For the second year in a row, the Newport Independent School General Educational Development (GED) program has been ranked the number one program in the state by the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
The GED program, also known as Campbell County Adult Education (CCAE), aims to assist students over the age of 18 who are not currently enrolled in high school. The Education and Workforce Development Cabinet ranks each program on the number of adults enrolled in classes, the number of educational level gains, and the number of GED graduates.
“About 317,000 working-age Kentuckians don’t have a high school or GED diploma,” Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman said in a Twitter post. “We must work together to improve the quality of life for Kentuckians through education, training, and employment so our families and our communities can thrive.”
The program was honored Monday in Frankfort by Coleman as part of Kentucky Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.
Program Director Nichole Braun said more than 8,500 students have earned their GED credentials.
Braun credits part of the success of the program to how hard the teachers work. Most importantly, they are flexible with the adult students who are busy with jobs and family, Braun said.
Braun said the adult education program has outstanding partners, including the Brighton Center’s Center for Employment Training (CET), which is also based in Newport, and Campbell County Jailer Jim Daley.
“Brighton Center’s CET has been a valuable partner in CCAE’s success with on-site GED and adult education classes five days a week,” Braun said.
The GED program is flexible to cater to any kind of schedule or situation by offering daytime and evening hours, online or in person.
“Additionally, CCAE’s success can be attributed to James A. Daley, jailor of Campbell County Detention Center, who has been committed to the education of the inmates,” Braun said. “He created a dedicated classroom for education that allows for 25 hours of GED instruction each week.”
Braun said that through Daley’s leadership, more than 1,000 inmates have earned a GED while incarcerated.
“Jailor Daley’s continued support of CCAE gives inmates the opportunity to be successful once they leave the jail as productive citizens of the commonwealth,” she said.
More information on the program can be found at MyGED.org.