Major changes are coming next year to the test for the General Education Diploma, better known as the GED, and adult education programs nationwide are preparing for the adjustment.
A new GED test will debut in January 2014, focusing on standards that promote college and career readiness, and it will be computerized for the first time.
The changes are due to a shift in ownership of the GED testing service. In 2011, the American Council on Education joined with Pearson Vue, a for-profit testing company, in a public/private partnership to form a new business entity that will offer the test to adult students in all 50 states, Canada and some territories. Nearly 800,000 GED tests are taken each year, and in 2009, more than 470,000 individuals were awarded their high school credential, according to Pearson.
The company is billed as the world’s largest education and testing company, and it’s no surprise that the cost of the test will be increasing with this development. In some states, it’s nearly doubling. In Maine, students don’t have to pay for the GED test, and educators say that won’t change. Cost can be a deterrent for low-income learners, so we’re glad to see the state plans to continue covering this cost, though the increase is still concerning considering the state’s budget struggles.
This test that will debut in 2014 is an update to the 2001 version and is expected to include more short-answer questions and test reasoning and critical thinking, according to State Director of the Office of Adult Education and Family Literacy Gail Senese. It’s been rewritten to align with common core standards, and designed to ensure career and college readiness, according to Pearson Vue.
This is part of a smart move toward preparing people for the workplace rather than just focusing on the goal of attaining their diploma ”“ the same approach being used for high school students in the regular program.
What’s causing the most worry among educators here is the computerization of the GED test, which some say will be prohibitive for those who are not familiar with computers.
We feel, however, that both the changes to the test and its computerization are a step in the right direction for adult learners. The GED tests are secure ”“ administered at a testing center, not online ”“ and support will still be available for test-takers, just as it is with the current paper and pencil version.
Since 2001, computers have become even more prevalent in the workplace, from machine shops to doctor’s offices. Anyone who has earned a high school diploma should have at least basic proficiency with a computer ”“ that should be part of their education, and if it isn’t already, that needs to change.
By having the GED test on a computer, it ensures that computer literacy will be part of the curriculum. Senese has said as much, noting that there will be “more emphasis” on computer literacy, typing and incorporating computers into classwork.
No one wants to see barriers placed before those who are seeking to earn their GED, since a high school diploma is a necessity in nearly every field of today’s working world. With computer technology being embraced in the workplace, however, it simply doesn’t make sense for any student to get a diploma without knowing how to use a computer.
This change will encourage adult education directors to embrace technology to prepare students for the GED test, which will ultimately help prepare them for today’s workplaces.
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Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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