GED Accelerator

On April 21, 2014, the Kansas legislature signed House Bill 2506 into law, designating an appropriation of $1.9 million for “Postsecondary education performance-based incentive funds”, known as the GED Accelerator. The GED Accelerator awards community and technical colleges with performance funding for students who concurrently earn a GED and an approved postsecondary credential.

Colleges are eligible to receive up to $1,500—payment of $500 for completion of the GED and payment of $1,000 for completion of a high demand, state approved technical certificate—for students co-enrolled in adult basic skills and technical education pathway programs. Funding in this model also covers up to $170 of the cost of students taking the GED test. In order to receive the $170 incentive, colleges must verify that the student is enrolled in Adult Basic Education or provide other evidence that the student is pursuing a GED.

Also included in HB2506 was proviso language attached to the "tuition for technical education" appropriation. The proviso specifies payment of technical education tuition for adult students who are enrolled in technical education classes while obtaining a GED using Kansas' Accelerating Opportunity program, known as AO-K.

HANDOUT: A Brief Introduction to Accelerating Opportunity and Related Funding Opportunities in Kansas (pdf)

WEBINAR:
Overview and Discussion of DRAFT Implementation Guidelines for
AO-K Proviso and GED Accelerator (2014 Substitute for House Bill 2506)