MINNESOTA’S PLACE IN A NEW ERA OF HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY .

MINNESOTA’S PLACE IN ANEW ERA OF HIGH SCHOOLEQUIVALENCY OPTIONSREPORTJANUARY, 2015700 Raymond Ave. Ste. 180St. Paul, MN 55114Website: www.literacyactionnetwork.orgE-mail: info@literacyactionnetwork.org

ON THE FRONT LINES OF CHANGELAN takes the lead to assess new diploma optionsWith new high school equivalency options on thehorizon, Literacy Action Network (LAN) took initiativeto get feedback and input from experts in the field.For more than a year, LAN has reached outto members of the Adult Basic Education (ABE)profession through a variety of methods includingspecial meetings, surveys and roundtable discussions.The input secured from this outreach provides ahelpful glimpse into the complexities of adult highschool equivalency credentials, and it offers valuableadvice for decision makers.OUTREACHTIMETABLE OF INPUTDecember, 2013LAN meeting & discussionwith vendorsMarch, 2014Survey to LAN membersJune, 2014Roundtable discussions atSpring Regional meetingsAugust, 2014Input at LAN SummerInstitute ConferenceLiteracy Action Network (LAN) is a statewide organization of members whose goal is tostrengthen, improve and expand adult literacy services and to support Minnesota’s AdultBasic Education (ABE) professionals. Its membership includes ABE professionals from acrossthe state, and it is the only organization of its kind in Minnesota.

HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY TESTINGAlthough you commonly hear peopletalk about “getting a GED,” the GEDtest is not a diploma. It is simply a wayfor students to prove they have theskills and knowledge needed to earna high school equivalency diploma.Moving lives forward one test at a timeFor decades, American educators have beenHistorically, the test has addressed reading,giving adults a second chance in education byscience, social studies and language arts,allowing them to achieve theirincluding writing. The Americanhigh school equivalency diplomaCouncil on Education (ACE)through successful completion of aguided development andstandardized test.implementation throughout mostTHE ORIGINAL GED TESTFor almost all of the past 70of the GED test’s existence.BEGAN AS A WAY FORyears, that test has been exclusivelyUntil very recently, the GEDRETURNINGthe GED test.wasthe only test in the countryWORLD WAR II VETERANS TOThe GED test has been a fixturethat was approved as a credentialEARN A HIGH SCHOOLof American education for moreto earn a high school diploma. NoDIPLOMA.than 70 years. It began as a wayother testing organization offeredfor returning World War II veteransanything like it, and the GEDto acquire a high school diploma, but it quicklybecame firmly established as the standard route to aexpanded beyond military service members.high school equivalency diploma.Today more than 18 million people have passedthe GED test.The next generation of GEDIn 2012, ACE formed a public-private partnership with PearsonVUE, the largest commercial testing andeducational publishing company in the world, and created the current GED Testing Service. The intentof the partnership was to produce a completely revamped test that met the expectations of potentialemployers and higher education institutions.The new GED test was released at the beginning of 2014 and, for the first time in history, is only availableas a computer-based test. The new test also offers two passing levels: the standard pass level, valid fora credential for a high school equivalency diploma; and an honors level, which demonstrates increasedacademic skill and readiness for higher education.ADULT BASIC EDUCATION TODAYGiving adults a second chance at a new lifeAdult Basic Education (ABE) serves the needs ofMinnesota residents ages 17 and older who are notcurrently enrolled in a secondary education program.One of the main goals of ABE professionals is to helpadults master skill areas such as mathematics andEnglish as a second language (ESL).In addition, thousands of adults enrolled inABE programs achieve a high school equivalencydiploma each year. In fact, 14 percent of all highREPORTschool level diplomas in Minnesota in 2013 wereissued to students in ABE programs who took a GEDtest or completed a local adult diploma program.ABE programs are administered by 44 ABEconsortia at hundreds of sites throughout Minnesota,including public schools, workforce centers,community/technical colleges, prisons/jails, libraries,learning centers, tribal centers and non-profitorganizations.MINNESOTA’S PLACE IN A NEW ERA OF HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY OPTIONS

