Jeff Hopfenbeck
Coloradans without a high school diploma face many challenges. They are likely to earn less than their more-educated peers, are more likely to be incarcerated, and some even face decreased life expectancy. In addition, they are likely to incur thousands more in social costsdue to lower tax contributions, higher reliance on Medicaid and Medicare, higher rates of crime, and higher reliance on welfare.
Yet for those dropouts who wish to pursue a better life, the barriers to obtaining a General Educational Development (GED) degree often seem insurmountable. Language, poverty, pregnancy, illness, technology, and incarceration can dull hopes for a brighter future.
