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Contacts: Rusty Cheuvront (502) 564-2611
     Janet Williams Hoover (502) 564-6606

Adult education goal surpassed in its first year; More Kentuckians earning GEDs;
GED incentives available to employers, students

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 15, 2001) - Kentucky has achieved the first milestone in its adult education action plan to increase literacy skills and education levels among the commonwealth’s adults, Gov. Paul E. Patton announced today.  Kentucky is also experiencing a significant increase in the number of adults earning GEDs and is instituting a GED incentive program for employers and employed students.

“Attracting more adults into lifelong learning is an investment in individuals and an investment in Kentucky,” the governor said.  “The return on this investment is educated Kentuckians who are more self-sufficient, more involved in their communities, more engaged as citizens and better role models for their children.

“My administration has dedicated itself to putting Kentucky on the path to significantly improving our per capita income and standard of living,” he said.  “This goal will be reached only by improving education at all its levels.  The announcements we are making today prove that adult education is doing its part.”

Adult education goal surpassed in its first year

A review of the plan’s first fiscal year (July 1, 2000-June 30, 2001) shows that the number of Kentuckians participating in adult education programs increased 23 percent -- from 51,177 to 62,734 -- surpassing the first-year goal of 60,000 adult learners.  This is the first step in reaching a goal of 300,000 adult learners by 2010.  Across the state, 85 counties earned rewards funding for meeting or surpassing goals.  (See list.)

Cabinet for Workforce Development Secretary Allen Rose said the enrollment goal was exceeded due to greater awareness created by the “Go GED” communications campaign and because of statewide partnerships focusing on the issue.

“Attention and importance have been placed on literacy and lifelong learning at the highest level of state policymaking,” said Rose.  “And at the local level, the 85 programs that met their enrollment goals and performance indicators are leading the charge for adult education in Kentucky.”

The Cabinet for Workforce Development and its Department for Adult Education and Literacy, local adult education providers, the Council on Postsecondary Education, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and the Cabinet for Economic Development have joined with a variety of partners to achieve this statewide initiative.

More Kentuckians earning GEDs

At the same time, the number of Kentuckians earning GEDs in fiscal year 2000-01 increased 12 percent to 13,939 compared to the 12,444 GED graduates in the 1999-2000 fiscal year. When comparing the most recent figures to five years ago, the increase is more dramatic.  The number of Kentuckians earning GEDs has climbed 41 percent - from 9,876 in 1996-97. 

According to Gordon Davies, president of the Council on Postsecondary Education, nearly 25 percent of high school completers in Kentucky are GED graduates. 

“Kentucky’s colleges and universities are committed to recruiting these graduates,” Davies said.  “In 1999, the council set the goal of reaching the national average in college-going rates by 2020, which means we must enroll 80,000 more Kentuckians.  The efforts of adult education, which help prepare Kentuckians for college work, are critical to meeting that goal.”

Cheryl King, Department for Adult Education commissioner and CPE associate vice president for adult education, noted the effectiveness of the statewide “Go GED” communications campaign urging adults without high school diplomas to finish their GEDs by the end of this year because of test changes beginning Jan. 1, 2002.

“The first phase of the  campaign ran in the spring, and we saw a noticeable increase in the number of people taking and passing the GED during those months,” King said.  “We believe that with the increased numbers of adults participating in adult education, we will continue to see GED completions increase.”

GED incentives available to employers, students

In a program administered by the Department for Adult Education and Literacy, Kentucky employers can earn a tax credit of up to $1,250 by allowing employees release time to study for the GED.    At the same time, employees can earn a tuition discount at Kentucky colleges and universities.

Here’s how it works:

·        The employer, employee and the local adult education provider sign a contract to participate in the program.

·        The employee agrees to spend at least five hours per week studying for the GED test.  The employer agrees to allow the employee a minimum of five hours per week paid release time to study for the test.

·        When the employee completes the contract and earns a GED, he or she is eligible for a tuition discount at Kentucky public postsecondary institutions.  The $250 per semester discount is available for a maximum of four semesters.

·        The employer files for the tax credit in the year the employee completes the program.  The maximum credit is $1250 per employee. 

“The tax credit is not the only benefit an employer derives from participating in this effort,” said Secretary Rose.  “Employers will also realize a gain because their workforce will be better educated, more productive and more adaptable.”

For more information, contact Dr. B.J. Helton, Department for Adult Education and Literacy, 3^rd floor, Capital Plaza Tower, 500 Mero St. Frankfort KY 40601.  Her e-mail address is brendaj.helton@mail.state.ky.us .  She can be reached by phone at (502) 564-5114, ext. 153.

Adult education and literacy in Kentucky

The 1996 Kentucky Adult Literacy Survey found that nearly 1 million of the 2.4 million Kentuckians of working age read poorly or not at all. Only 6 percent of that number are enrolled in literacy and skills improvement programs even though the Department for Adult Education and Literacy funds free services at adult learning centers in every county.

The department also provides basic skills training at worksites.  For people who can’t come to a traditional learning center, there are adult education services through the department’s mobile units and Kentucky Educational Television. Convenient on-line services through the Kentucky Virtual University and Virtual Library will be available soon at www.kyvae.org.

“We want to offer learning opportunities that are meaningful and accessible to adult learners,” Commissioner King said.

Tackling the problems of low literacy and inadequate basic skills requires a statewide effort in schools, workplaces, communities and families, King said. 

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Kentucky Department for Adult Education and Literacy
FY 2000-01 Performance Rewards