Later this month GED Testing Service will be attending the National Association of Workforce Boards 2018 Forum. This event is a convening of leaders from the business, government, labor and education fields to discuss key issues related to U.S. workforce development.

During the event we will have the opportunity to showcase the positive connection between the GED program and career readiness, while exploring additional ways to help bridge adult learners from adult ed to employment and further education. It will also provide an opportunity to showcase some of the changes to adult education and the GED program, and share some of the latest outcomes. It is important for us to educate this audience about the power of adult education and how essential it is in helping move adults from high school dropout into the local workforce.

Some of the information we’ll be sharing, and you can share with local policymakers and business leaders, include:

Changes to the GED program

The GED test itself is aligned with national college and career readiness standards for adult education, and the GED program as a whole was updated to help adult learners be more successful in their journey from high school dropout to the workforce. The program allows adult learners to enter the workforce immediately, and also prepared them for higher-level career and college training programs that help them compete with high school grads for jobs that pay family-sustaining wages. The program helps students take the first step of walking into a local prep program to career pathway planning after earning a GED credential.

Positive postsecondary outcomes

Since the launch of the test we have continued to track how GED graduates are performing once they earn their credential. We recently released new statistics about GED graduates and postsecondary education and the positive correlation to the GED College Ready score levels.

GED graduates are enrolling in college programs at a higher rate than ever and remaining enrolled from semester-to-semester. In addition, more colleges around the country are implementing policies related to the College Ready score levels.

WIOA and career readiness

WIOA places a strong focus on preparing learners for in-demand jobs by equipping them with academic, technical, and employability skills necessary for employment.

The GED credential prepares test takers for career and technical training that helps accelerate entering the workforce.

Middle skill jobs

The demand to fill middle skill jobs—those that require more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year degree—continues to grow. GED graduates are excellent candidates for meeting this need that accounts for 40 percent of all job growth.

The Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce states that there are 30 million “good jobs” in the United States that pay without a bachelor’s degree—with median earnings of $55,000 annually.

GED Testing Service has also continued to explore ways to help adult learners in the workforce earn their GED credential with the financial support of their current employer.

GEDWorks

The GEDWorks program recently celebrated 2,000 graduates earning their GED credential. The program was designed to be flexible around busy work schedules and gives participants the resources they need to earn their GED credential with no financial commitment.

As more employers join the GEDWorks family it creates additional opportunities to upskill adult learners while giving them the credential they need to pursue further education and career advancement.

If you’re looking for additional resources, COABE’s Educate and Elevate campaign toolkit has talking points for you to use with local media and policymakers. The kit has downloadable fact sheets, templates to send letters and emails to your state legislators, webinars and more.

Digital literacy is an essential skill for adult learners in today’s technology-driven society.According to Digital Promise an estimated 36 million adults in the U.S. lack the basic math, language, and digital literacy skills necessary to find well-paying jobs and navigate public and social systems.

Digital literacy is defined as the ability to find, evaluate, utilize, share, and create content using information technologies (including but not limited to smartphones, tablets, laptops and traditional desktop PCs) and the Internet.

Adult learners without digital literacy skills are more likely to have difficulty looking for employment, taking classes, performing job-related duties and completing daily personal tasks.

In 2014, the GED test program introduced a new computer format to replace paper and pencil. This change has helped streamline the registration process for testers with the ability to schedule a test 24/7, test at their own pace, type their essays and receive unofficial results instantly. While all of these enhancements have created an improved testing experience, what’s most important is how the GED test is leveraging skills testers are already using or will be expected to use moving forward in postsecondary education and the workforce.

Adult education programs are increasingly adding computer classes to their curriculums, and many others are emphasizing the use of computers, smartphones and other mobile devices in the classroom as a study aid.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) specifically names digital literacy among the list of programs, activities or services that comprise workforce preparation. This connection relates strongly to the vast amount of employment resources available online. A survey done by the Pew Research Center found that 54% of U.S. adults have gone online to look for job information and 45% have applied for a job online. This same survey found that roughly one-in-five adults with a high school diploma or less indicated that it would not be easy to contact a potential employer via email, find programs online that help job seekers, fill out an online job application, or find lists online of available jobs in their local area.

We do understand the challenge acquiring computer skills may present for adult learners with little to no background knowledge or experience. When we launched the new GED test program we made a commitment to offer mobile-friendly and technology-based study tools to help students become familiar with the computer skills they need for the official GED test. The test preparation journey is fully-integrated with technology from start to finish. Students begin with the creation of a GED.com account and often reach the final steps in their journey with the GED Ready practice test which mimics the official test experience.

The importance of digital literacy expands beyond an adult learner’s ability to successfully navigate the GED test. It is our goal and that of adult education programs to equip GED graduates with the skills they need to thrive and a pathway to pursue postsecondary education, their career goals and beyond.

