Nearly every 15 seconds, another U.S. student drops out of high school, according to federal research data. That’s 5,479 students a day and about 2 million students per year.

This high dropout rate has a devastating effect on those who don’t finish high school, as well as their communities. However, expanding access to adult education can help solve this problem—and public libraries play a key role in this effort.

Providing opportunities for high-quality adult education aligns with the mission of libraries to serve their communities’ educational, personal enrichment, and career development needs. Now, a new service from Gale helps libraries do this in a highly effective way.

Called Gale Presents: Excel Adult High School, the service enables adults to learn online at their own pace as they work toward an accredited high school diploma. The program includes 100 standards-aligned courses, all updated regularly, that participants can choose from as they earn a diploma by completing 15.5 academic credits and six elective credits..

Benefits of adult learning

The economic impact of not finishing high school is significant. Adults who lack a high school education earn nearly $9,000 less per year, on average, than those who have a diploma, according to a Gale report titled Explore How High School Diplomas Can Transform the Lives of Adult Learners. About 5.5 percent of high school dropouts are unemployed, compared to 4 percent of high school graduates and 2 percent of college graduates.

But failing to finish high school can affect people in other ways as well, Gale notes. On average, the life expectancy of adults who drop out of high school is 14.2 years less for men and 10.3 years less for women, compared to college graduates. Adults with less education are less likely to have access to benefits like health insurance, paid leave, and retirement plans and are more likely to experience chronic and acute health issues throughout their lifetimes.

What’s more, high school dropouts are three times more likely to get arrested after the age of 18, and dropouts make up 68 percent of all incarcerated people in the United States.

The dropout rate also affects entire communities. Within the next six years, 94 percent of all jobs in the United States are expected to require at least a high school diploma—and 72 percent of jobs will require at least some postsecondary education. If adults aren’t able to fulfill these requirements and prepare for this shift in the labor market, unemployment rates may rise dramatically.

Adults who haven’t finished high school are nearly four times more likely to rely on government assistance programs, such as food stamps, housing assistance, unemployment benefits, and Medicaid, which can strain government budgets. On average, an adult who hasn’t completed high school costs the economy approximately $272,000 over their lifetime.

In contrast, research estimates that increasing the high school graduation rate from its current 87 percent to 90 percent—just three percentage points—would improve outcomes dramatically, to the tune of 14,260 new jobs, $3.1 billion in earnings, and $159 million in state and local tax revenue nationwide.

These statistics highlight the powerful impact earning a high school diploma has, not just on the economy but on individual lives. Cassandra Misa is a case in point. Misa graduated from high school through an innovative program available through public libraries. Her story is a testament to how completing high school can open doors to new job opportunities and future aspirations.

“I always wanted to complete my high school education so I could have a sense of accomplishment. As soon as my diploma came in, I started applying for jobs and have already started with a new company,” says Misa. “I am extremely excited about my future and the fact that if I wanted to go to college one day, I could now. The opportunities are endless.”

How Gale can help

Traditionally, adults who were looking to earn their high school diploma had limited options, Gale says. Many have aged out of their local school district programs, and high school equivalency programs like the GED require students to pay for the standardized exam, creating further barriers to graduation.

Gale Presents: Excel Adult High School can help adults overcome these barriers. Available to patrons of subscribing libraries at no cost, it’s a self-paced, 100-percent online program that allows adults to earn an accredited high school diploma in 24 months or less. Previously earned high school or GED credits are accepted, which reduces the time it takes for participants to graduate. With academic tutoring, success coaches, and English language translation tools, the program guides and supports patrons toward graduation—and a brighter future. Available at more than 65 library systems across the United States, the program is having a significant impact on peoples’ lives, including a Bosnian immigrant from the St. Louis area.

The service is part of Gale’s Adult Learning Suite, which provides a full complement of learning options for adults to earn a high school diploma, develop new skills, and/or prepare for college or their careers. All of these resources are self-paced and fully accessible online, so patrons can accomplish their goals on their own time.

The other resources in Gale’s Adult Learning Suite include…

• Gale Presents: Udemy: With thousands of on-demand video courses, this upskilling resource helps patrons learn new skills across 75 subject areas, including business, IT, creative arts, personal finance, technology, wellness, and more. Users can find high-quality courses from expert instructors for today’s in-demand skills, as well as courses in 15 different languages taught by native-speaking instructors to help libraries reach diverse populations.

• Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test and Career Prep: With standardized test preparation, college planning, career exploration, and job search tools, this resource offers everything patrons need to take the next step in their education or career. Users can access practice tests, financial aid information, a resumé builder, and more.

“Our patrons have overcome significant challenges to achieve their goal of earning a high school diploma through the Gale Presents: Excel Adult High School ,” one library customer said. “I cannot emphasize enough just how impactful this program is and how it improves the lives of our graduates. Gale has helped our library system further our mission to provide services that have a truly positive impact on our community.”

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