New GED Prep Course Coming to Renovo Area
FARWELL – Adults in Western Clinton County preparing to take a high school equivalency exam or interested in brushing up on their academics will soon be able to do so right in Farwell.
A new Adult GED Preparation and Basic Education Class, made possible by Central Intermediate Unit #10, will begin November 7 at a new location. The classes will take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Bucktail High School, 1300 Bucktail Ave.
The courses are free to attend, and pre-tests are given to ensure learners are prepared for the General Education Development (GED) exam.
“Every year we look at what we can do to best serve the adult learners in our geographic area,” said Jenna Witherite, Adult and Community Programs Coordinator at CIU #10.
She said the CIU specifically looked at Western Clinton County after considering the size and rural nature of the region, as well as the fact that only one location existed in the county prior.
“Having just one location in Clinton County… that’s quite a distance for people on the other side of the county (to travel),” Witherite said. “We are glad to offer another option.”
Keystone Central School District partnered with CIU #10 to offer the new course at the local high school, helping to offset some costs for offering the free program, Witherite noted.
The courses are offered in an “open enrollment” style – where there is not a designated start and end date. Residents are welcome to attend the classes at any time, she said.
When students feel prepared to take the computerized exam, they may sign up to take it at Lock Haven University, an approved Pearson VUE testing site, or any other approved Pearson VUE testing site. The exam costs $120, however CIU #10 offers a scholarship program for individuals who meet certain criteria and who have participated in the preparation courses that can cover up to 50 percent of the exam fee.
Students must be a resident of Pennsylvania, be at least 18 years old and not have a secondary school diploma from the United States to take the GED exam. Individuals under the age of 18 seeking a GED must provide a letter from an employer, educational institution or the Armed Services in order to take the exam prior to the age of 18.
The CIU #10 Development Center for Adults at 8 N. Grove St., Suite G, Lock Haven, will continue to serve residents as well. Free courses at the Lock Haven office are offered Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 5 to 7:30 p.m.
To learn more about the program, contact the CIU at the Lock Haven office, 570-893-4038, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Central Intermediate Unit #10, an educational service agency, serves Clinton, Centre and Clearfield counties. Led by a board of directors comprised of representatives from each of the 12 school districts in the three-county region, the CIU is intended to promote and provide for continuous achievement and advancement of learners through partnerships with communities and schools.
The Adult GED Preparation Classes and Adult Basic Education Classes are funded through the Department of Education, Adult Education.
