News and updates for June 2022:

• Voucher Purchase Update: We will be retiring from the VUE Voucher Store later this year due to IE software changes. Instead, we would like to encourage you to make your voucher purchases on GED Marketplace. We have added Check/ACH payment methods to the existing Credit Card and Credit Terms payment options. As with Credit Terms, you will need to be logged in to your Marketplace account and meet a minimum order amount to take advantage of paying via a PO process. GED Ready and test vouchers are available on Marketplace now and more will be coming later this month.
• InSession will be on hiatus in July, we look forward to seeing all of you at the 2022 GEDTS Annual Conference.

News and updates for June 2022:

• Voucher Purchase Update: We will be retiring from the VUE Voucher Store later this year due to IE software changes. Instead, we would like to encourage you to make your voucher purchases on GED Marketplace. We have added Check/ACH payment methods to the existing Credit Card and Credit Terms payment options. As with Credit Terms, you will need to be logged in to your Marketplace account and meet a minimum order amount to take advantage of paying via a PO process. GED Ready and test vouchers are available on Marketplace now and more will be coming later this month.
• InSession will be on hiatus in July, we look forward to seeing all of you at the 2022 GEDTS Annual Conference.

News and updates for June 2022:

• Voucher Purchase Update: We will be retiring from the VUE Voucher Store later this year due to IE software changes. Instead, we would like to encourage you to make your voucher purchases on GED Marketplace. We have added Check/ACH payment methods to the existing Credit Card and Credit Terms payment options. As with Credit Terms, you will need to be logged in to your Marketplace account and meet a minimum order amount to take advantage of paying via a PO process. GED Ready and test vouchers are available on Marketplace now and more will be coming later this month.
• InSession will be on hiatus in July, we look forward to seeing all of you at the 2022 GEDTS Annual Conference.

The Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua, Hawaii, recently celebrated its first class of GED graduates through an innovative GED preparation program.

The program is a collaborative effort between Hawai’i Friends of Restorative Justice (HFRJ), the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC), Windward Community College (WCC), College of Social Sciences University of Hawai‘i (UH), and McKinley Community School for Adults (MCSA).

The outcomes of this GED peer tutoring program after just 12 weeks of its application show its remarkable value for helping women continue their education. The program trains imprisoned women who have at least a high school education to become tutors for their peers studying for the GED test. Since the program began in earnest in November 2021, two cohorts of peer tutors (10 women total) have completed a 20-hour training program in cooperative education, which taught them how to engage students in hands-on learning. The second tutor cohort completed their training in early June. The tutors are paid, and financial incentives are offered for women to complete the GED credential.

To study for the GED test with a poor academic history is especially challenging. The women studying for the GED test subjects in this program were educationally assessed before entering the program, and most only test at the 4th to 6th grade level. However, with the encouragement of their peer-tutors, they begin to see themselves as capable of passing the test. About 30 women enrolled in the program who worked for innumerable hours studying for the test (one stopped for personal reasons but came back and is currently working on passing the GED test). While the incentives helped get the women into the classroom to begin studying, it was the tutors’ persistence and consistently applied academic assistance and inspiration that helped the women learn the material to pass the GED test.

Within three months, 15 women had passed their GED test subjects and earned credentials. In addition, the learners were able to test remotely with the launch of the Online Proctored GED test program. “The students trusted their tutors, and they built relationships,” said Lance Jyo, Vice Principal of the McKinley Community School for Adults – Moanalua Campus. “I also must give credit to the wardens and their commitment to seeing this program succeed at their facility. The project team had to think outside of the box, and now we’re talking about doing this same model for men.” The McKinley Community School for Adults provides education services for state correctional facilities.

At the commencement ceremony, 15 women were recognized for earning their GED credentials, with three more earning credentials since the ceremony. Gov. David Ige, First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige, Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, and Rep. Linda Ichiyama were among the dignitaries in attendance. The program is actively training tutors for an additional cohort to help future graduates earn their credentials.

The key to the success of this program is all partners, Department of Public Services: Women’s Community Correctional Center, Hawai’i Friends for Restorative Justice, Windward Community College, College of Social Sciences (UHM) working collaboratively.

More information about the pilot program can be found in this recent article from Civil Beat.

Each year we hold GED Grad Week as a worldwide virtual celebration of GED graduates and their accomplishments.

Throughout the event, May 16th through May 20th, we will share GED success stories and motivational and congratulatory messages from educators, friends, family members, employers, and others in the GED community.

We know the important role of a supportive community in helping learners take the first step to earn their GED credential and helping them along the way. Many learners have shared that a family or friend was a motivating factor to get started. We also know that educators have a critical role in preparing learners with the knowledge they need to pass the GED subjects while being a constant source of support and encouragement.

GED graduates and their success are a testament to their hard work and commitment to the journey despite the obstacles that many face on their path to earning a credential. Every year learners from over 90 countries become GED graduates and use their diplomas to start jobs, advance their current careers, or enter college and career training programs. The GED credential is accepted at virtually all U.S. college and universities, and GED graduates can be found working in every career field.

Throughout GED Grad Week we will be giving GED graduates and their stories the spotlight they deserve. Please join us by sharing messages of congrats for your learners, words of advice for new graduates, and even personal stories about the positive impact the GED credential has had in your life.

