Kane County Regional Office of Education Superintendent Patricia Dal Santo has partnered with Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley to offer an annual scholarship opportunity for parents with children in grades K-12.

This year, Laura Jimenez, a LVFV student and mother of three was selected by Dal Santo to take the five-part high school equivalency test at the ROE Pearson Test Center.

Jimenez has lived in Aurora for eight years and she has three daughters. “Two of my daughters attend East Aurora High School and my youngest attends O’Donnell Elementary School,” she said.

“Learning English helps me speak with customers at work and with my children so I can help them with their homework. After I get my GED, I want to go to school for nursing,” Jimenez said.

“Laura was recommended by Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley as the perfect candidate for this scholarship,” shared Regional Superintendent Dal Santo. “Since the ROE is centrally located in the Fox Valley, it is a convenient location for many test takers in neighboring cities. ESL GED-seekers in the area are often parents that have children in the Kane County school system,” she said.

Dal Santo said that the ROE wants to help ESL parents continue their education and improve the quality of life for their families. “Parents say that because they now speak English, they can attend conferences at their children’s schools, talk with school personnel, volunteer at school, read to their children and help children with homework.”

According to GivingTuesday.org, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015 is dedicated to giving back. Charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give.

Starting Jan. 1, 2016, the ROE Pearson Test Center will offer two different high school equivalency tests: HiSET and TASC. Both new tests can be retaken twice for free and have the option to be completed on paper.

The ROE Pearson Test Center is centrally located in Geneva, ideal for those looking to test in Batavia, St. Charles, Campton Hills, West Chicago, Wayne, Lily Lake, La Fox, Sycamore or DeKalb.

About the Kane County Regional Office of Education’s Pearson Test Center

Hundreds of different tests are available, from Adobe certification to TAP to C++. To register for a test, select your program from Pearson’s list. To learn more about the two new high school equivalency tests that will be offered, visit HiSET and the TASC website. The ROE Pearson Test Center is temperature regulated, equipped with new computers in the new facility located at 28 N. First Street, South Tower in Geneva.

About the Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley

Starting in 1989, Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley’s mission has been to help individuals in the region acquire and validate the literacy skills that they need to function more effectively in contemporary U.S. society. As a 501c3, LVFV equips and empowers individuals who are otherwise unable to participate fully in our community. The organization provides 1:1 tutoring for adults that live or work in St. Charles, Batavia, Geneva, Elburn, Campton Hill, LaFox, Lily Lake, Wasco and Wayne. Learn more about tutoring, donating, events and programs by visiting LVFV.org or by calling Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley at 630-584-2811.