Jail Becomes Official GED Testing Site

It’s official, the Harrison County Jail is now an official testing site for the General Education Diploma (GED).  November 2006 marked the first class to start and complete their studies at Harrison County since the educational program was first offered in 2000.  Since its inception, over forty-three inmates have received the GED, some as they served their local time in the county and others upon release or transfer to state facilities.

The new testing site was a cooperative effort involving Capt. John Hain, of the Harrison County Jail, Jeremy Dorman, Testing Coordinator of Panola College and the college’s Adult Education Department. A formal request with supporting information had to be submitted to the State Examination Department for approval.  Harrison County is now one of only a few county jails in Texas to be approved as an official testing site.

Classes are conducted every Friday under Jim Houston, Instructor of Adult Basic Education.  Inmates are informed of GED opportunities by various officers of the jail and make a request to attend.  Now that it’s official many more inmates will have an opportunity to continue their education and hopefully secure gainful employment.  For further information, please contact Laura Wood, Director of Panola College’s Marshall Center and Adult Basic Education Program at 903-923-8207.