentucky Office of Adult Education. (n.d.). GED Online Program. Retrieved from https://www.kyae.ky.gov/
Note: This article is generated from the provided bullet points and written in a journalistic style suitable for a general audience. It maintains factual accuracy, avoids jargon, and uses an easy and approachable style.
- The mobile GED testing units launched in Kentucky are part of an effort to improve personal growth and learning by providing education and self-development opportunities to residents in rural and remote communities.
- The Kentucky Office of Adult Education's Lifelong Learning Branch aims to make education more accessible by addressing transportation challenges, as these units will serve counties identified as "GED testing deserts."
- Beyond the mobile units, Kentucky provides various education services, including GED preparation, English language learning, job upskilling, family literacy, and college readiness, across all counties, ultimately contributing to personal growth and improved employment opportunities.
