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Pima Community College and Pima County Partner to Provide Free GED/High School Equivalency

TUCSON, AZ – With funds made available through the Pima County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant, Pima Community College is providing free GED Ready® practice test vouchers and GED® Official test vouchers to all eligible Pima County residents. This brings much needed support to the 14% of Pima County adults over 18 years old who lack a High School Diploma or equivalency. 

This exciting initiative continues PCC’s commitment to making education accessible to all members of our community and empowers individuals to move forward in their journey toward achieving educational and career goals.

The GED® (General Education Development) test is a rigorous, nationally recognized assessment that certifies individuals with the academic skills and knowledge equivalent to a high school diploma. It consists of 4 test subjects: Math, Science, Social Studies and Reasoning through Language Arts. Individuals must also pass the AZ Civics Test, a requirement for all graduates in the state of Arizona. The total cost for an individual to earn a High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma through the GED® test is $173, which includes $41 per each of the four GED® tests and $9 for the Arizona Civics test. These funds will effectively remove a significant barrier for many individuals seeking to improve their education and career prospects, opening doors to higher education, expanded employment opportunities, and improved quality of life.

Laurie Kierstead-Joseph, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Adult Basic Education for College and Career (ABECC) division at Pima Community College, emphasized the importance of this Initiative.

“We believe that education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances. While we have offered free GED preparation classes for more than 50 years, with this new initiative to provide free GED/HSE fees, we have taken a significant step toward creating a more equitable and educated community,” Kierstead-Joseph said.

While passing the GED® test is the most common way individuals earn a High School Equivalency Diploma in Arizona, there are 2 additional pathways to an HSE: the HSE Plus Career Readiness Pathway and the College Credit Pathway. These alternative pathways use a combination of college credit, work experience and academic success to earn a HSE Diploma. These ARPA funds will cover all fees associated with any of the 3 HSE Pathways. More information about these pathways is available at the Arizona Department of Education website. 

Details:

  • To access free GED® test vouchers, interested community members can come to any of the five PCC Campus Testing Centers and learn more. No appointment is necessary.
  • Adults who may need help preparing for the GED® test can participate in PCC’s free Adult Basic Education classes at locations all over Pima County. For more information on classes, call (520) 206-7330 or email adulted@pima.edu.
  • Scholarships and financial aid are available for individuals to start their College journey. Meet with an enrollment advisor to plan next steps at PCC. Come for the GED, stay for the degree!

For more information about the Free GED® Test Voucher Initiative at PCC, please contact 520-206-7330 or adulted@pima.edu.

CONTACT:

Laurie Kierstead-Joseph
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Adult Basic Education for College Career.
520-206-6187
lkierstead@pima.edu

Wendy Scheder Black
Director, College & Career Transitions and Partnerships, Adult Basic
Education for College & Career.
520-206-6102
wscheder@pima.edu

 

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