ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota residents without a high school diploma are now able to take the GED test for free for the next several months.

Gov. Mark Dayton announced Wednesday morning that additional federal funding will allow up to 2,000 people in Minnesota to take the GED test for free through July 2016.

Katie Clark Sieben is the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. She says people with a high school diploma are able to earn significantly higher incomes and that the funding will help reduce economic disparities.

The governor's proposed supplemental budget this year includes $120,000 in state funding that would keep the test free into 2017.

The GED test is made up of four subject areas. In total, it costs $120.

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