There’s still time to join the GED Grad Week Facebook Group, where we will be sharing videos and posts, and you can engage with fellow educators and GED graduates. You can also follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and follow and use the hashtags #GED and #GEDGradWeek.

Accelerated Pathways is the perfect college starting point for adult learners of all backgrounds.

By partnering with tons of universities, Accelerated Pathways helps learners earn general education credit at a low cost. Learners can enroll in courses to pursue a certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree.

Through the Accelerated Pathways Program they will:

• Build a flexible, custom college degree plan
• Enjoy self-paced online courses
• Receive world-class academic coaching
• Save over 30% on the total degree cost

Learners navigate the process through five easy steps:

Step 1 – Free Academic Advising Session

In this session, learners complete a short assessment, and an academic counselor will reach out to them to discuss their goals, timetable, learning style, budget and more.

Step 2 – Degree Plan

After learning their unique situation, their academic counselor will use Pearson’s advanced proprietary technology to evaluate thousands of college and degree options. They’ll find five degree options that best fit the learner’s goals, budget and schedule.

Learners can show off their success on the GED test by using digital badges available through Credly.

This digital credential platform issues badges to learners that can be shared online as proof of certification. Badges link to the Credly website, where viewers can see all the details of a learner’s achievement.

Learners who post their badges make it easy and simple for employers to verify their accomplishments and learn more about their competencies. Posting badges also sets learners apart from other students and job-seekers by showcasing their skills.

Learners are eligible for badges based on the GED test subjects they have passed and what scores they earned on their tests. Available badges include one for the GED credential, badges for each test subject, and badges for test subjects passed with College Ready and College Ready + Credit scores. All the badge options are viewable here: credly.com/organizations/ged/badges.

Once learners have earned a badge, they will be notified via email. Learners must then follow the instructions in their email to access their Credly account. From their Credly account, learners can access and share their badges on multiple online platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and their email signatures.

More information about GED badges is available here: ged.com/life_after_ged/ged_badges/.

News and updates for May 2022:

• New International Prep Partner: Wordplay English Language Center is our new authorized GED preparation partner in Hanoi, Vietnam. The center will offer students an opportunity to earn a GED credential to pursue college degree programs globally.
• New Spanish Language Learning Tool for GED Prep: Aztec Software’s Spanish GED Prep Series was written by Spanish instructors for Spanish learners and contextualized for the Spanish GED test. Learn more about the program here.

News and updates for May 2022:

• New International Prep Partner: Wordplay English Language Center is our new authorized GED preparation partner in Hanoi, Vietnam. The center will offer students an opportunity to earn a GED credential to pursue college degree programs globally.
• New Spanish Language Learning Tool for GED Prep: Aztec Software’s Spanish GED Prep Series was written by Spanish instructors for Spanish learners and contextualized for the Spanish GED test. Learn more about the program here.

News and updates for May 2022:

• New International Prep Partner: Wordplay English Language Center is our new authorized GED preparation partner in Hanoi, Vietnam. The center will offer students an opportunity to earn a GED credential to pursue college degree programs globally.
• New Spanish Language Learning Tool for GED Prep: Aztec Software’s Spanish GED Prep Series was written by Spanish instructors for Spanish learners and contextualized for the Spanish GED test. Learn more about the program here.

After a two-year hiatus, the GED Testing Service Annual conference will be held July 13th – 15th in Atlanta.

We’re looking forward to networking with educators from across the country and sharing new professional development sessions and information sessions.

Our keynote speaker will be renowned author and NYU professor Daniel Lerner. He is a celebrated positive psychologist whose work is helping individuals fuel their work and life with passion. For over a decade, Daniel has been researching and applying positive psychology and how it impacts the performance of students, athletes, executives, and teams. He brings out the best in individuals by helping them strike a balance between stress and anxiety while discovering their strengths and a path to long-term success.

Our conference will also have all the professional development workshops and sessions you need to refresh your teaching strategies for the GED test subjects. In addition, we’ll also offer expanded and new professional development tracks covering workforce development, corrections, and DE&I.

You’ll have opportunities to network with fellow educators, Administrators, partners, and GED Testing Service staff. We will also recognize the outstanding achievements of GED graduates during our awards ceremony.

There’s still time to register and join us in Atlanta! We’ll see you there!

You can learn more about the conference and register here: https://web.cvent.com/event/24807473-f2fc-4377-8502-7b372ad6e9cb/summary

News and updates for April 2022:

• 2022 GED Annual Conference Registration: Join us July 13-15, 2022, in Atlanta, GA, for this year’s GED conference. We’ll have new professional development workshops, information sessions, networking opportunities, and more.
• Spanish Language Learning Tool for GED Prep: Aztec Software’s Spanish GED Prep Series was written by Spanish instructors for Spanish learners and contextualized for the Spanish GED test. Learn more about the program here.
• New Newsletter for GED students: The “GED Roundup” is our new quarterly newsletter for GED students that features updates, tips, and articles related to the GED test program. Students with GED.com accounts that have opted into marketing emails will automatically receive the newsletter.