We hope you enjoyed the holidays and have had a chance to rest and refresh. During 2023, we cherished the opportunity to meet with so many of you, our education partners and state administrators, at virtual meetings, in-person events, and our annual GED conference. On behalf of our team at the GED Testing Service, I wanted to thank each one of you, our adult education partners, for walking hand in hand with us in our mission to encourage progress through learning and improve the lives of learners through education, opportunities, and the empowerment that comes from accomplishing what we set out to do.

You may recall last October, here in InSession, I invited you to embrace the momentum and to end the year strong. We certainly did our best to do so and are proud to highlight some accomplishments:

• GED added six new states: Indiana, New Hampshire, Louisiana, Missouri, West Virginia, and Montana to the GED family
• Our GED marketing team highlighted their many accomplishments in this short video
• We received three graphic design awards – check out Graphic Design USA
• We supported initiatives and new products, including a Credly badge refresh, GED student handbook, new math practice product, science reference sheet, and accessibility work.
• Over 20,000 learners have completed the WithYouWithMe (WYWM) learning styles assessments; over 1,000 GED graduates have engaged in the WYWM apprenticeship program.

We urge you to note our award-winning infographics, the adult learner, and the GED Testing Service, as they allow us to share vital information in a more accessible, engaging way.

Here are some of the innovations we will introduce in 2024:

• A completely redesigned website, easier to navigate for educators and learners
• A mobile app that will make our content much more accessible to all students
• Official launch of the GED TestPrepped Coaching Program
• Job expos to provide a shared space for learners, educators, and employers to meet

We are so excited for the year ahead and the opportunities to serve our learners in a collaborative, synergistic way with you, our educator partners!

The GED Testing Service strives to empower learners to improve their lives through the GED credential. With over 21 million graduates and counting, we remain committed to helping students develop the skills needed for further study or to gaining access to wider career opportunities. When the GED was created in 1942, its sole purpose was to serve as a second chance opportunity for returning veterans. Today, many decades later, we continue to transform students’ lives in the US and around the world.

As you’ll see on our website: “We believe that everyone, no matter their creed, challenge, or circumstance, should have the opportunity to pursue the college and career of their dreams.” We stay true to this promise as the only high school equivalency program that is recognized by 97% of employers and colleges nationwide.

This belief resonates with the legacy that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left following his untimely passing. As we commemorate his birthday and MLK Day in the US, we should take a moment to reflect on the profound impact that he had on education equality and equal opportunities for all. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. provided a voice for national consciousness regarding opening doors for equal access to education and employment. His efforts were recognized and celebrated when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his nonviolent resistance to racial oppression and his advocacy for economic and social justice, as well as peace and human rights. His tireless efforts continue to inspire educators and policymakers to this day, as we all work towards ensuring that every student has access to a quality education.

Working in education, you directly impact students’ lives every day, regardless of where you work or the role you play. You are part of bringing quality education and a life-changing opportunity to someone’s life each day. This responsibility is not something that should be taken lightly, as we look toward honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy every day.

As we reflect on Dr. King’s legacy, we invite all educators to take a moment to reflect on your contribution toward being a conscious contributor towards education equality. How will you contribute toward changing a student’s life?

Our Braille Services team ensures blind and visually impaired learners have the best experiences to learn and succeed during their GED journey.

We could not have picked a better success story to further celebrate MLK Day as an organization on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, with the mission of eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. YWCA of Southeast Wisconsin started in 1892 to offer resources to women and their families – from the first auto mechanics training for women in the 1920s to the first racially integrated cafeteria in the Midwest to today’s innovative and progressive initiatives.

Through this partnership, participants represent individuals who have been historically marginalized within Wisconsin’s traditional education systems. At YWCA SEW, the leadership strongly believes that genuine equity is realized when those most marginalized can access exceptional resources, leading to outcomes that nurture a future abundant with opportunities.

Jacob Gorges, Mission Program Director at the YWCA SEW, said “this collaboration has positively transformed the lives of nine families in Southeast Wisconsin. This mission was accomplished because of the partnership with GED Testing Service. Through the resources provided by GED Testing Service, the YWCA SEW delivered the highest level of GED products to 131 students.”

The GED Testing Service and YWCA staff members eagerly anticipate the continued progress toward a brighter future for all. The staff and students of YWCA SEW appreciate the collaboration with GED and look forward to the opportunity to work together to advance a more just society by expanding opportunities through equitable educational attainment.

The YWCA SEW gathered over 50 demographic touchpoints of all program participants. Some of the key demographics for the participants in this partnership were:

• 94% of program participants were people of color
• 79% self-identified as female
• 21% self-identified as male
• 73% were single parents

The GED Community Partnership Program was launched in late 2021 as part of the GED’s ongoing commitment to underserved and marginalized communities. The program aims to increase access while investing in community organizations that provide education, training, and other critical services.