A lot more Kentuckians are trying to get their GEDs now that test is free
More Kentuckians are trying to get their GEDs since Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman announced in January that the state was dropping the $120 fee to take the test to earn the equivalency of a high school diploma,
Beshear and Coleman announced Wednesday that there has been an 81 percent jump in the number of people who signed up to get a GED since January and a 38 percent hike in the number of Kentuckians who have earned the degree.
“We are so pleased to see the phenomenal response from Kentuckians who were so eager to get their free GED,” said Beshear in a release.
“We removed one financial barrier to education and we are quickly seeing great results that are truly helping many Kentucky families.”
The test fee is one of the most common barriers facing adults lacking education in Kentucky, said Beshear.
With more than 335,000 adult Kentuckians without a high school diploma or GED, the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, which Coleman oversees, allotted $600,000 to waive the $120 test fee.
The waiver applies to first-time test takers. Kentucky requires a practice test be taken prior to the GED exam. The practice test is available at no cost through Kentucky Skills U or individuals may take the test online at ged.com for a small fee.
Since January, an average of 1,230 Kentuckians per month are in the process of attaining a GED. That compares to 678 for the same period in 2019 for an increase of 81 percent.
Also, 735 people have earned a GED so far in 2020, compared to 533 for the same period last year for an increase of 31 percent.
Also, 2,431 Kentuckians or 53 percent more have taken the GED during the same period than the 1,601 the same period in 2019.
