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Local Voices

Interactive College of Technology Offers GED Prep Course as a Community Service

Interactive College of Technology (ICT), an Atlanta-based, accredited institution that offers both associate degrees and diploma programs for high-demand careers, is now offering a GED Preparation Program, at minimal cost, as a service to metro communities.

 

ICT is responding to a critical need to assist adult learners and international students who require a GED in order to advance in their education and jobs. ICT, ranked as a Top 20 Best Value of its kind by the U.S. Department of Education, has three metro Atlanta campuses: Chamblee, Gainesville and Morrow, Ga. Other campuses are located in the Houston, Tx. area, and in Newport, Ky.

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“Each week we come into contact with some 40 to 50 adults who inquire about the college’s academic or vocational programs, yet are ineligible due to not finishing secondary school or obtaining a GED,” said ICT President Elmer R. Smith.

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Students who have not earned a secondary school credential are barred from attending college and ineligible for federal student aid. In July 2012, Congress eliminated the Ability to Benefit Examination as a route to federal student aid eligibility.

 

Although graduation rates in Georgia have increased, high school dropout rates still tower above other states. Georgia ranks fourth from the bottom (of 47 states reporting), with an average graduation rate of 69 percent. Three metro Atlanta districts near ICT’s campuses posted graduation rates lower than 60 percent in 2012: Atlanta Public Schools (50.87 percent), Clayton County (53.61 percent) and DeKalb County (57.28 percent), according to Georgia Department of Education data.

 

In addition, a number of international students have completed high school in their home countries, but are unable to obtain documentation.

 

The GED program launched this week and classes are ongoing, with new classes starting every Monday.

 

Students interested in obtaining a GED will complete a pre-assessment to determine their current skill level in the five core areas comprising the GED examination: math, reading, writing, social studies and science.  

 

 

A personalized plan will then be developed as well as estimate of the number of hours needed to improve the student’s knowledge base. After completing the prescribed plan, the student will receive a subsequent evaluation. If satisfactory, he/she will be referred to an authorized GED testing center.

 

Classes start each Monday. Fees for the program are minimal and designed to simply help offset basic institutional costs. The pre-assessment is $25 and classes are $20 each week (payable weekly) for GED instruction. The entire GED program can be completed in less than 20 weeks. However the actual length will vary depending on each student’s pre-assessment results.

 

For more information on the GED preparation program, visit www.ict.edu.

 

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