Continuing its commitment to serve all students in Madison County, the Madison County School Board held its semi-annual graduation ceremony for the district's Adult Education program on May 19. Recognizing that a strong GED program is vital to fulfilling its mission, district leadership gave and received praise for the success of the program that has surpassed expectation since the district recovered it in fall of 2009.

GED programs are organized by county, which allows local school districts to recover their own students who were failed by the system in the first place. Still grateful for the opportunity, these returning students quickly acknowledged their personal responsibility for completing their education; however, they were also quick to acknowledge the crucial role the local program played in their achievement. The audience was visibly moved, as several graduates rose and expressed their appreciation to instructors, administrators and the board.

The Madison County Adult Education program has two sections, providing morning and evening GED classes to accommodate working students and single parents. Working in close cooperation with North Florida Community College and North Florida Workforce, which also provides classroom space in their Madison Office, the GED program offers a combination of group and one-on-one lesson plans that include a variety of traditional and online resources designed to fit individual strengths and weaknesses.

Despite its short history, numerous Madison County graduates have progressed into careers and college studies, including nursing and emergency medical programs, leaving each graduate with a common sense of achievement and appreciation. While expressing his appreciation, one graduate even got a bit political, strongly urging board members and administrators to support the growth of the program during a budget season where radical cutbacks are sometimes suggested.

There are currently no charges for local GED classes, although state lawmakers are proposing a fee for the class starting after July 1. Currently the only charge is the national testing fee, but again, there are currently no charges for the class. Call Paula Ginn at (850) 973-5022, ext. 317 for more information and to get started immediately.