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Harder test keeps people from GED classes
Photo
Cates
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
About 50 percent fewer people are registered for the GED preparation classes offered by the Youngstown City Schools Adult Basic and Literacy Education program this year compared to before the state moved to a more-difficult test.
“The word on the street is it’s hard, so not everyone is enrolling in our classes,” Mia Panno, ABLE coordinator, said Monday in a meeting with Gary W. Cates, senior vice chancellor for the Ohio Board of Regents, and state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd.
The meeting was at Choffin Career and Technical Center on Wood Street.
The main issue is the math portion of the test, which deals with algebra II. Before this year, the math portion of the General Educational Development test was related to real-life applications.
The test changed in January, aligning with the Common Core State Standards. Besides math, other subjects tested are social studies, reading and science. To pass the test, a student must pass all four areas.
The test is administered by Pearson VUE, which owns the GED test. Cates said he has no control over the GED test. An administrative decision by the Ohio Department of Education determined to use that test.
Cates said other states have opted to go with other companies for high-school equivalency exams. Those states include New York, Montana and New Hampshire.
Panno said she doesn’t disagree that the difficulty of the test may have needed to increase, but other testing companies are increasing it incrementally over time rather than all at once.
“Math is a stumbling block,” Panno said. “It’s almost like they’re putting more barriers in the way instead of removing barriers.”
She said people in the community want to better themselves through education.
“They want to provide for their family, but they can’t even get a job at Burger King” without a GED certificate, Panno said. “They can’t get into the armed services.”
The cost to take the test also increased from $40 to $120, although the state is covering the additional cost for first-time test-takers at least through June 2015. Students also are required to take the test on computer rather than with pencil and paper since the change.
Schiavoni said he would take the math portion of the test to gauge its difficulty. He said he also will have his staff research the issue.
Cates spoke at the ABLE GED graduation last June, was impressed with the program and wanted to return for a site visit.