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People who were prevented from
finishing high school as teenagers have several options if they want
to do so as adults. Some major cities have back-to-school programs
that allow adults to attend high school classes with current students.
But the more practical alternatives for most adults are to take the
General Educational Development (GED) tests or to earn a high school
diploma by demonstrating their skills or taking correspondence
classes.
Of course, these options do not match
the experience of staying in high school and graduating with one's
friends. But they are viable alternatives for adult learners committed
to meeting and, often, continuing their educational goals.
GED Program
Alice quit high school her sophomore
year and took a job to help support herself, her younger brother, and
their newly widowed mother. Now an adult, she wants to earn her high
school diploma-and then go on to college. Because her job as head cook
and her family responsibilities keep her busy during the day, she
plans to get a high school equivalency diploma. She will study for,
and take, the GED tests. Every year, about half a million adults earn
their high school credentials this way. A GED diploma is accepted in
lieu of a high school one by more than 90 percent of employers,
colleges, and universities, so it is a good choice for someone like
Alice.
The GED testing program is sponsored
by the American Council on Education and State and local education
departments. It consists of examinations in five subject areas:
Writing, science, mathematics, social studies, and literature and the
arts. The tests also measure skills such as analytical ability,
problem solving, reading comprehension, and ability to understand and
apply information. Most of the questions are multiple choice; the
writing test includes an essay section on a topic of general interest.
Eligibility rules for taking the exams
vary, but some States require that you must be at least 18. Tests are
given in English, Spanish, and French. In addition to standard print,
versions in large print, Braille, and audiocassette are also
available. Total time allotted for the tests is 7 ? hours.
The GED tests are not easy. About
one-fourth of those who complete the exams every year do not pass.
Passing scores are established by administering the tests of
graduating high school seniors. The minimum standard score is set so
that about one- third of graduating seniors would not pass the tests
if they took them.
Because of the difficulty of the
tests, people need to prepare themselves to take them. Often, they
start by taking the Official GED Practice Tests, usually available
through a local adult education center. Centers are listed in your
phone book's blue pages under "Adult Education,"
"Continuing Education," or "GED." Adult education
centers also have information about GED preparation classes and
self-study materials. Classes are generally arranged to accommodate
adults' work schedules. Study materials are available in libraries,
schools, and bookstores, in addition to adult education centers. A
television series, "GED on TV," is broadcast on many public
television stations; call 1 (800) 354-9067 to find out which channel
in your area carries it.
School districts, colleges, adult
education centers, and community organizations have information about
GED testing schedules and practice tests. For more information,
contact them, your nearest GED testing center, or
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Skills Demonstration
Adults who have acquired high school
level skills through experience might be eligible for the National
External Diploma Program. This alternative to the GED does not involve
any direct instruction. Instead, adults seeking a high school diploma
must demonstrate mastery of 65 competencies in 8 general areas:
Communication; computation; occupational preparedness; and self,
social, consumer, scientific, and technological awareness.
Mastery is shown through completion of
the tasks. For example, a participant could improve competency in
computation by measuring a room for carpeting, figuring out the amount
of carpet needed, and computing the cost.
Before being accepted for the program,
adults undergo an evaluation. Tests taken at one of the program's
offices measure reading, writing, and mathematics abilities. A
take-home segment includes a self-assessment of current skills, and
individual skill evaluation, and an occupational interest and aptitude
test.
Adults accepted for the program have
weekly meetings with an assessor. At the meeting, the assessor reviews
the participant's work from the previous week. If the task has not
been completed properly, the assessor explains the mistake.
Participants continue to correct their errors until they master each
competency. A high school diploma is awarded upon proven mastery of
all 65 competencies.
Correspondence and Distance Study
Vin dropped out of high school during
his junior year because his family's frequent moves made it difficult
for him to continue his studies. He promised himself at the time he
dropped out that he would someday finish the courses needed for his
diploma. For people like Vin, who prefer to earn a traditional diploma
in a nontraditional way, there are about a dozen accredited courses of
study for earning a high school diploma by correspondence, or distance
study. The programs are either privately run, affiliated with a
university, or administered by a State education department.
Distance study diploma programs have
no residency requirements, allowing students to continue their studies
from almost any location. Depending on the course of study, students
need not be enrolled full time and usually have more flexible
schedules for finishing their work. Selection of courses ranges from
vo-tech to college prep, and some programs place different emphasis on
the types of diplomas offered. University affiliated schools, for
example, allow qualified students to take college courses along with
their high school ones. Students can then apply the college credits
toward a degree at that university or transfer them to another
institution.
Taking courses by distance study is
often more challenging and time consuming than attending classes,
especially for adults who have other obligations. Success depends on
each student's motivation. Students usually do reading assignments on
their own. Written exercises, which they complete and send to an
instructor for grading, supplement their reading material. |
