No HS Degree? No Problem. A State’s Plan To Nudge Adults Into Community College

No HS Degree? No Problem. A State’s Plan to Nudge Adults Into Community College

Receive stories like these directly in your email. Subscribe to Newsletter.

Education officials in Maine are actively encouraging individuals who did not graduate from high school to enroll in adult education programs and obtain their High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) certification.

Since 2014, Maine has been utilizing the HiSET, which consists of five sections: reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.

Joe Fagnant, the director of Houlton/Hodgdon Adult and Community Education, highlights the growing difficulty of securing well-paying jobs without a high school diploma.

"We understand that obtaining a diploma will unlock numerous opportunities and open many doors," says Fagnant. "This includes the recent agreement made by the community college system, offering free community college education for graduates from the classes of 2020, ’21, ’22, and ’23."

Fagnant also mentions that this opportunity extends to adult learners who complete the HiSET. With over 60 adult education programs in Maine, more than 1,700 individuals have successfully completed the HiSET since 2020. Fagnant emphasizes that the test and preparatory classes are free, and individuals who have partially completed the exam can return later to finish it.

Furthermore, Fagnant highlights the significant disparity in wages between entry-level jobs based on the educational level of the workers. Some companies require a high school diploma but face challenges in finding qualified candidates. They collaborate with adult education programs to identify suitable individuals and support them in obtaining their degree.

"The job market has undergone significant changes in recent years due to COVID and the pandemic, resulting in higher wages," acknowledges Fagnant. "However, this also means increased competition in finding top-notch candidates."

Fagnant also emphasizes the various pathways that students can pursue with two years of community college education. They can enter the workforce directly or transfer their credits towards earning a bachelor’s degree.

Studies have shown that by the age of 35, individuals with a bachelor’s degree are twice as likely to hold a good job compared to those with just a high school diploma.

Receive stories like these directly in your email. Subscribe to Newsletter.