Page 7 - TL HowTo Guide 2016

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE TRI-LAKES EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 HOW-TO GUIDE 7TT Earn a GED
diploma
WITH THE SALINE COUNTY ADULT EDUCATION CENTER, A DIVISION OF PULASKI TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Earning a GED diploma is a simple process that can make a big impact on an adult’s life by opening employment and educational opportunities.
Whether adults are looking to further their career or con- tinue their education, earning a GED diploma can be the step- ping stone used to continue on life’s journey.
“Our students tell us over and over again that taking the GED and earning the Arkansas high school diploma was the best decision they ever made,” said Yvonne Dougherty, director of the Saline County Adult Education Center, a divi- sion of Pulaski Technical College.
Adults can enroll in General Educational De- velopment classes by visiting the center, 16936 Interstate 30 in Benton, at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. or 5 p.m. on Mondays. Prospective students must bring their Arkansas driver’s licenses and So- cial Security cards, and they will take the Test of Adult Basic Education, which measures math and reading levels, during enrollment.
Students can attend classes at their conve- nience with certified teachers, and all classes and materials are free. Classroom hours are 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. Distance-education classes are available.
Students learn about the GED’s four areas: math, science, social studies and reasoning through language arts. The test now mea- sures college readiness to prepare students for
college without the need of remedial classes, Dougherty said.
In Arkansas, the GED Ready Practice Test is required before taking the official GED. The practice test prints useful study guides and helps determine whether students are ready to take the official GED, Dougherty said.
The practice test is free to students and available at the center on Monday and Wednesday eve- nings. Adults not enrolled in class can take the practice test by appointment most Fridays for $24.
The official GED test is available at the cen- ter for $16. Students can call 501-778-3235 for testing times or register through their in- dividual accounts at www.ged.com.
After earning their diplomas, students often continue their education, enter the job mar- ket or pursue careers in the military. Students who score high on the GED test can earn a full-tuition scholarship to Pulaski Technical College regardless of age, Dougherty said.
“We recognize the impact we have on the lives of our students and their families and strive to ensure success for each student and offer our services accordingly,” she said. “We are committed to the success of every adult who walks through our front door and says, ‘I want to get my GED.’”
— Story by Sarah DeClerk, special sections writer