Doubling our GED Credentials, Again (December 15, 2011)

While going through a GED essay writing exercise, I was prompted to come up with a goal and to explain why it is important and how I would achieve it. It's always telling to put yourself up against the clock and see how you fare when held to the same standard by which our students are measured. In my 45 minutes, I focused on the larger context of my work in adult education, specifically an updating of the Race to GED that would expand our goal to 30,000 GED credentials in a year.

I know this may sound far fetched, especially if you remember that, even with our statewide machine in high gear for the original Race to GED campaign, we still came up short of then-Governor Mark Warner's assignment to double our GED output. But, if you remove yourself from the trenches and look at the battlefield from a strategic perspective, our progress and our assets put us in a great position on the path toward significant accomplishments and growth. Naturally, the writing process started with a list of evidence that supports my goal of 30,000 GEDs in a year:

• We've got over 1 million people in Virginia in need of a GED and that number is growing. Our credentialing rate should also increase with Virginia's growing need.
• People are increasingly going online to further their education. Adult ed programs are poised to tap into this market and facilitate their GED success with maximum efficiency.
• Expanding our capacity is very possible with the help of other state-funded human services, faith-based organizations, and public/private partnerships.

Each of those points were developed into paragraphs. However, there are more considerations to fuel our optimism: The end of the 2002 series test provides great incentive for testing and GED promotional efforts. The new computer-based GED test, though a source of anxiety for some, could increase our ability to provide on-demand testing and the availability of testing sites. Virginia's new regional approach to adult educaiton should amplify local programs' otherwise modest outreach efforts. Despite the uncertainty during this time of transition, now is not the time to acquiess.

As your GED and Distance Education Specialist, I'll be working to make good on these ideas by helping our local and regional programs seize on the opportunities that are unfolding in this time of immense change. The Race to GED of 2005-06 resulted in a 50% increase in GED credentialing. We can build on that success by learning the lessons that came out of Race to GED experience, by pushing the boundaries of our station in the public sector, and by setting the bar higher for higher accomplishments. By striving for 30,000 GEDs, we would be doubling our apex of 15,000 credentials in a year. And if we only go up by 50% yet again? That's 22,500. Not too shabby. I bet now-Senator Mark Warner would love to share that success story in the halls of Congress.

The next issue of our Progress newsletter is all about the GED test and its upcoming changes. There's a chance you'll find my GED essay on those pages next year. Either way, if you're interested in pursuing this goal with me, you'll want to read every word of the upcoming issue.

Sincerely,

Jason Guard
GED and Distance Learning Specialist
804-828-2635
jkguard@vcu.edu

eLearnVA's Online GED Prep Switching from Centralized to Regional (November 14, 2011)

At the end of this fiscal year in June, the eLearnVA distance education program is going to change significantly. Local and regional adult education programs will be taking over administration of all online learning options and will no longer be able to refer their learners to a centralized service. In essence, the only thing that is changing is the oversight and support provided by eLearnVA's online mentors. Starting in July 2012, the facilitative role will be played by instructors based in local adult education programs.

These changes should enable an exponential expansion of distance education in Virginia through ambitious promotion toward new local markets. The state will still provide local programs a limited number of subscription seats in the online programs that eLearnVA has used (first come, first serve). The registration and data collection function of the eLearnVA.com site will continue on, as well as the streaming GED Connection videos.

During this transition, and going forward, the VALRC will support local programs with an eLearnVA training initiative. Professional development is planned to include the facilitation of online learning, using the eLearnVA.com site, screening and orientation to identify learners who are likely to be successful at a distance, and the promotion of distance education to cultivate a new market of adult learners and expand your program's capacity. Additions to the eLearnVA.com site, including a discussion board and video chatting for real-time tutorials, are also planned.

If you have questions or requests, please contact GED and Distance Education Specialist Jason Guard at jkguard@vcu.edu or 804-827-2635.

GED Public Discussion (September 12, 2011)

Please join us for the upcoming discussion: "A conversation about the GED 21st Century Initiative: Moving from GED test to a career- and college- ready assessment system" from September 12 - 15 with panelists from the GED Testing Service.

Topics will focus on:

• the components of the Initiative
• overview and current activities for the new GED assessment system
• how content and format will differ from the current GED test
• expected outcomes of the revised test, and
• how instructors and programs can begin to prepare for these changes.

The complete announcement with guest bios and suggested resources and materials can be found at:

http://lincs.ed.gov/lincs/discussions/assessment/11gedinitiative

GED Tests Price Change (June 28, 2011)

Superintendent’s Memo 177-11 was released 6/24/11 changing the price of GED Testing effective July 1, 2011. The new price will be $58.00 for the complete battery and partial tests and retests will be $10.00 per subject. You will find the memo here.

