GED prep classes and tests bridge language gap

By Matthew Gomez
STAFF WRITER

The combination of the City College Transitional Studies Department and a 2002 California state law allow Spanish-speaking residents, including the undocumented, a chance at higher education.

According to the American Council on Education, about 96 percent of employers accept the General Education Development diploma as equivalent to a traditional high school diploma.

The Transitional Studies Department offers instruction in vocational foundation skills, GED preparation, the City College High School Diploma Program and adult basic education. All courses offered are free and assist students in completing their adult education, after which they can transfer to a two-year degree or vocational program.

Students without documentation can take advantage of the AB 540 law, which allows them exemption from paying out-of-state tuition fees as long as they meet certain requirements.

AB 540 was enacted January 1, 2002. According to the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, AB 540 allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition prices at community colleges or public universities if they attended high school in California for three or more years, graduated with a diploma or earned a GED and file an affidavit with the college they will be attending. Once the student has filled out an affidavit to commit to applying for residency as soon as they are eligible, they are able to attend college for the in-state tuition rate. At City College, this is the difference between paying $26 versus $179 per unit.

“Students entering the GED program in Spanish are required to be literate and fluent in Spanish,” said Jane Sneed, head of the transitional studies department. “A major goal for the Transitional Studies Program at the Mission campus is that students will graduate with high levels of competence in both Spanish and English.”

City College has offered GED preparatory classes and testing in English and Spanish since 1972, after the college merged with the adult education branch of the San Francisco Unified School District. The classes are non-credit and free of charge. GED testing is administered at the John Adams Campus.

The classes are open-entry, meaning a student can join at any time and can easily switch class times. The program can also help boost a student’s score on their placement tests in math and English after they’ve received their GED.

Open labs are also offered through the Transitional Studies Department. These are study periods for students who wish to improve their skills in a certain subject. The periods are non-credit, but they do help prepare students looking to earn either their GED or high school diploma.

Nelson Ricardo Escalona, 31, came to City College to obtain his GED, but after he was laid off from his job this year, he decided it would be more beneficial to pursue his high school diploma.

“I had to cut short last year because of work,” he said. Now he says his motto is school first and then work.