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.
Grantees
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- Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College
- Oglala Lakota College
- Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College
- Sinte Gleska University
- Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
- Tohono O’odham Community College

Program Gallery
Native Students Stepping Forward:
Dollar General High School Equivalency Completion Program Blogs
Articles and success from the College Fund programs team.
SGU Staff Spotlight: Sherman “Jim” Marshall, II
Sherman “Jim” Marshall has led Sinte Gleska University’s adult basic education and high school equivalency work for nearly 15 years. His quiet leadership has left a lasting impact on staff and students.
Brandon Earns GED through SCTC’s HSE Program
In this HSE student highlight, we see how encouragement can transform a student’s confidence, academic success, and plans for his future.
Oglala Lakota College GED Staff Highlight: Both Ends of the Spectrum of Service
For half of a century, Oglala Lakota College GED tutors have dedicated their hearts and time, helping students pick up their educations where they left off. For some tutors, supporting GED students has been their life’s work. For others, it is a newfound calling.
Grantees
Thank you to our Grantees for supporting this program.
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