Spotlight on Education: Grant to Support At-Risk Students Earn Their GED

The GED Dropout Prevention Program was recently awarded a grant of $2,000.00 from the Eugene F. and Elizabeth Hull Fund at the Manatee Community Foundation to help at-risk students earn a GED while learning skills for self-sufficiency.

The school district’s Dropout Prevention Department has partnered with Manatee Technical College’s Adult Education program on this new initiative. An original adaptive GED program for students ages 16-18, this program focuses on at-risk students who have not been successful in mainstream high school classrooms or with online-base schooling, but have not exhibited behaviors such as violence, which warrant alternative education. Some of these students are English Language Learners, while some are from transitional homes, and/or have minor non-violent fractions–and all cannot succeed in a traditional school environment.

Located at Manatee Technical College’s North Campus and under the direction of Linda Agresta, Assistant Director, and Ellen Sage, Program Supervisor, this program offers individual attention to 30 students.

Students receive additional support from the district’s Dropout Prevention Team in order to break down any barriers that may prevent them from achieving success such as case management, home visits, etc.

The GED Dropout Prevention Program has a multi-tiered incentive approach embedded to reinforce program goals, increase engagement, and sustain efforts. The program goal is for these students to earn their GED within six months and then continue their education at Manatee Technical College for a lifelong career.

Through the Eugene F. and Elizabeth Hull Fund, these high-risk students will have the opportunity to graduate, and join the workforce with a viable skill.