A program designed to assist individuals to adjust and adapt to the upcoming changes in the GED testing program recently began.

A collaborative effort between the Department of Corrections, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, Blackhawk Technical College and the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, the GED Boot Camp is designed to address the changes in the GED examination, which will be completely computer-based starting in 2014.

Tests will also be revised and costs for the five exams will increase. Anyone who has not completely finished all five tests by Dec. 31 must start over.

The first Boot Camps were held at Prairie du Chien Correctional Facility and the Wisconsin Secure Program facility at Boscobel.

Three four-day Boot Camps are scheduled to serve the general public in southwest Wisconsin, preparing the enrollees to test in all five areas:

•    May 13–17 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at SWTC’s Fennimore Campus.

•    May 20-24 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at SWTC’s Richland Center Campus.

•    Aug. 26–30 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at SWTC’s Fennimore Campus.

Persons interested in enrolling or wanting information can contact Basic Education Case Manager Brek Schneider, (608) 822-2649, bschneider@swtc.edu.

Wisconsin residents must have a ninth-grade math and reading level to be eligible for the program, along with a valid photo ID (Wisconsin driver’s license, state or military ID, etc.). Qualifying students receive accelerated instruction and complete all five GED tests at no cost to them.