Our annual conference is one month away, and we’re excited to see all of you in Atlanta.

During the conference, July 13th through 15th, we’re offering opportunities to network with fellow educators, Administrators, and the GED Testing Service team. We will also provide the latest professional development workshops and information sessions related to the GED test program.

Keynote Speaker

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.

Professional Development Sessions

The annual conference is an opportunity for us to share insight on the best ways to prepare your students for the GED test subjects from who better but the creators of the test!

Our workshops and sessions will cover tips and strategies for teaching GED students, share some of the latest postsecondary outcomes data and student research and offer chances for you to ask the GED team your burning questions about the test.

The very popular Corrections track will also return this year with sessions designed to cater to the unique instructional needs of educators in the Corrections environment. In addition, we’re also launching the brand-new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) track with sessions dedicated to sharing inclusive learning techniques and other information to help you incorporate DE&I in your instruction and across your adult education program.

You can view some of the scheduled sessions and conference agenda here.

GED Graduate of the Year Awards

Each year, GED Testing Service recognizes several recent GED graduates for outstanding achievement with the GED Graduate of the Year award. During the awards luncheon, the inspirational graduates share stories about their GED testing journey, including the importance of their support system and the credential’s lasting impact as they pursue their personal and professional goals. We look forward to announcing and celebrating the achievements of this year’s winners at the conference!

These are just some of the highlights of what’s to come during the conference! We also encourage you to check out the many attractions, festivals, and events Atlanta has to offer. If you haven’t registered there’s still time to join us!

Sign up today, and we’ll see you in Atlanta!

The recently launched initiatives are focused on supporting learners from historically marginalized communities and are a key part of our organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

GED® Mentorship Program

In the Mentorship Program, adult learners are mentored by GED employees and stakeholders. With the support of mentors, they are developing their career and leadership skills, including problem-solving, critical thinking, and effective communication. In addition, learners have a supportive community as they prepare for and take the GED test subjects, while mentors develop a greater understanding of learners’ backgrounds and their future personal and professional goals.

The program was created to serve learners from all backgrounds, focusing on learners from underserved areas. The pilot of this program was launched earlier this year in Montgomery County, Maryland, and will expand nationwide later this year.

More information about the program is available here.

GED® Community Partnership Program

In the Community Partnership Program, selected adult learners attending GED preparation programs are provided with access to laptops, tablets, GED Ready and GED test vouchers, one-to-one online tutoring, and online preparation tools, including Aztec Software’s GED Flash, Life Skills Education, A Tutor for TABE, Pre-GED, and GED Kaplan Prep Series.

GED Testing Service and Aztec Software selected the program’s first official partner, Made Men, a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas. The organization offers GED preparation courses, a fatherhood program, life skills courses, workforce training, and is an authorized Pearson VUE test center.

Launched in late 2021, the GED Community Partnership Program is part of GED Testing Service’s DE&I strategy and ongoing commitment to creating equitable learning opportunities focusing on historically marginalized and underserved learners, including those from Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities. This program aims to increase access while investing in community organizations that provide education, training, and other critical services.

The official press release announcement is available here.

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.