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