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Dallas
– The Dallas Public
Library’s GED Testing and Workforce Development Project has been recognized for
its innovation as a tool for Dallas adults to earn their GED by the Urban
Libraries Council. Having a GED allows Dallas residents to hold better jobs and
earn high wages. In some parts of Dallas, nearly 50 percent of adults over the
age of 25 have less than a high school education.
Dallas Public Library’s GED Testing and
Workforce Development Project was created to address the needs of the nearly 28
percent of Dallas County adults with less than a high-school education. Dallas
Public Library opened the first GED testing center in a public library in Texas
and has since become the leader among Dallas area certified testing centers. In
2016, the library administered the most exams (870) with the most graduates
(131) and highest pass rate (79 percent). The Library also offers scholarships
for qualifying learners.
“By offering GED testing in our Central
Library and full scholarships in partnership with Atmos Energy, we have lowered
barriers for adults seeking to change their lives. The testing center allows
the library to walk with adults through their GED journey and beyond to
pursuing better jobs or higher education,” said Jo Giudice, Director of Libraries.
The Urban Libraries Council’s panel of
experts selected Dallas from a pool of over 250 submissions to be one of the 10
libraries that represents the 21st century library’s role as a
leader and pioneer for change.
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