No High School Diploma? You've Got Options!

OCTOBER 2010

No high school diploma? You’ve got options!

If you’re done with high school but were near you. Or go to www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ae, n Both campuses of Rancho Santiago unable to graduate, don’t give up. You can click on “Directory of Schools,” and then (Santa Ana and Santiago Canyon) in still get a high school diploma whether you on “California Adult Education Provider Orange County; and dropped out, failed the California High Directory.” (You can use a computer at n Santa Barbara City. School Exit Exam, or did not have enough your local library.) Los Angeles City is also considering course credits. In addition, ask your high school coun- some form of Adult High School for its nine As you know, a high school diploma selor, principal, or a teacher what your school campuses. The earliest the program would is your passport to a more interesting and district offers students who cannot graduate be offered, if approved, would be spring better-paying job. Those who do not com- by the end of their senior year. Ask them semester 2011. plete high school will earn $270,000 less than if the district allows seniors to stay in high If one of these colleges is near your high school graduates during their working school longer and retake the exit exam. high school, talk to your school’s guidance lives, according to U.S. Census estimates. counselor or a teacher. Or go to your local And about 60% of 16- to 19-year-old dropouts Is there any way to get a diploma without community college’s Continuing Education are unemployed, according to a recent study. taking the exit exam? Department, Career Center, or Admissions It’s never too late. There are many ways At 12 community colleges, students can en- Office and talk to one of the counselors. outside of high school to get a diploma, its roll in Adult Education courses and receive a equivalent, or further education. This Q&A high school diploma without taking the exit What about the GED? focuses on those options. exam. (Often this program is called Adult Most Adult Education programs and all com- High School.) However, these colleges have munity colleges also offer classes that help How can I still get a diploma? their own set of tough requirements for ob- students prepare to pass the General Educa- Most communities in California offer Adult taining a diploma. Community colleges must tional Development Test or GED. The GED Education. Adult Ed programs are open to require at least 160 units of course work is recognized nationally as an acceptable students who are 18 years or older. If you are (courses you successfully completed in high substitute for a high school diploma and is a younger than 18, you still might be eligible. school would count toward those units), valuable asset for pursuing career and educa- You can take Adult Ed if you are an eman- and most colleges require more. In addition, tional opportunities. It has tests in math, cipated minor (legally free from parental some colleges have their own set of pro- reading, writing, social studies, and science. control), are pregnant or taking care of your ficiency exams that students must pass to The exam takes about 7 1/2 hours to com- child, or have a written agreement with your obtain a diploma. plete and includes multiple-choice and essay school district. The 12 colleges include: questions. You may take the exam three Adult Ed programs let you make up cred- n City College of San Francisco; times a year at testing centers for a fee of its that you need to graduate. They also offer n College of the Desert in Riverside about $100. You may retake the exam or sec- the exit exam twice a year. If you have all the County; tions you have not passed, often for an addi- credits you need, you can focus on English n College of the Siskiyous; tional fee. Go to www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/gd and/or math to help you pass the exam. n Copper Mountain in San Bernardino and click on “Frequently Asked Questions” to Check with your guidance counselor, a County; find the location of your local testing center teacher, the school district office, or a trusted n MiraCosta in San Diego County; and other information. Or call 1-866-370-4740 adult to find out about Adult Ed programs n Mount San Antonio, Pasadena City, and for information in English and Spanish, in- Santa Monica City, all in Los Angeles cluding a listing of testing centers through- EdSource thanks The James Irvine Foundation County; out the state. Also check with your school n for its investment in our core work. North Orange County District School district to see if the district offers the GED of Continuing Education; test at a lower price.

EdSource® is a not-for-proﬁt 501(c)(3) organization established in California in 1977. Independent and impartial, EdSource strives to advance the common good by developing and widely distributing trustworthy, useful information that clariﬁes complex K–14 education issues and promotes thoughtful decisions about California’s public school system. Q u e s t i o n s & a n s w er s