If you’re looking for more information about integrating technology in the classroom and digital literacy, this professional development archive from LINCS offers resources for students, instructors and programs.

This month we’re highlighting GED® State Relationship Manager Thomas Ross in our Q&A feature.

First, a huge “thank you” to the adult education community for its enthusiasm and support for our Professional Development outreach during 2017! There isn’t anyone on the PD Team—Bonnie, Daphne, Debi, or Susan—who hasn’t been energized by educator engagement.

So, after the amazing year we had in 2017 completing 110 events, what is ahead for 2018?

We’ve come a long way since the GEDTS Professional Development Initiative launched in 2014 with the basics. Back then, our goals were simple: Equip instructors with classroom strategies that would support—and deliver—student success with the then-new GED® test.

Roses are red, violets are blue, for the price of one GED Ready® you can get two!We’re sharing the love and showing our appreciation on Valentine’s Day and throughout the month with our 2 for 1 GED Ready® promotion!

February 14 through February 28, students can purchase two GED Ready® test subjects ($12 value) for the price of one ($6).

Students can purchase the test on GEDMarketplace.com using the promo code “2FOR1” at checkout.

The fine print:

• Students must buy two GED Ready ® test subjects for the code to work (it will not work with any other number of purchases).

GED Ready® tests are a great resource for students starting or completing the test taking journey and the detailed feedback included with test results can help create an accurate plan for classroom and home study.

We encourage you to share this flyer with your students, it has additional information about this promotion.

Protecting the value of the GED® credential, including the hard work millions of students put in each day to study for and take the GED® test, remains a top priority for us at GED Testing Service. This is certainly not a solo effort, it’s takes everyone’s eyes and ears to find out where cheating might be happening and how people are doing it. We understand it’s not always clear to test administrators, students and educators that there are legal and financial liabilities that come with stealing intellectual property.

Here are a few important points to remember:

• Debriefing with a tester about test questions is a violation of the testing agreement with GED®, it’s important to be a role model of good behavior. Don’t encourage testers to talk about exact test items, it is okay for them to discuss general topics on the test.
• It’s important that classroom personnel know that they can’t take the GED® test, it is only for those in need of a high school equivalency diploma. Your classroom personnel can use item samplers, sample questions, study guides and tutorials for additional insight on what is included on the test.

There are security measures built into the exam to make cheating difficult and there is a lot of review and scrutiny after a test subject is taken. The consequences associated with cheating are serious. They include but are not limited to having a tester’s exam revoked, a GED® credential being revoked and even prosecution.

We put forth our best efforts to provide the resources educators, test takers and test administrators need to properly prepare for, take and administer the GED® test in good faith.

If you suspect cheating you should contact our call center at 1-877-EXAM-GED (877-392-6433). It’s helpful to have names and dates of test events, this includes testers’ names and names of personnel involved or negligent in test administration.

My days are very unconventional, as mainly particular issues that arise within my portfolio of jurisdictions will drive it. My focus is to fully understand state requirements and to be in constant communication about the efficacy of the program. I enjoy the “toggle” of representing the GED Testing Service, while simultaneously giving voice to a jurisdiction’s unique utilization of the GED program. If there are any issues, then I follow up with the relevant teams to make sure that we all understand the state’s rules and regulations and to ensure that the problems are resolved.

I always say that in order to do my best work, I must be among those that roll up their sleeves and get the job done. In keeping with that, you will find me in the midst of Alabama, Connecticut, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan Prisons, Rhode Island, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

How long have you been working with GED Testing Service?

I have been working with GED Testing Service for 25 years and it continues to be a remarkable journey, indeed!!

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love seeing our partners reach state program goals and being a part of that story. I see myself as a trusted advisor and it is exciting every single time we deliver new features or system enhancements that help jurisdictional programs make good on promises made to their students.

What kind of work did you do before coming to GED Testing Service?

I have worn many, many hats throughout my lengthy career! Finance, administration, and management remains the baseline of my career. Meanwhile, along the same trajectory as the job that I have now, I have worked with the American Council on Education’s former External Diploma Program and prior to that the Council for International Exchange of Scholars’ Fulbright Program.

Where is your hometown?

I consider Silver Spring, Maryland my hometown because it is the place that I have lived the longest. I’m a “Navy brat” and come from a military family.

Favorite travel spot?

Malta – A jewel of a place that both humbles and inspires me upon every visit.

Ocean City, Maryland – Good old fashion fun that brings pure joy to my family and closest friends!

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?

I LOVE music! All music soothes my soul and has a purpose in my life. The genre is of no consequence, it just has to be good music. Some days I need the music and some days I need the lyrics. I am also a novice motorcycle and classic car enthusiast.

If you were stuck on an island what three things would you bring?

A knife, sheet music, and a whole lot of faith.

What was your favorite toy as a child?

