Following two-year hiatus, GED program returns to Kimball

The level of education one has achieved often dictates job availability, the amount of wages earned and even the career path available. For those who have not earned a high school diploma, the future may seem daunting.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans with less than a high school diploma are among the lowest wage earners and the highest unemployment rate.

For many years, Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) of Scottsbluff offered an Adult Education program in Kimball, according to Adult Education Director Mary Kay Versen, but with dwindling attendance, the program was discontinued in 2016.

For months, WNCC has sought ways to provide the program once again in Kimball, and finally, the efforts have paid off.

Beginning in March, an Adult Education program will be offered in Kimball with orientation and assessments scheduled for March 6 – 8. Instruction is scheduled each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Kimball Public Library.

Adult Education is funded through the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) and federal grant funding is awarded from the United States Department of Education to the Nebraska Department of Education as the State Eligible Agency for AEFLA, according to Versen.

Subsequently, local program providers submit applications for grant funding to sponsor and operate Adult Education classes in the designated service area. Federal law describes the specific provisions for how the funding is to be used for each program year. Fiscal year 2018 funding has been allocated so Kimball’s new GED program will be supplemented solely by Western Nebraska Community College.

Versen plans to write the program into grants for the upcoming school year as well.

“In order for this to program to be successful, we are looking for volunteers to tutor during the day and at night,” Versen said. “Even though we do have a paid instructor, most all our programs rely on volunteers to help students and make it more successful program.”

For more information or to register for the program, please contact WNCC Adult Education at 308-635-6769 or via email at [email protected].