Arizona employers understand the value of a high school diploma. However, according to the Coalition on Adult Basic Education, more than 500,000 working adults between 18-64 in our state still lack this credential, and nearly 28,000 working-age adults without a high school diploma are unemployed. To bridge the educational gap, Rio Salado College, the state’s largest adult education provider and a nationally recognized adult education program, helps Arizonans obtain high school equivalency credentials, opening the doors to secure living wage jobs with better career advancement opportunities, helping break the poverty cycle.
The most common path adults who left high school without a diploma take to earn their high school equivalency (HSE) diploma is the GED® testing pathway. Earning a high school diploma and obtaining a professional certificate or college degree provides an immediate return on investment (ROI) for the student and the local community. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, adults with high school diplomas earn annually an additional $9,500 compared to adults who did not complete high school. Moreover, adults with some college or an associate degree earn over $15,000 more than adults without a high school diploma. If Arizona invests more in adult education, the ROI will help our state reach its Achieve60AZ goal of 60% of working adults having a certificate, license, or degree by 2030.
"Ensuring access to education for all is not only a moral imperative but a strategic investment in our community's future," said Rio Salado College President Kate Smith, Ed.D. "Rio Salado College remains committed to providing pathways for adults to obtain their high school equivalency credentials and pursue career-enhancing opportunities. By bridging the educational gap, we empower individuals, strengthen our workforce, and contribute to the economic growth of our state."
The GED® testing pathway is one of three options available to adults in Arizona, which also include the College Credit Pathway and the HSE PLUS Career Readiness Pathway. With Arizona’s high school graduation rate lagging behind the national average, it's crucial to point out that the GED® is a test that, when passed, leads to a high school equivalency diploma issued by the Arizona Department of Education. This underscores the importance of Arizona’s adult education programs that provide options to assist adults in earning a high school diploma and training for in-demand jobs.
In addition to providing support for students striving to earn their HSE diploma, Rio Salado offers English language classes throughout the community. The Pew Research Center states that immigrants will play a pivotal role in the future growth of the U.S. working-age population. Improving upon their opportunities through language acquisition impacts their lives and the lives of their families.
Established in 1978, Rio Salado’s Adult Education program annually serves more than 5,000 adult education students. Rio Salado’s Adult Education program provides high school equivalency preparation and English language classes at no cost for students 16 years old or older who are not enrolled in high school. In addition, students in the program have access to stackable career-focused credentials through Maricopa Community Colleges, with 10 colleges and 31 satellite locations. These short-term credentials are often the first educational steps students take that count toward an associate or bachelor’s degree.
Rio Salado’s Adult Education career pathways align with the Maricopa County and city of Phoenix Workforce Development Plans for targeted industries in the local workforce regions. Within these career pathways, students earn stackable credentials infused with 21st-century skills employers value.
Efrain Gomez, a high school equivalency graduate, completed a certificate in semiconductor manufacturing during his tenure at Rio Salado College.
“I have always loved technology,” he said. “The Semiconductor Manufacturing program allowed me to learn valuable skills from the ground up and has helped me be more confident in my career as an engineer."
Rio Salado extends an invitation to Arizona leaders to invest in adult education programs that upskill learners for the local workforce, contributing to the state's economic growth. Rio Salado’s Adult Education program provides Arizonans with options to earn their high school credential and continue their college education or pursue advanced career training, leading to life-changing outcomes.
Learn more about Rio Salado College’s Adult Education programs at riosalado.edu/start-rio/adult-education.
This copy was originally submitted to the Phoenix Business Journal and can be found online.