Indy Standard

Nearly a decade ago, my colleagues and I worked together—across every region of the state (and across party lines)—to pass legislation that defined and funded adult high school. Our local leaders took that program and ran with it here in the Wabash Valley, and I am proud of the impact of that collective work.

Achieving a high school diploma can seem like an impossible task for some, but these programs are beacons of hope for those who are struggling and need to get ahead. I want to congratulate both the Vigo County School Corporation and our friends at Goodwill for what they are doing to serve our community through adult education.

The school corporation’s adult education program has been recognized for its excellence, earning additional merit-based funding from the state with a graduation rate higher than the state average. And this week, we are celebrating the new Excel Center, which will create even more opportunities for adults of all ages to earn their diplomas.

When we worked on this in the Statehouse, we knew it was important to create a program tailored to high school diploma standards, rather than a GED, and couple it with a range of supportive services—from career counseling and childcare to flexible scheduling and transportation assistance. The success of this approach is evident in Indiana, with more than 8,000 graduates earning over 7,800 industry-recognized credentials and seeing an average wage increase of 280%.

I am proud to help keep that momentum going in the upcoming budget session. From my seat on the House Ways and Means Committee, I have supported funding for adult education from the beginning—there is a total of more than $97 million in our current budget—and it is clearly money well spent.

As we see our local adult education programs grow, lives are being changed and our communities are getting stronger. I wish all students great success as they pursue their dreams.

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