EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Ivy Tech Community College Evansville has been awarded $7,200 from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to support Ivy+ Career Link’s Adult Basic Education and English Language Learners (ABE/ELL) Programs.
Nicholas Bragin, director of employer engagement for Ivy Tech, said the funding is designated for the college to provide free High School Equivalency (HSE) testing for students who are ready to take the exam. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development provides funding for much of the ABE/ELL program, but only a small portion of the funding is earmarked for testing. “Testing funding is rarely funded at a level that meets the needs of our students. This grant will allow us to provide testing for up to 50 additional students.”
According to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation website, the “Foundation helps individuals of all ages pursue their educational goals and achieve their dreams by investing in literacy programs that help students learn to read, prepare for the High School Equivalency test or learn English.”
Ivy Tech Evansville was one of 14 locations in Indiana awarded a grant for 2025.
The Ivy Tech ABE/ELL programs are currently offered in Vanderburgh, Spencer, Pike, and Gibson Counties. Now in the fifth year, the ABE/ELL program has served 461 students and expects to serve more than 250 in 2025. All students receive instruction in reading, English language and mathematics, while those pursuing an HSE certificate receive additional instruction in science and social studies.
The courses are designed to strengthen students’ foundational knowledge, refresh academic skills, and work toward earning an HSE certificate. When students reach the necessary competency in all subjects, those seeking to earn their HSE certificate are registered for the exam. In addition to the ABE courses, for non-native speakers not proficient in English, ELL classes help develop proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing through traditional instruction and engaging group and partner-based activities.