Students who are within 60 days of their or GED. It also helps its graduates find jobs. To find an ROCP near you, go to 18th birthday or older can take the GED. Under To learn more, call 1-800-733-JOBS (or 1-800- www.carocp.org/carocps.html or ask your certain circumstances, 17-year-olds can also 733-5627). Operators who speak English and guidance counselor or a teacher. take the exam. (See www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/gd Spanish are available 24 hours a day. An In addition, there are programs run by and click on “Frequently Asked Questions.”) operator will provide you with information other organizations, including apprentice- Special Education students can request an about the program, refer you to the admis- ships. To find out more about the minimum accommodation, such as more time to take sions counselor closest to your home, and requirements for a variety of apprentice- the exam, by contacting the testing center at mail you an information packet. You ships, go to www.dir.ca.gov/das, which has least 30 days before the test. can also go to the Job Corps website at some information in Spanish. In addition, many local GED testing www.jobcorps.gov. For more information about career- centers have preparation programs available You can earn a GED or high school technical opportunities, see EdSource’s without charge or can refer you to a prepara- diploma as a member of the California guide About to graduate from high school? tion program. Most bookstores and public Conservation Corps (CCC), a state pro- Consider career education programs, available libraries have GED test-preparation mate- gram for 18- to 25-year-olds. You also learn in English and Spanish. To download rials if you want to study for the GED on life skills and work hard doing fire protec- for free, go to www.edsource.org/pub_ your own. tion, emergency response, or environmental CareerEdGuide4-06.html or call 1-650- If you are deciding between getting your conservation (such as building trails, plant- 917-9481. diploma or the GED, consider the following: ing trees, or working in a salmon fishery). n How many courses do you have to take The CCC pays minimum wage and offers Do I need a diploma to go to college? to be eligible for a diploma? If that num- a grant for further education once you suc- In California, you only need to be 18 years ber is high, you might prefer taking cessfully complete the program. Some pro- or older to attend a community college. A the GED. grams provide housing or a chance to travel high school diploma is not required, though n Is the only reason you are not graduat- to other countries. Go to www.ccc.ca.gov. you may have to take remedial courses ing because you have not yet passed the Or you can call 1-800-952-JOBS (or 1-800- offered by the college and some majors, exit exam? If so, it might be easier to study 952-5627) and leave your name, address, and such as engineering, may require a GED just English and math for the exit exam phone number (in English or Spanish). A before you can transfer to a four-year rather than the four subjects covered by recruiter will call you in about a week. university. the GED. In addition, the state runs a Youth Besides preparing students for four-year n How old are you? The GED may be more Employment Opportunity Program (YEOP) universities, community colleges also pro- appropriate if you are 20 or older and not for 15- to 21-year-olds that offers peer vide career-tech programs, such as firefight- in Special Education. advising, referrals to supportive services, ing, carpentry, auto mechanics, graphic n Do you know where you want to work workshops, and job placement assistance. arts, and nursing. Go to your local college’s when you graduate? Find out if the Go to www.edd.ca.gov/jobs_and_Training/ career center or admissions office and talk to employer prefers a high school diploma Services_for_Youth.htm for locations of one of its counselors. Or see www.cccco.edu/ to the GED. Some employers like a YEOP programs and other information. Or StudentSupport/tabid/925/Default.aspx diploma because it shows that the job call your local Employment Development for a statewide list of colleges and their applicant has the ability to complete Department—which is listed in the front programs. what he or she has started. of the telephone book under State Govern- ment Offices—to find out if there is a YEOP What if I need financial help to attend I need to support myself. Are there any program near you. a community college? programs that provide a salary while I’m Contact the Student Aid Commission at studying for my high school diploma or GED? Can I enroll in a job-training program if I www.csac.ca.gov, click on “Financial Aid Yes. Some organizations offer help with the don’t have a high school diploma or GED? Programs,” then click on “Cal Grant C.” You high school diploma or GED and a salary Although many job-training programs can also call 1-888-CA-GRANT (or 1-888- as well. require a high school diploma or GED, some 224-7268) to see if you qualify. (You may Students who join Job Corps, a federal do not. For example, the 74 state-funded have to call more than once to get through.) program, are paid a monthly allowance. Job regional occupational centers and programs Also check out www.icanaffordcollege.com, Corps helps you learn a trade at the same (ROCPs) do not require a high school which includes information on how to get a time you are getting a high school diploma diploma and most offer courses for adults. community college fee waiver.

520 San Antonio Rd, Suite 200, Mountain View, CA 94040-1217 n 650/917-9481 n Fax: 650/917-9482 n [email protected] www.edsource.org n www.ed-data.org