My parent’s old high-fidelity vinyl record player and I was the best D.J. on the block.

Who is the best teacher you ever had? Why?

My son. There are no instructions for when you first become a parent. Important lessons are taught along the way and he was a patient teacher.

What are two things still on your bucket list?

I would love to get the old band back together (I was the lead singer in a band during my early twenties) for one more gig! Even if it is just in my small garage.

I still dream of having my very own motorcycle and of course, it’s going to be a Harley.

In 2017 GED Testing Service celebrated its 75th anniversary. Since the release of the first GED® test in 1942, it has evolved from a high school equivalency credential created for U.S. service members to a comprehensive program aligned with college and career readiness standards. The GED® program has evolved over time, and 2017 is certainly no exception. Below are some of the highlights from this past year.

In 2017 we continued to explore ways to equip GED® graduates with the skills needed to be successful in the workforce, postsecondary education and career training programs.

This work included a focus on creating connections to help graduates navigate the many options they can pursue with a GED® credential, and better positioning them for 21st Century job opportunities.

We continued to focus on ways to help educators recruit students into adult ed programs through growth and enhanced visibility of GEDPrep Connect™–which also helps educators manage their students and programs. During 2017 the number of new students who opted to connect with a local adult education program and share their scores soared to 245,190!

We also continued our commitment to helping adult educators further develop their familiarity with the GED® test and hone classroom strategies with new PD resources and presentations. We welcomed our second Train the Trainer cohort at our annual conference. These GEDTS trained and endorsed trainers are valuable assets that live and work in virtually every state, and are being deployed to deliver PD content. We also continued our popular Tuesdays for Teachers webinar series.

Our State Relationship Managers and supplemental trainers provided in-person professional development presentations and updates in local, state, and national meetings that touched virtually every GED®-offering state at least one. Our early estimates tell us that at least 20,000 individuals were exposed to GED®-related information and professional development presentations. The State Relationship Managers and Technology Operations teams also provide support to a record number of educators, test centers, students, policymakers and a variety of other stakeholders this past year–while receiving high customer feedback ratings.

In 2017 we learned that more than ever GED® graduates are interested in pursuing postsecondary education and career training programs. From a survey conducted with GED® graduates since the release of the 2014 test, we found that 2 out of 3 express interest in college. More than 35% enroll in a college program within a year of earning their credential, and at least 41% enroll in college within two years of earning their GED® credential.

GED® graduates are also seeing positive results in the classroom. Persistence is at an all-time high with 90% of GED® graduates continuing to enroll semester to semester. Contrast this with a 29% persistence rate under the 2002 GED® exam series, and you’ll see how far you and your students have come in readiness for career and college programs.

In 2017 Massachusetts added the GED® program as an option for students seeking a high school equivalency diploma, in large part due to the outcomes data in GED® states. And, the College Ready and College Ready + Credit recommendations continued to be turned into policies that allow GED® grads to bypass placement exams, bypass the developmental education trap by placement into credit-bearing courses, and possibly even earn college credit. Read more about this topic in this month’s InSession article Adoption of the GED® College Ready and College Ready + Credit Score Levels.

Performance measures on the GED® test continued to increase in 2017 as well. The average passing score for Science was 156, Social Studies was 155, RLA was 155, and Math was 153. The overall scores for all test takers (passing and non-passing) was Science (154), Social Studies (153), RLA (152), and Math (150).

The visibility of the GEDWorks™ program continued to grow, as did our engagement with employers. In November 2017 we celebrated over 2,000 students earning their GED® credential through participation in the employer-sponsored program. We are also added new employers to the GEDWorks™ family last year. Sheetz, Scholastic, Pizza Hut, Jiffy Lube and Royal Cup began offering the GEDWorks™ program to employees in corporate and store locations.

On May 18, 2017 we held our second GED® Grad Day celebration and we saw participation grow tremendously. The #GEDGradDay hashtag was used over 800 times on Grad Day which resulted in a donation to the National Center for Families Learning. We also had more than 30 adult education centers participate on Facebook and Twitter.

We hosted the GED Testing Service Annual Conference, July 26th through 28th at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel. Over 400 attendees joined us for three days of networking and professional development workshops and presentations. The conference boasted our largest attendance to date with adult educators, GED® administrators, vendors and education professionals all convening in one place. We trained our second group of trainers, recognized our GED® Graduate of the Year scholarship award winners, and conducted 24 information sessions and professional development workshops. This video recaps some of the highlights from last year’s event.

None of work in 2017, or our continued work in 2018 would mean anything without the perspiration, inspiration, feedback–and at times tears–of adult learners and adult educators across the country and world. We thank you for the continued opportunity to serve you and adult learners, and we look forward to continuing our work in 2018.

