KFC's Reach High with GEDworks Program Invests in Employee Education

According to ‘Advancing Your Frontline Workforce With Employer-Sponsored Education Benefits,’ a white paper recently published by GED Testing Service, almost 40 million working adults in the U.S. lack a high school diploma: “for millions of Americans, especially those who fill entry-level and frontline jobs, the lack of a high school diploma is an insurmountable barrier to taking advantage of these popular reimbursement programs. Thankfully, workers who have not completed high school are not without hope.”

Offering opportunities for foundational education is not only beneficial for frontline workers, but it also boosts retention and recruitment, has a national economic impact, and contributes to a company’s corporate social responsibility efforts and the way customers view its corporate citizenship.

As a partner of GED Testing Service via the non-profit Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation, KFC U.S. knows the value of developing employees by providing employer-sponsored education benefits, especially when it comes to frontline team members.

Among the KFC Foundation’s education and relief programs, the REACH HIGH® – High School Equivalency Program, in partnership with GED Testing Service, gives restaurant employees a path to achieving their dreams. As one of the founding partners of GEDWorks™, the Foundation is providing a second chance for restaurant employees who were unable to complete their high school education by offering a free, all-inclusive GED preparation and testing program, along with a test pass guarantee and a personal advisor.

“It shifts the culture in a very positive way,” said Foundation Managing Director Krista Snider, “when employees see one of their co-workers benefitting from an offering like the REACH HIGH/GEDWorks program.”

Ninety-four percent of all U.S. stores participate in the program, and all employees at participating stores—Restaurant General Managers, Assistant Managers, Shift Supervisors and hourly Team Members—who seek assistance are eligible to enroll.

The REACH HIGH/GEDworks partnership was established in the fall of 2015, as the KFC Foundation saw a need to expand its employee education benefits of college assistance to include GED preparation and testing.  Since its inception, over 650 KFC restaurant employees have taken advantage of the program.

“Our goal is to help people be their best selves, no strings attached. So, we’re providing a spectrum of educational development opportunities for employees—from GED through college,” Snider said. “What is so unique and effective about the REACH HIGH/GEDWorks program is that every single student in the program has a personal advisor who is helping them every step of the way.”

Read more about REACH HIGH and the other programs the KFC Foundation offers.

Click here to download the full GED Testing Service ‘Advancing Your Frontline Workforce With Employer-Sponsored Education Benefits’ white paper.

About GED Testing Service
The GED® test has opened doors to better jobs and college programs for more than 20 million graduates since 1942. The GED® test is accepted by virtually all U.S. colleges and employers. As the creator of the one official GED® test, GED Testing Service has a responsibility to ensure that the program continues to be a reliable and valuable pathway to a better life for the millions of adults without a high school diploma. The organization continues to develop several new, innovative programs like GEDWorks™. GED Testing Service is a joint venture between the American Council on Education and Pearson.