Adult Education Programs Receives Grant

      The Allen County Adult Education program recently received a $10,000 Dollar General Literacy Foundation grant to support Adult Literacy, GED Testing and ESL Services. According to a press release from Dollar General, the grant is part of more than $8.3 million in grants awarded to more than 1,000 schools, nonprofits and organizations across the 44 states that Dollar General serves.

   “Twenty-five percent of Allen County’s population, approximately 4,500 people, do not have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency credential,” noted “Allen County Adult Education Director, David Burch.  “The best employment and educational opportunities in our Southcentral Kentucky area are available to those persons with a high school credential.  The Dollar General Literacy Grant will benefit our community in that it provides an opportunity for anyone seeking a GED, normally $120 per test, to take the test for free. This grant eliminates the number one barrier for those desiring a GED---the cost of the test to the student.  In addition, the Dollar General Literacy Grant provides an opportunity for our non-English speaking and migrant population to learn and/or improve their English-speaking skills through our ESL program.”

   According to the Dollar General press release, the grant continues a long-standing tradition of helping individuals.

   “We are honored to fund literacy and education initiatives, which support our mission of Serving Others,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s CEO.  “The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2018. It has a legacy of helping people improve their lives through literacy and education. Including this grant, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has provided more than $154 million in funding to help more than 10 million people. We believe these programs can have a positive impact on the communities we serve and we look forward to continuing to partner with organizations dedicated to making a difference in the lives of millions of Americans.”

   Allen County Adult Education’s Mission is to prepare adult students to succeed in a global cultural and economy by providing students the educational opportunities to achieve their goals.  The educational resources will allow Allen County’s population an opportunity to experience a higher standard of living and quality of life through increased educational attainment.