City of Seligman helps with education fees
April 8, 2015
Steve Chapman
The difference between having a high school diploma versus trying to make it without one could be over $10,000 in yearly earnings. College Board, an organization that studies the link between education and income, says high school graduates earn, on average, $35,400 a year while those without a high school diploma earn only $25,100.
In Seligman, residents who never graduated from high school and wish to earn their High School Equivalency Diploma (HSE) may be eligible for some assistance from the city. The Seligman City Council has budgeted $520 to cover the testing fees for those who cannot afford the cost.
The benefits of getting an HSE can be very lucrative for those who never graduated from high school, according to Janet Dart Ballard, the Crowder Adult Education Literacy (AEL) instructor in Seligman. “I’ve had people get a $2 or $3 per hour raise when they pass their high school equivalency exam,” Ballard said.
Earning an HSE can also provide a leg up in seeking higher education. According to Ballard, anyone making at least a passing score on the HSE exam has the chance to take a class at Crowder for free. “When they pass the high school equivalency test through us, they’re offered a class at Crowder, tuition paid. That saves them $300,” she said.
Crowder also has a scholarship available for those who pass the exam with a score of 75 or higher. Ballard said the scholarship pays $600 per semester for four semesters. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA each semester to keep the scholarship.
While the city wants as many people to earn HSEs as possible, it is not going to pay the testing fees for just anybody. Ballard said Seligman will only pay for those she has approved to take the test, and she doesn’t approve anyone until they’ve taken classes and demonstrated they can pass the exam. Students must also show they have a financial need. Based on her recommendation, the city may pay from half to all of a student’s $95 testing fee.
“Before the students can take the test at the city’s expense, I make sure that they are not able to pay for it themselves. I also make sure that they are first ready and that they have met their class obligations,” Ballard said.
Ballard prefers for students to come to class at least two hours a day, two days a week. Her classroom, which is located in the Seligman Community Center, is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and students can come and go as they need during these times.
While the testing fee is a barrier to some who want to take the exam, Ballard said another challenge is the distance to a testing center. In the past, when the students could still earn the General Education Diploma (GED), the exam required was paper-based and could be taken at the Crowder-Cassville campus. However, in January 2014, the GED became the HSE, the exam went from being paper-based to computer-based, and the Cassville campus ceased to be an approved testing site.
As a result, Seligman residents who wish to take the exam must travel to the Crowder campus in Neosho, Ozark Technical Community College in Springfield or Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. The distance to a testing center, Ballard said, can be prohibitive to many test takers.
Angela Seymour, the campus director of Crowder-Cassville, said the campus is very close to regaining approval to be a testing site. She said the school’s IT department had set up a room that meets all of the requirements set by HiSET, the organization which handles the tests like the HSE exam. Seymour also said that photos of the room have been submitted to HiSET, and she is currently waiting on their response. “We’re just waiting to hear back from HiSet, and once we have their approval, we’re good to go,” she said.
Ballard said she would like to see more people come take advantage of the AEL classes in Seligman, even if they do not need or want to get an HSE. She said many come to take the classes, which are free, to brush up on skills they need for work or to be able to help their kids with their homework.
“We’re not just about passing the high school equivalency exam,” Ballard said. “We help people with work skills also.”
Ballard’s classroom is located at 29144 Main Street in Seligman. For more information, call (417) 342-8811.
Steve Chapman
The difference between having a high school diploma versus trying to make it without one could be over $10,000 in yearly earnings. College Board, an organization that studies the link between education and income, says high school graduates earn, on average, $35,400 a year while those without a high school diploma earn only $25,100.
In Seligman, residents who never graduated from high school and wish to earn their High School Equivalency Diploma (HSE) may be eligible for some assistance from the city. The Seligman City Council has budgeted $520 to cover the testing fees for those who cannot afford the cost.
The benefits of getting an HSE can be very lucrative for those who never graduated from high school, according to Janet Dart Ballard, the Crowder Adult Education Literacy (AEL) instructor in Seligman. “I’ve had people get a $2 or $3 per hour raise when they pass their high school equivalency exam,” Ballard said.
Earning an HSE can also provide a leg up in seeking higher education. According to Ballard, anyone making at least a passing score on the HSE exam has the chance to take a class at Crowder for free. “When they pass the high school equivalency test through us, they’re offered a class at Crowder, tuition paid. That saves them $300,” she said.
Crowder also has a scholarship available for those who pass the exam with a score of 75 or higher. Ballard said the scholarship pays $600 per semester for four semesters. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA each semester to keep the scholarship.
While the city wants as many people to earn HSEs as possible, it is not going to pay the testing fees for just anybody. Ballard said Seligman will only pay for those she has approved to take the test, and she doesn’t approve anyone until they’ve taken classes and demonstrated they can pass the exam. Students must also show they have a financial need. Based on her recommendation, the city may pay from half to all of a student’s $95 testing fee.
“Before the students can take the test at the city’s expense, I make sure that they are not able to pay for it themselves. I also make sure that they are first ready and that they have met their class obligations,” Ballard said.
Ballard prefers for students to come to class at least two hours a day, two days a week. Her classroom, which is located in the Seligman Community Center, is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and students can come and go as they need during these times.
While the testing fee is a barrier to some who want to take the exam, Ballard said another challenge is the distance to a testing center. In the past, when the students could still earn the General Education Diploma (GED), the exam required was paper-based and could be taken at the Crowder-Cassville campus. However, in January 2014, the GED became the HSE, the exam went from being paper-based to computer-based, and the Cassville campus ceased to be an approved testing site.
As a result, Seligman residents who wish to take the exam must travel to the Crowder campus in Neosho, Ozark Technical Community College in Springfield or Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. The distance to a testing center, Ballard said, can be prohibitive to many test takers.
Angela Seymour, the campus director of Crowder-Cassville, said the campus is very close to regaining approval to be a testing site. She said the school’s IT department had set up a room that meets all of the requirements set by HiSET, the organization which handles the tests like the HSE exam. Seymour also said that photos of the room have been submitted to HiSET, and she is currently waiting on their response. “We’re just waiting to hear back from HiSet, and once we have their approval, we’re good to go,” she said.
Ballard said she would like to see more people come take advantage of the AEL classes in Seligman, even if they do not need or want to get an HSE. She said many come to take the classes, which are free, to brush up on skills they need for work or to be able to help their kids with their homework.
“We’re not just about passing the high school equivalency exam,” Ballard said. “We help people with work skills also.”
Ballard’s classroom is located at 29144 Main Street in Seligman. For more information, call (417) 342-8811.