The GED® College Ready (CR) and GED® College Ready + Credit (CR+) score levels were created to move students more quickly into and through college certificate and degree programs. It was also a way to give students an added boost of confidence about their readiness for credit-bearing college courses, and incent them to take that big step of enrolling at their local college.

Since the introduction of the score levels in 2016, more students are earning their GED® credentials with the opportunity to earn credit for college courses, saving time and money as they work toward a degree or certificate. College leaders, elected officials and policymakers are increasingly interested in how they can help put these recommendations into practice.

To date we are aware of more than 200 colleges across 15 different states that have implemented policies to allow students at the CR level (165 or higher) to bypass all or part of their placement exams and be placed in credit-bearing courses–skipping the remedial education trap. Some colleges are also awarding college credit for CR+ scores (175 or higher).

To date, the Colorado Community College System, Connecticut higher education system, Rhode Island colleges, Technical College System of Georgia, Virginia Community College System, and most recently the Ohio Board of Regents (four- and two-year institutions) have implemented CR and/or CR+ policies. In addition, schools in Arizona, New Hampshire, Kansas, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, and others are accepting the CR and/or CR + Credit score. Other state systems are also in the process of studying, or preparing to implement, the recommendations. And, these are only the schools we know of.

If you know of a local college that has adopted CR or CR+ policies or have questions about these score levels contact us by email.

Why momentum is growing: Students are succeeding

Since 2014 GED® grads are significantly more likely to be prepared for, enroll in, and persist in college and career training programs. Within just two years of launching the new program more than 41% of grads have enrolled in local college programs, and more than 90% remain enrolled from semester to semester. To draw a comparison between pre and post 2014 — a shockingly low 29% remained enrolled from one semester to the next vs. today’s 90%.

This is a trend line that is heading in the right direction. Adult learners are in a strong position to compete with traditional high school grads for jobs. They’re also in a much stronger position to fill the new jobs being created over the next two decades that require more than a GED® or high school diploma. Put simply, outcomes data show that GED® grads are succeeding like never before and have stronger job and wage potential.

—CT Turner, Senior Director of State Accounts & Government Relations for GED Testing Service

GED® candidates are making new year’s resolutions to get their GED® this year, and this promotion can help!

48% of GED® candidates report that their work schedule or responsibilities interfere with class time. The GED® Start-to-Finish Bundle can keep students on track to meet their goals, and can be used to supplement class time.

The Bundle includes GED Live™ Comprehensive -live teacher-led, mobile-enabled classes in all subject areas, and 4 prepaid GED® test vouchers. Four GED Ready® practice tests will be included free (a value of $24). The GED® Start-to-Finish Bundle can be ordered at http://www.gedmarketplace.com/GED-Start-to-Finish-Bundle-p/ged-start2finish-bdl_p.htm, and will be available at the discounted price until Feb 28. Prices vary by state.

Is your program looking for innovative ways to supplement your current GED® prep curriculum?

Adult education programs that are interested in tapping into new distance learning curricula are invited to participate in the GED Live™ Distance Learning Pilot, getting underway this month.

This is a great way to supplement program curriculum and help students get the seat hours they need to fulfill program requirements. There is a cost to participate, but the cost is reimbursed in GED Ready® vouchers for the program. Adult educators will get reporting on their students’ attendance in live and recorded programming and have an opportunity to shape the program solution for the product. The GED Live Distance Learning Pilot flyer has more information.

GED Live™ has demonstrated efficacy in early trials. During a GED Live™ student pilot conducted in 2017, results showed improvement of about 10-13% on scores related to the Math topics taught during the GED Live™ Math classes, among the students that attended class. Improvement in confidence-level related to passing the GED® Math test also improved by 40%. Interestingly, confidence in passing other subjects of the GED® test – Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA), Science, and Social Studies – also improved. Students studying independently and with adult education programs in VA attended the student pilot in 2017, with positive impressions of the teachers and the knowledge gained in a short amount of time.

The new year is bringing some updates to the accommodations scheduling process and additional testing options for eligible GED® candidates.Candidates with approved accommodations have always had to call the accommodation scheduling team to make a testing appointment. Beginning mid-January, many accommodation candidates will be able to web schedule. Candidates that are approved for extra time, breaks and/or other items that do not require manual intervention will be directed in their approval letter to their GED® account to schedule. Candidates approved for a reader and/or recorder, private room or assistive technology will be directed in their approval letter to the accommodated scheduling phone line. This is a great enhancement that will allow the majority of our accommodation candidates to schedule their appointments online.

Candidates that are blind now have a new option for testing. JAWS, our screen reading technology, is available for candidates that are JAWS proficient. After receiving an accommodation approval for JAWS, the candidate will receive a keyboard shortcuts reference sheet and a link to a JAWS enabled practice test.

If you have any questions, please email us at accommodations@gedtestingservice.com

—Debbie Bergtholdt, Accommodations Manager for Pearson VUE