Get Your Free High School Equivalency & Get Started On The Path To A Brighter Future

(BEDFORD) – In Lawrence County, there were more than 2,560 people in 2017 that were working without a high school diploma or High School Equivalency Diploma (HSE).

“We are currently working to educate the public – Indiana no longer gives the “GED” test. It’s now called the “HSE” or High School Equivalency Diploma,” says Kayla Bryant marketing director at the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council. 

Last year only 38 Lawrence County residents received the HSE.

“We want to increase this number significantly as it is our goal to get at least 100 people their HSE in the next year,” Bryant added.

Education plays an important role in life by improving your knowledge and preparing you to get a better job. Workers who have a high school diploma earn nearly $10,000 more per year than those who do not.

Adults who left high school before graduation have a free way to secure a high school equivalency credential.

What does that mean? It means that, through testing, you can demonstrate you have the same skills and knowledge as a high school graduate. Doing so can help you create a whole new future.

Your HSE diploma can be earned after completing a test based on five subject areas including Math, Reading, Writing, Science, and Social Studies. The skills you are taught and eventually tested on are at the same level as those of graduating high school seniors.

The difficulty of the test matches current Indiana high school academic demands.

Once you pass the test, the State of Indiana will issue you an Indiana High School Equivalency Diploma

Who can take the HSE?

  • Anyone living in Indiana for a minimum of 30 days before taking the test.
  • Those who have not already earned a diploma from an accredited high school in the United States.
  • Students who are at least 16 years of age

This FREE program is offered in Lawrence County in both Bedford and Mitchell.

“There are classroom and online options for this program., says instructor Travis Malone. We have a website for this program – www.getmyhse.org.”

On the website individuals can fill out the interest form and Malone will contact them to share information and answer questions. 

Interested individuals can also call Malone directly at 812-890-4337. 

“In a recent survey, we found that 58 percent of Lawrence County employers that responded require an HSE for entry-level work,” says Bryant. “The other 42 percent is largely fast-food and retail.”

Lawrence County Class Schedule:

Teacher: Travis Malone You can email him at TMalone@vinu.edu  or call him at 812-890-4437.

Classes in Bedford:

  • Monday – 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. 
  • Tuesday – 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
  • Thursday- 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. 

Classes are held at Work One at 2405 Mitchell Road in Bedford. 

In Mitchell:

  • Tuesdays – 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. 
  • Thursdays – 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Classes are held at the Mitchell Community Public Library at 804 West Main Street

 Those wanting to register or learn more about the classes can click here.

Taking Indiana’s HSE test is your first step to moving forward. Whether your goal is to get a better job or continue on your educational pathway to a certificate, 2-year associate degree or 4-year bachelor’s degree, this is where your second chance starts.