District 6’s alternative program graduates enter ‘Next’ chapter with GED ...Saudi Arabia

Leo Monrreal thought he’d be a high school dropout.

However, on Saturday morning, he crossed a finish line that he never thought he would reach: graduation.

The Next GED + Program, an alternative route to completing high school, brought Monrreal one step closer to pursuing a law enforcement career.

Monrreal and others who have completed Next graduated alongside students of a sister program, the Greeley-Evans Alternative Program (GAP), on Saturday morning at District 6 Stadium. Nearly 30 Next graduates walked across the stage in joint ceremonies during the 2024-25 school year, one in June and the other in December.

“Exhilarating, very much so,” Monrreal said about graduating. “Everyone in my family is proud of me. They’re ecstatic that I’ve completed a chapter in my life that I always said I would never do.”

While GAP guides students who lack the necessary credits toward state-recognized high school diplomas, Next supports students in earning a General Educational Development (GED) diploma or certificate. The GED is equivalent to a traditional high school diploma when it comes to obtaining education or employment, according to the Colorado Department of Education.

However, the program goes beyond earning a GED, it sets students up for their future, according to Meghann Guentensberger, director of Next GED Programs.

“It’s way more than a GED program,” Guentensberger said. “We call it a GED plus program for a reason, because it is also about helping students figure out what’s next.”

What comes Next?

Zero Dropouts has partnered with Greeley-Evans School District 6 since the 2017-18 school year to offer the Next program to 17 to 21-year-olds who seek a different high school completion pathway, according to Guentensberger.

Students who struggle to thrive in traditional school settings, financially support their family or have health issues often find a perfect fit through Next.

Monrreal, who spoke at graduation, said the program’s flexibility, “the come when you want” schedule, allowed him to focus on his personal life before directing his attention to school.

Kathleen Nusser, another Next graduate, struggled to find motivation to show up to in-person school, but felt like no one held her accountable when she tried online school. The Next program became an ideal blend — she received the support she needed, but she didn’t have to be present every day.

Nusser also entered the program with limited credits and doubts about graduating on time. She realized that out of all the high school options in District 6, Next would be the quickest course to earning a diploma and getting to where she wants to go next — working in childcare.

“I thought maybe I’d be a year off, but it’s right on time,” she said about graduation. “I’m grateful for the program.”

Anyone can study for and pursue a GED on their own. Next, however, provides “wrap-around support” at no cost to students as they prepare for the tests, Guentensberger said. She listed student support as building confidence, resume building, overcoming anxiety around school and testing, building relationships and making connections to community partners.

The Next team also exposes students to opportunities for their future, from helping them secure their first job to launching a long-term career path, Guentensberger added. The program also covers the costs of college or concurrent enrollment courses.

“It’s magical to watch,” she said. “These kids that are like, ‘Oh, I never thought I liked school. I never thought I was a student, but then they get to take a college class in the subject that they see a direct connection to their end goal or something that they’re just really passionate about, and they come alive.”

For Monrreal, Next provided him with community college and career connections and resources for his future. And one stuck out: A college recruiter for a law enforcement academy. The recruiter connected him to Weld County dispatch, who then encouraged him to do a ride-along.

Now, he’s set on becoming a corrections deputy with the Weld County Sheriff’s Office and later transferring to patrol.

‘Keep marching on’

To obtain a GED, students must pass four tests in different subject areas — math, science, social studies and reasoning through language arts. To pass, students must score at least a 145, out of a range of 100 to 200, on each exam. Scoring above 165 means a student is college-ready.

Next offers a personalized education to each student preparing for the exams, Guentensberger said. Unlike traditional education systems, Next fills the gaps in a student’s already-established educational career to get them ready for the GED, focusing on areas where they need help instead of on subjects they already have down.

The program also aims to reverse the stigma surrounding the GED, particularly that it’s for people who are bad at school.

“Especially for our students, helping them realize that just because they didn’t finish high school in a traditional format doesn’t mean they’re not smart,” Guentensberger said. “It doesn’t mean that they’re not a scholar.”

In reality, the four exams are rigorous, requiring an understanding and knowledge of four years’ worth of high school in four subjects.

The 2023-24 GED pass rate in the state was 81%, according to the Colorado Department of Education.

Testing presented its fair share of challenges to recent graduates, like Nusser, who had to retake the math test, making graduation even more rewarding.

“It was a show of self-accomplishment and crossing the finish line you never thought you’d cross,” Monrreal said about obtaining his GED. “For anyone that’s having doubts … keep marching on. You’ll eventually reach that finish line.”

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( District 6’s alternative program graduates enter ‘Next’ chapter with GED )

Also on site :

• Inter Milan star threatens to fight fan over Champions League taunting in feisty exchange
• ‘Numbers kept growing’ – Everton missed out on Arsenal and Manchester United target Viktor Gyokeres
• Lions Tour 2025: Fixtures, UK kick-off times, venues and Andy Farrell’s confirmed squad for Australia series