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The document provides background on Maine’s current preparation and testing system and proposes bid specifications to select a more accessible equivalency test while supporting transitions to career and college 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of a Maine worker with and without a diploma/GED2  \n$200,000  \nDifference in income over a work life between a worker with and without a  \ndiploma/GED3  \n54%  \nMaine families without a highschool diploma/GED that live in  \npoverty4  \n2,258  \nNumber of Maine GED test takers per year5  \n86.9%  \nPass rate of Maine GED test  \ntakers6  \n91.5%  \nSuccess rate for first-time GED test takers in Maine7  \n25.2  \nAvg age of Maine GED test  \ntaker8  \n7.3  \nAvg number of years a Maine test taker has been out of  \nschool before taking the GED9  \n5  \nNumber of tests to obtain a GED: math, science, social  \nstudies, reading, and writing 10  \n7  \nNumber of hours required to complete the five GED tests11  \nThe GED Matters  \nMaking Sure Maine Gets the Best Equivalency Test to Meet the Needs of Low-Income Adult Learners  \nMainers without a high school diploma do not fare well in the economy. They are stuck in lowpaying jobs with little opportunity for advancement. Recent changes to the General Educational Development (GED®) test make it harder for adult learners who want to earn their diploma. If Maine is to remain committed to making high school equivalency accessible to those who need it most, it will require a testing process that does not impose barriers for lowincome working adults.  \nObstacles Posed by GED Privatization and Computerization  \nStarting January 1, 2014, the nonprofit American Council on Education, which has owned the GED for 70 years, will privatize it. The private company will increase costs and administer the tests only on-line and only at sites that meet the company’s technology requirements.  \nTable 1: The New GED Poses Obstacles for Low-Income Mainers  \n\n| Stranded GED Candidates | Current GED candidates must pass all five GED tests prior to December 31, 2013 or start all over |\n| --- | --- |\n| Higher Test Cost | The current cost will increase from $40 to $120 for to take all five required GED tests. |\n| Extra Program Costs | Adult education centers will need computer equipment, updated curriculum materials, and training and certification that comply with the company’s protocol. |\n| Fewer Test Sites | It is unclear whether all adult education sites will be upgraded in time, posing hardships for those who lack transportation or must miss work to travel to a distant test site. |\n| Inflexibility | Accommodations for adult learners with learning disabilities or who lack computer proficiency are more restricted. |\n\nBackground  \nThe state of Maine pays the cost for adult students to prepare for and take the GED. Adult educators work one-on-one with students to complete the GED exams successfully. Maine’s individualized approach puts it eighth in the nation for GED pass rates.  \nThe GED consists of five tests: math, science, social studies, reading, and writing. Students take the tests at one of 78 adult education centers across the state. Currently, it takes seven hours to complete all five of the paper-and-pencil tests. When a student passes all the GED tests, Maine’s Department of Education confers a diploma, which is the legal equivalent of a Maine high school diploma.  \nThe current version of the GED is outdated and leaves GED recipients insufficiently prepared for careers or higher education.  \nThe new owner of the GED―Pearson VUE―is an established provider of online testing services. They have updated test content to include modern skill sets such as problem-solving and computer literacy, and they will provide feedback to students on additional work needed to become career or college ready. However, with their high cost and inflexibility, Pearson VUE may not be the best option for Maine.  \nMaine Center for Economic Policy • [www.mecep.org](www.mecep.org) June 2013  \nWhat Maine Needs to Address in Selecting an Equivalency Test  \nWhile the GED is the most widely accepted, there are other exams and testi","cbCaiqbYGKFUqlXu","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiqbYGKFUqlXu","pdf",434798,"English","# The GED Matters\n## Obstacles Posed by GED Privatization and Computerization\n## Background\n## What Maine Needs to Address in Selecting an Equivalency Test\n## The First Step to a Career","[{\"question\":\"What changes to the GED are scheduled to begin in 2014?\",\"answer\":\"Starting January 1, 2014, the GED will be privatized and administered by the new owner only on-line and only at sites meeting the company’s technology requirements.\"},{\"question\":\"How could the new GED process affect low-income adults in Maine?\",\"answer\":\"The document notes likely higher test costs, fewer and potentially late-upgraded test sites, more restricted accommodations, and reduced flexibility that could force learners to travel, miss work, or repeat tests.\"},{\"question\":\"What specifications does Maine need to consider when selecting a high school equivalency test?\",\"answer\":\"Maine should address grandfathering of partially completed GEDs, state-paid test costs, widely accessible test sites, workable accommodations aligned with its individualized adult education program, flexibility for rural sites, deference to localized decisions, and support for transitioning to career or college.\"}]","GED Facts & Figures - The GED Matters | PDF"]