For most of us, back-to-school has always been a time and opportunity to look forward—a time to get excited about what new adventures are ahead for students, parents, and educators; a time to set new goals.

This year has given us a new perspective on what it’s like to learn, teach, and keep a positive outlook during uncertain times.

Despite the challenges it has brought, it has allowed us to slow down, reflect, and adjust to our “new normal.” Even though we don’t yet know exactly what that means, one thing we can be assured of is that our students need us now more than ever!

This pandemic has been a catalyst for change in our day-to-day lives and how we provide instruction and support to our students in and outside the classroom. We are being challenged to consider how we can best advance our students’ knowledge and future skills. This learning curve that we are all experiencing will bring challenges and some successes. At GED Testing Service, we want to ensure that you know we are committed to helping our educators and students figure out what works best for them. This means more access to distant learning tools, professional development resources for remote instruction, and thinking about what we can do to help many of our students struggling to make ends meet while earning their GED.

Our current reality requires us to improve what we offer to help even more students get the credential they need to pursue their education and career goals. We launched the Online Proctored GED test pilot in May, and we are continuing to work with states to update policies and eligibility requirements to get even more students to graduate status. There are also several states offering free or discounted testing options to help students start or finish their GED while eliminating some of the financial burden associated with testing. We hear your concerns, appreciate your feedback, and we are taking action to make the GED test program an attainable gateway to a better future.

In addition to all of this, our passion and drive to fight social injustice continue to be top of mind in all we do. We are making progress on our plan to drive more awareness of our Black, Latino, and Indigenous students. We are investing in partnerships with local and national organizations that align with our mission to provide support and resources to students of color. We are interviewing new GED Board members that will better represent our diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. In addition, we are meeting as a GED team to have an open dialogue on how each of us can be a stronger advocate for change within the organization and in our personal lives.

We know that these times are stressful as many of us are trying to manage work, family, classes, and other responsibilities amid a pandemic that impacts every aspect of our lives.

If you or your students are going through a tough time, we ask that you lean on your surrounding GED community and us for support—let us know how we can help you and your students.

Thank you for all you do, and I wish you continued health, safety, and wellness.

Vicki Greene, President of GED Testing Service

The GED Ready score report continues to evolve as we update the features to help students successfully prepare for the GED test subjects.

Here is a look at the updates we’ve made this year.

Linking the study tool via pop-up

Linking a study tool in the Score Report helps to further guide students so they know exactly which pages or sections to study based on the skills they need to focus on. A number of our students don’t link their current study tool and are missing out on valuable study guidance. Some of our students shared with us that they aren’t linking their tool in the Score Report because they don’t always know the name of their book or online resource, but if they saw a picture of the cover it would help them to find and link it more easily.

When we A/B tested this feature earlier this year, we saw more students successfully linking a study tool. This study tool pop-up is now available to all students on their GED Ready score reports.

Due to the continued importance of the Online Proctored (O.P.) GED test during the pandemic, we have continued to make this option more robust.

In consultation with state policymakers, we have made updates to age eligibility requirements, specifically for students 16 and 17 who were not previously eligible for O.P. In a few weeks we will begin offering the option for retakes and we will launch the Spanish-language test, giving even more students access to this remote testing option.

Most states now allow approved 16 and 17-year-olds access to the Online Proctored GED test.

Remember that eligible 16 and 17-year-olds in participating states will need to go through an underage approval process, as they do for in-person testing. The underage testing approval process differs by state and information specific to each state can be found on the state policy pages on GED.com.

The updated State-by-State Info on Online GED Testing webpage now shows what states are participating, underage testing eligibility and what states are offering free or discounted testing fees.

You can find an updated policy fact sheet that covers the major policy differences between in-person and online testing on GED.com.

Test retakes through the Online Proctored GED® test

Starting in early October, eligible students in participating states will be able to retake GED test subjects through online testing (currently failed test subjects must be retaken in-person at an authorized test center). Students will be able to schedule a retake on O.P. after a failed attempt.

After their second failed test attempt, they’ll be required to wait 60 days before scheduling another online proctored retake. A 60-day wait will be required between each subsequent online proctored retake.

Students will be notified of this change through their GED.com accounts and through email when the option becomes available.

Spanish-language testing option

Starting in early October, eligible students will also have the option to take the GED test subjects in Spanish.

It is important that educators and students know that the check-in process for the O.P. test is in English at this time, whether the student is taking the actual test in English or Spanish. Based on the feedback of state policymakers and an advisory group of educators working in programs with a large number of students who test in Spanish, we have developed communications and deliverables to help you and your students prepare for the check-in process.

A key resource is this Spanish-language video that will take students through the check-in screens that they’ll see and the process they’ll experience prior to testing in Spanish.

Students will be notified of this additional option in their GED.com accounts and by email. Students scheduling a Spanish-language test will also be notified and highly encouraged to watch the check-in process video.

My Call to “Good Trouble”: Advocating for change as a Black male educator

By Catrell Medlock

With the recent passing of the Honorable John Lewis, many Americans are asking themselves a lot of personal and thought-provoking questions. I am personally answering the call to be an advocate for equality while demanding change as a bold, beautiful, Black man. I will do as John Lewis requested of my generation, “and find a way to get in the way…find a way to get in trouble. Good trouble, necessary trouble.”