The term GED is a registered trademarkthat stands for General EducationalDevelopment Tests.THE FUTURE OF HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY TESTINGHow can we meet the needs of adults now and in years to come?For seventy years, the GED test was the only testavailable for adults to show they had the academicskills equivalent to a high school graduate.In fact, the GED test was so universal, that it hasbeen written into numerous Minnesota Statutes andRules, although state law stops short of giving it anofficial designation as the Minnesota’s only testbased high school credential.Now, for the first time ever, two other test optionshave become available: The HiSET test and theTASC test.TODAY’S TEST OPTIONSNew GEDThe 2014 version of the GED is produced by the newly formedGED/Pearson VUE partnership. Pearson VUE is a longstandingproducer of employment and certification tests.HiSETThe HiSET test is created by Educational Testing Service, known forthe SAT, GRE and Praxis tests (for teacher licensing).TASCThe TASC test is produced by CTB/McGraw Hill, the companythat produces the TABE (Tests of Adult Basic Education)assessment tests.WHAT SHOULD TESTING ACHIEVE?In order to adequately evaluate the benefits ofcandidates indicated they were planning furtherone test over another, it’s helpful to understand thestudy. In fact, the GED organization reports thatreasons that adults might seek toone-third of adults who pass thetake a high school equivalency test.GED test go on to graduate from aAccording to GED statistics,post-secondary program. (Source:candidates give several reasonsJourneys Through College.take the testfor taking the test. The topPostsecondary Transitions andfor employment reasonstwo, not surprisingly, are toOutcomes of GED Test Passers)secure employment (or betterClearly, any test that is used inemployment), and to pursue higherMinnesota must allow students toeducation. (Source: 2013 Annualprove their employment skills astake the testStatistical Report on the GED Test)well as their readiness for postto further their educationIn 2013, 64 percent of testsecondary education.56%64%(test takers could give more thanone reason for taking the test)REPORTMINNESOTA’S PLACE IN A NEW ERA OF HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY OPTIONS

This spring, ABE professionals fromaround the state gave the highestoverall ranking to the HiSET test,followed by the TASC test and theGED test.HOW DO THE NEW TESTS COMPARE?SCORING THE THREE TEST OPTIONS ON SEVERAL KEY ISSUESThere are three high school equivalency credential tests available today. Each offers its own features andbenefits.2014 GEDHiSETTASCReasoning throughLanguage ArtsMathematical ReasoningScienceSocial StudiesLanguage Arts – ReadingLanguage Arts – WritingMathScienceSocial StudiesLanguage Arts/ReadingLanguage Arts/WritingMathematicsScienceSocial StudiesComputer Based TestPaper/Pencil orComputer Based TestPaper/Pencil orComputer Based TestTotal test time7:357:055:50Price(excluding state admin fee) 120 50 52Aligned to Common CoreState StandardsContent from Iowa Testing-- Normed in 2011Aligned to Common CoreState StandardsNoState optionState option22 out of 4033 out of 4032 out of 40Sub testsFormatStandardsCredit for previous GED scoresScore from ABE rankings**This spring, ABE professionals scored the three test options on ten different criteria: Geographic access;Affordability; Content; Standards alignment; Rigor; College and career readiness; Recognition by employers andpost-secondary institutions; Prep materials; Technical support and customer service; and Credentialing. The surveywas conducted in March of 2014 shortly after the new GED test was launched.REPORTMINNESOTA’S PLACE IN A NEW ERA OF HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY OPTIONS

Because the new GED test has been in placeless than a year, many people believe it’s toosoon to make a judgment on the results of thattransition.SHOULD MINNESOTA MAKE A CHANGE?Recommendations for policymakers from ABE professionalsWith new test options available, the question has been prevalent throughout the Adult Basic Educationprofession: Should we make a change?During its outreach to ABE professionals across Minnesota, Literacy Action Network did not find anyconsensus on this issue. However, in discussions amongst professionals about the future of high schoolequivalency testing, two priorities have consistently stood out:Minnesota’s equivalency diplomamust retain its value for employersand higher education.Decisions about high schoolequivalency testing must be madein the best interest of students.OTHER ISSUES TO CONSIDERChange should result in a better productChanging to a different test, or adding another test option would be a cumbersome process, both fortest administrators and for students currently working toward test completion. This doesn’t mean that achange should be avoided completely. It simply means the benefits of the new system should outweigh thenegative impact of transition.It’s also important to remember that Minnesota’s ABE professionals and high school equivalency testcenters have already undergone a fairly substantial change in the transition between the old GED test andthe 2014 GED test. Minnesota’s current ABE students are weary of change and ready for stability in thesystem.Change should be undertaken with adequate resourcesIf another test were to be adopted or added in Minnesota, all 44 ABE consortia would need to update testcenters, purchase test prep materials and increase professional development to get ABE instructors up tospeed on the requirements of the new test.If policymakers determine that a change is in the best interest of the state, they should pair that decisionwith adequate resources to allow ABE centers to make the transition without harming services to students.Another promising solution may already be availableIn Minnesota, we are also on the verge of launching a new Adult Diploma option (see opposite page)that has the potential to address some of the challenges presented by a test-based high school credential.Statutory mentionsIn Minnesota, state statute does not dictate one particular test for a high school graduation credential.However, since the GED was the only test available for many years, the name “GED” is specificallymentioned throughout various state statutes dealing with high school diplomas. If Minnesota were to makea change to a different test, legislative action would be required to clarify the statutes.REPORTMINNESOTA’S PLACE IN A NEW ERA OF HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY OPTIONS