An announcement from Virginia's GED Administrator (May 19, 2011)

Today I must notify you of a price increase for GED testing. Effective July 1, 2011, the cost of the GED tests will be $70.00. Partial tests and retests will cost $10.00 per test.

Allow me to explain why this must happen. The contract we have with NRSpro for scoring our tests was a five year agreement, which expires June 30, 2011. Our procurement department solicited bids for scoring and NRSpro’s bid was accepted but the price will increase to $14.95 effective July 1, 2011. While that seems like a large increase, remember that we have received superior service for the last five years with no price increase. You have already received notification that the GED Testing Service is raising their prices effective January 1, 2012 for test battery rentals and first-time test-taker fees.

Instead of raising the price July 1 and then again January 1, we felt it would be less confusing to our examinees to raise the price now, and then we will be able to hold that price until we convert to computer-based testing. I have created the attached chart to help clarify the changes.

Please know that I understand the impact this will have on your testing program and examinees. Once Race to GED and Expanded grant awards are released, you may need to submit a budget amendment to reallocate some funds based on this new information.

Thank you for all you do to support GED testing in the Commonwealth and the support you give me. Together we can make the best of this. Contact me with questions via e-mail at Debbie.Bergtholdt@doe.virginia.gov or by telephone at (804) 371-2333.

GED to be Computer Based in 2014 (March 29, 2011)

The GED Testing Service recently announced a merger with Pearson VUH and I forwarded you a letter about it last week. I was on a conference call with them Monday and have a little more information. Virginia will probably be in the second cohort of states that will add computer based testing at Pearson VUH centers to our existing offerings. We will get more information about this during the summer. The current plan is that a new test, called the 21st Century Initiative and based on the Common Core Standards, will be released sometime in 2014. The new test will be computer based only, there will not be a paper and pencil version of the test. I realize that raises many questions, but I won’t have many answers until the next update from GEDTS in May. As soon as that document is available, I will send it to you.

Debbie Bergtholdt
VA GED Administrator
Virginia Department of Education
P.O. Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218-2120
804.371.2333 Office
804.225.3352 Fax

Publishers' FREE Resources for GED Teachers (February 14, 2011)

With 3-5 years before we'll see the introduction of a new GED test, publishers are doing their best to reinvigorate their GED offerings. For two publishers, that translates into improved resources and tutorials intended to help instructors deliver GED instruction. The links below each feature stimulating content and great overviews of the concepts that GED instructors need to impart to their learners.

New Readers Press GED Teacher Resource Center contains links to free classroom activities as well as discussion forums and other online resources for students and teachers. It also tracks developments related to the next generation of GED Tests (the GED 21st Century Initiative).

KET's PBS LiteracyLink has redesigned their comprehensive tutorial on the GED 2002 test. The site contains valuable insights on critical thinking skills, teaching graphic literacy, and an interactive overview of the Casio fx-260 calculator.

McGraw-Hill Contemporary's Instructor Center isn't necessarily new, but it's full of worthwhile info for GED teachers. Holistic scoring guidelines, sample essays, Powerpoint slides breaking down each test, correlations, teaching tips, and each section has practice tests with results that your learners can forward to your email address.

Success and Failure on the GED (January 18, 2011)

Nearly 40 million Americans are locked into dead-end jobs because they do not have a high school diploma. A daylong exam called the General Educational Development test, or G.E.D., provides the equivalent of a high school diploma — and better chances in the job market — to those who pass it. Nearly 800,000 people take the exam each year, and about 500,000 pass.

But here is the stunning — and sad — truth about this exam: Success depends heavily on where you live.

Click on this link to read the rest of the editorial from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/01/opinion/01sat2.html?_r=2&emc=eta1

GED Podcasts (January 12, 2011)

A new series of podcasts about the GED Tests is now available from the Resource Center. These short, two-to-three-minute audio files can be listened to from a computer or from a mobile device (such as an MP3 player, iPod, or many cell phones). Episodes clear up common myths about the GED Tests, give practical information for GED test-takers, and explain the benefits of earning a General Educational Development credential. Consider linking to these recording on your program websites, or incorporating them into your orientation process.

So far, we've posted three podcasts. In the next month or two, we will be releasing two more rounds of three episodes. These podcasts were created by the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center with funding from the Virginia Department of Education's Office of Adult Education and Literacy.

Go to these site to listen to the podcasts!

VALRC: http://www.valrc.org/content/ged/ged_podcasts.html

VAGED: http://www.vaged.vcu.edu/podcasts.shtml