This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Local Voices

Community Update

Interactive
College of Technology Introduces GED Prep Program



Responds to Critical Need in Atlanta



 

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.



ATLANTA – 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.



 

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.



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.



 



“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.



 



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.  



 



-more-



ICT / GED



Page 2



 



 



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.



 



# # #



 



 



About Interactive College of Technology (www.ict.edu)

Interactive
College of Technology (ICT) is an accredited institution that offers both
associate degrees and diploma programs for high-demand careers. With a
hands-on learning environment, flexible schedules, day and evening classes, and
smaller class sizes for instructor availability, each program is combined with
real-world training that prepares students for their future. Programs include
accounting, computer information systems, HVAC
classes
, business programs, training in medical coding and billing and medical office administration. In addition,
ICT offers one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive English as a
Second Language programs and currently enrolls students from more than one
hundred countries.  ICT has seven campuses, located in three states.
Chamblee, Ga., is home to ICT’s main campus. Branch locations are found in
Gainesville and Morrow. In Texas, students are served in the Hillcroft, North
and Pasadena suburbs of Houston; a location in Newport, Ky. serves the greater
Cincinnati area.



We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?