SEATTLE, Jan. 8, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Everest College announced today that select campuses in the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area will offer Everest GED® Advantage, a GED® test preparation and credential completion program that is free and open to the public. Anyone interested in enrolling in the programs located at the Everest campuses in Seattle, Tacoma, Bremerton and Everett should contact Everest toll-free at 1-888-201-6547.
According to the GED Testing Service®, 40 million adults in the United States lack a high school diploma or GED® test credential. In Washington, only 70% of students finish high school, ranking the state 37th in the nation for graduation rates. Adults without a high school diploma face tremendous obstacles to achieving their economic potential. On average, their unemployment rates are higher and their wages lower than those with a GED® credential or high school diploma. Their access to postsecondary education and training, a requirement for many jobs in today's competitive economy, is also severely restricted.
Everest has the knowledge and experience—the classrooms, curriculum and instructors—to help adult learners obtain this critical credential. "We're proud to offer our community a program that opens the doors of educational and economic opportunity to nontraditional students," said Meredyth Given, regional vice president for Everest College.
"I applaud Everest for recognizing and responding to this challenge. We have a monumental task of moving 40 million adults into jobs with salaries capable of supporting their families," said Randy Trask, president of GED® Testing Service. "This program could be a model for educational institutions and community organizations across the nation."
Adults wishing to obtain a GED® test credential face many challenges, including waitlists for state-sponsored adult education programs in nearly all states and other financial hurdles. Everest GED® Advantage eliminates obstacles by providing free GED® preparation, a free Official GED® Practice Test, and by covering all testing costs for adults who successfully complete the program.
According to GED Testing Service® research, students who complete a formal test preparation program and pass the Official GED® Practice Test have higher pass rates than those who study independently. Everest GED® Advantage offers a tailored program of study that includes tutoring sessions, classroom instruction, and weekly meetings with an advisor to assess progress. Services vary by campus.
To enroll in Everest GED® Advantage, participants must be at least 18 years old and pass an assessment test. The program is free and there is no obligation to enroll in any Everest degree or diploma program.
Everest GED® Advantage is offered at 60 Everest campuses across the United States.
About Everest College
Everest College is part of Corinthian Colleges, Inc., one of the largest post-secondary education companies in North America. Its mission is to prepare students for careers in demand or for advancement in their chosen field. It offers diploma programs and associate and bachelor's degrees in a variety of occupational areas, including healthcare, criminal justice, business, information technology and construction trades. Programs vary by campus. Everest has eight campuses in the Pacific Northwest – Vancouver, Portland, Tigard (Everest Institute), Everett, Bremerton, Renton, Tacoma and Seattle. For more information, please visit www.everest.edu. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, please visit our website at www.everest.edu/disclosures.
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GED® and GED Testing Service® are registered trademarks of the American Council on Education (ACE) and may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of ACE or GED Testing Service LLC, which administers the marks under exclusive license from the ACE.