Native Students Stepping Forward:
Dollar General High School Equivalency
Completion Program
2014 – Ongoing
Program Details
The American Indian College Fund’s Native Students Stepping Forward: Dollar General High School Equivalency Completion Program, previously known as the Dollar General American Indian and Alaska Native Literacy and Adult Education Program, supports American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) pursuing their High School Equivalency (HSE)/General Education Diploma (GED) credentials through Tribal College and University (TCU)-implemented programming.
Like the Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) that funds the program at up to $300,000 annually, Native Students Stepping Forward is committed to helping individuals of all ages receive the educational foundation they need to succeed in post-secondary education opportunities or the workforce. Through grants to TCUs, the program seeks to strategically expand services and resources to achieve measurable outcomes in HSE/GED program enrollment, retention, and completion. In a continuous effort to value the whole student, the program aims to assess and address students’ needs to succeed, encourages culturally relevant programming elements, promotes visibility of HSE/GED students at TCUs, and supports college and career readiness programming components.
Program Gallery
Native Students Stepping Forward:
Dollar General High School Equivalency Completion Program Blogs
Articles and success from the College Fund programs team.
Once the Student, Now the Tutor: My GED Story
Just a few years ago, Conrad was a GED student at Oglala Lakota College. Now he is back in the same classroom as the tutor, using his lived experience and TCU education to support students continuing their own education.
Returning to School Takes Courage: Akiiwaande’s Story
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College’s high school equivalency (HSE) program recognizes that one of the Seven Grandfather Teachings, Aakwa’ode’ewin (bravery), is displayed momentously by its HSE students. This is the story of one those students, Akiiwaande.
Grantees
Thank you to our Grantees for supporting this program.
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University
Oglala Lakota College
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College
Sinte Gleska University
Tohono O'odham Community College
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Other Programs
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