Published: November 20, 2008 11:03 am      

Need a high school diploma?

For those interested in earning their high school equivalency certificate, some local agencies are offering help.

Learning Generation Initiative and the Nappanee Public Library are combining resources to offer a series of free GED preparation classes.

Experts from the LGI, a not-for-profit adult learning service provider, will offer free information sessions at the Nappanee Public Library this Saturday, Dec. 6 and Dec. 20 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. They will give a complete overview of the resources available to help local residents succeed in earning their high school equivalency certificate.

According to Jessica Flores, communications assistant for the Nappanee Public Library, LGI’s GED preparation program is being offered free of charge at the Nappanee Public Library each Thursday from noon to 8 p.m. for a limited time.

“These open study sessions are for adults interested in preparing for the GED exam administered by the state of Indiana,” Flores stated.

Flores said that the course, which has a reported 98 percent first-time pass rate, is designed to meet the individual needs of adults in the five subject areas covered in the exam: reading skills, social studies, math, science and English.

“Anyone who wants to find out more about the GED exam or preparation program can drop by during these scheduled sessions as well,” Flores said. “LGI is ‘ready when you are’ to start preparing for the GED. You can enroll at any time.”

According to Library Director Linda Yoder, the Nappanee Public Library and the Wakarusa Public Library have been partnering with the Wa-Nee School Corp. to offer GED classes since 1989.

“Ten-week sessions are held in Nappanee and Wakarusa two times per year starting in January and September,” Yoder stated in a press release. “Classes in Nappanee are typically held on Tuesday evenings. Classes in Wakarusa are typically held on Monday evenings.

“This is face-to-face instruction in a classroom setting,” she said.

Anticipating that there would be a tremendous increase in the need for GED instruction in the coming months, Yoder said that the LGI has been in Nappanee since Sept. 2 to offer what she called a “fast-track” option for local residents to get a GED diploma.

“This program is customized and begins with a diagnostics test that clearly identifies if the individual needs additional preparation before taking the exam and, if so, in what areas,” Yoder said. “Eighty-four people have enrolled so far. Sixteen people have already taken the GED exam, and half of those tested are expected to receive an honors diploma with an average score of 620 or higher. Twenty more people will test in the first week of December.”

Based on the success of the program in Nappanee, Yoder said that weekly information sessions about this fast-track option are scheduled for Elkhart, Goshen, LaGrange and Middlebury.

Yoder said that arrangements for sessions in Topeka are also in progress.

“The key to this for the unemployed is that there is no need to wait until January to get started,” Yoder said. “They can do it now.”

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