About Smart Start
The Smart Start Pathway Course develops student’s foundational skills that are needed for their careers. The course allows students to learn and practice effective work habits and communication that are necessary for successful employment. Students learn about Mississippi’s current and emerging jobs within their region’s workforce area while identifying the career components that are essential for middle-skill employment. As Mississippi becomes a work-ready state, Smart Start students are prepared to take the WorkKeys test, which includes: Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents that qualifies students for the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). Employers seek candidates with a NCRC regardless of the candidate’s educational background because the certificate is a valid predictor of job performance.
View the Smart Start Course Fact Sheet
High School Equivalency Options
The Office of Adult Education manages high school testing in Mississippi. Mississippi offers multiple pathways for attaining the High School Equivalency Diploma. Upon completion of a single provider’s exams, the test taker will be issued a State of Mississippi High School Equivalency Diploma.
To view a side-by-side comparison of GED, HiSET, and TASC, please visit the MS High School Equivalency Comparison Fact Sheet.
View the High School Equivalency Testing Program Fact Sheet
Competency Based Diploma
The Mississippi Competency-Based High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) Option is an alternate HSED embedded with both academic standards and industry recognized credentials for students enrolled in an Integrated Education and Training Pathway at one of the Mississippi Community Colleges. Mastery of content and competencies, as well as use of existing assessments for pre- and post-testing, such as TABE® (Test of Adult Basic Education) and ACT WorkKeys® is the form of assessment used in lieu of the GED®, HiSET®, or TASC® norm testing.
View the Competency-Based High School Equivalency Diploma Fact Sheet
MI-BEST
Mississippi Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program (MI-BEST) quickly teaches students literacy, work, and college-readiness skills so they can move through school and into living wage jobs faster.