Pima County's Las Artes Arts & Education Center is accepting students for the GED program session that begins Monday, July 9.
The program pays students a weekly incentive to offset the cost of transportation, clothing and school supplies. A new student orientation for the session will be held Tuesday, July 3, at 8:30 a.m. Students should arrive by 8:15.
Young people ages 17-22 must complete an application and take a basic assessment to determine placement level before attending the orientation. They can come to Las Artes, 23 W. 27th St. in South Tucson, Monday through Thursday for that initial assessment, beginning at 8:15 a.m. Please call 520-724-5050 to confirm the assessment schedule before coming to the school.
Las Artes, sponsored by Pima County's Community Services, Employment and Training Department and SER-Jobs for Progress, will be accepting and assessing students for placement through the first week of the session. The school has successfully prepared students for the new GED test in as little as 16 weeks.
In addition, Las Artes students have a significantly higher pass rate when taking the GED than the national average. Ninety percent of Las Artes students pass the test compared to 61 percent across the country.
Las Artes combines structured classroom study with community art projects to prepare students for the general education development tests and build employability skills. Their murals, ceramic tiles and other artwork can be seen across Pima County.
Students receive support with a variety of issues ranging from language barriers, anger management, legal intervention or child care. Qualified case managers help coach and counsel student to overcome issues that keep them from succeeding in the classroom. Las Artes graduates make a positive transition to the workplace and have greater opportunities for sustainable employment.
More than 600 Las Artes students have obtained their GEDs since the program began more than 25 years ago. For more information, please contact Patty Short or Arnold Palacios at 520-724-5050 or LasArtes@pima.gov, or visit Las Artes online.
