The Urban Libraries Council has given the Dallas Public Library a Top Innovators Award for its GED Testing and Workforce Development Project.

The program at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library helps adults in Dallas earn their GED.

The 2017 Urban Libraries Council Innovations Initiative honors programs around the nation that provide “lifelong learning opportunities, meet the unique needs of diverse audiences, leverage technology to connect people with each other and vital resources, and address community issues.”

The library administers the four-subject, computer-base GED test in its testing center. The library also provides information sessions each month on GED preparations and workforce development resources for adults.

According to the Urban Libraries website, nearly 28 percent of Dallas County residents age 25 and older have less than a high school education. In some areas of the city, the percentage approaches 50 percent.

According to the ULI, 2016 data shows that the Dallas Public Library leads among certified testing centers in the Dallas area for administering the most exams (870), most graduates (131), highest pass rate (79 percent), and tied for highest average student score.

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