GEDs For Free: Chicago State Bill Calls For Waived $125 GED Fee for Homeless Teens

A Chicago senator is calling for GED fees to be waived for homeless students. The bill will allow the homeless youth better access to job opportunities leading to a chance to get out of poverty.

Senator Ira Silverstein (D) from Chicago sponsored a legislation that would exempt homeless children from paying for GED exams. The proposal was advanced by the Senate Education Committee with an 11-0 vote, allowing the bill to move to the full Illinois Senate for consideration.

Fees for equivalency exams vary by state but they typically range between $120 and $150. When the bill is passed, the fees would be covered by school districts.

About 20, 205 students in the Chicago Coalition Public School System were reportedly homeless as analyzed by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. Among the mentioned number, 98.1 percent were kids of color while 18.3 percent were kids with developmental delays or disabilities.

In total, teenagers comprised of 3.5 percent of the total homeless population in Chicago. Although youth homelessness rates in Chicago are declining, many are still struggling with issues such as sex trafficking, abuse and hungers. The proposed eradication of GED fees aims to give this demographic a chance to get out of poverty.

Other states have already implemented the similar state bill including California headed by Gov. Jerry Brown. The bill was signed last September prohibiting the Department of Education and other testing companies from charging exam fees to homeless individuals under the age of 25.

Nearly 90 percent of jobs in the U.S. require at least a high school diploma, according to Chicagoist. This opportunity allows the youth to get a diploma leading to wider job opportunities. The legislation also allows them to contribute to their families and communities, according to Huffington Post.

Removing the financial obstacle also improves the economy on a larger scale. In California alone, the state loses $3.2 billion in contributions due to the 75 percent of homeless kids not being able to graduate from high school, according to Community Education Partnerships.

The announcement of the bill comes alongside the recent citywide task force in combatting homelessness in Chicago. Initiated by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the measure aims to improve the lives of the homeless.