GED 21 st Century Initiative NCTA Conference September 23, 2011

Presented by: Debi K. Faucette Senior Director, Field Outreach C. T. Turner Director, Public Affairs GED Testing Service ® 2

Agenda Overview of the New GED Testing Service ® Highlights of GED 21 st Century Initiative –Implementation of Computer-based Testing CBT: – The Next 27 months –Highlights of the Next Generation Assessment –Transition to Career and/or College Questions, Comments, & Next Steps 3

4 The GED ® Reality More than 39 million U.S. adults without a high school credential 10.5 Million are age million U.S. high school dropouts annually ~ 770,000 GED ® Test Candidates ~ 472,000 credentials 4

5 Whats Needed A new test that certifies not only high school equivalence but also career and college readiness An integrated system in which testing plays an important role, but is a transitional step to college or career opportunities Diagnostics and additional toolsto provide more information to candidates and adult educators to drive preparation Technology-based delivery platforms (CBT) to ease access and capacity issues

The GED Testing Service ® Response GED 21 st Century Initiative A holistic framework focused on adult learners that facilitates the transition to careers and college 6

To Content aligned to 1999 high school curriculum Passing standard empirically set based on norm-referenced performance of graduating high school seniors A disjointed, fragmented system that challenges both adult learners and educators Rigorous content aligned to Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and prevailing state standards Proficiency levels based, in part, on empirical data obtained by performance of graduating high school seniors to identify skills and competencies reflected by the scores/sub-scores Comprehensive, easily accessible system of supports that empower both adult learners and educators From The Transformation of GED ® Testing 7

The GED Testing Service ® Created:March 11, 2011 Focus:Adult learners Mission:To achieve the vision of the GED ® 21 st Century Initiative 8

The GED 21 st Century Initiative Goal Facilitate pathways to achieve career & college readiness and increase PSE attainment & career success Perform Prepare Progress Nationally Accessible Preparation Programs New Assessment Post-test Transition Network Facilitate development of broadly accessible, multi-platform, accelerated approach to learning Test aligned with CCSS, certifying preparedness for careers & college Foster creation of a comprehensive network for successful transition to PSE & career opportunities 9

COMPUTER-BASED TESTING (CBT) 10

GED ® Testing: Todays Challenges Paper-based process is labor-intensive Multiple approaches to test delivery, scoring, data management, and reporting--making it difficult to achieve economies of scale Limited access (proximity, testing center hours, and scheduling) Time to receive credential after the exam Lack of flexibility in making changes to the exam 11

The Benefits of CBT Provides benefits to test-takers including: Rapid turnaround of test results Ultimately greater choices of when and where to take the tests Ease of registration Increased test security Possibility of shorter test times for many test-takers Part of GED Testing Service ® commitment to serving more test-takers, and providing an accessible, valid and reliable testing process. 12

Why Now? Well-traveled road with many successful examples Usability and Comparability studies were conducted with successful outcomes for test-takers Prepares the way for the next generation assessment launching in 2014 All states must move to CBT by the end of 2013 to continue to administer the GED® Test 27 months 13

Base Pricing Overview The base price: $24 per content area test The base price is $24 per test whether the battery is completed in five appointments or one. The re-testing base price is also $24. Test-taker fees will continue to be determined by jurisdictions – Each jurisdiction will continue to have flexibility to discount fees or add additional fees to the base price. 14 This flat-rate approach is easier for everyone to understand. * Pricing is for the current 2002 series GED Test

Base Pricing Overview (continued) Services Included in CBT Delivery Mode: 15 Test Battery Leasing Internet, In-person, Phone Registration & Scheduling Fee Collection Test Scoring Instant Unofficial Score Reports for Multiple Choice Tests Reporting Data Management Data Transfers Flexible Testing Schedules Test Security Proctoring

Base Pricing Overview – Test Center Compensation Testing Center Payment – From the $24 per test, testing center will be paid $5 per appointment hour For example, if the Science test is scheduled for two hours the testing center will receive a minimum of $10. The test center will receive $10 even if they finish the test in a shorter amount of time In the case of additional time needed for accommodations, testing centers will still receive $5 per hour. For example a double time appointment for Science would be four hours, so the testing center would receive $20. 16

Pearson VUE Authorized Testing Centers and the GED ® Test

18 CBT Coverage for GED Testing Work with each jurisdiction to determine CBT coverage Build CBT capacity for GED testing convert existing PBT centers to CBT centers as Pearson VUE Authorized Testing Centers (PVTC) (aka academic centers) add new CBT centers by allowing existing PVTCs centers to offer GED® testing

THE NEXT-GEN ASSESSMENT: THE FUTURE OF CAREER AND COLLEGE READINESS FOR ADULT LEARNERS 19

20 Guiding Principles of the Assessment Design The GED ® assessment targets will focus and build on – What matters most for postsecondary success – The strongest evidence in the CCSS in order to predict readiness in career, college, and life The four subject-level assessments will reinforce core masteries (e.g., use of evidence) that strongly predict career and college readiness Provide a framework to provide clear guidelines for adult educators responsible for preparing test-takers

Component Fall 2011/January 2012 July 2012 Fall 2013 January Content Standards are set for Literacy and Math/ Social Studies and Science Item Sampler release Readiness Test release Cut Scores are set New Assessment launch Diagnostic Test release Date Assessment System Components/Timelines 21

Rethinking Performance Levels & Credentials CURRENT…The 2002 assessment is –Pass-fail and –Doesnt provide information about skills that examinees demonstrate at different levels FUTURE… Each test in the next-generation exam will –Provide information to the test-taker and the test- user (i.e., PSE and/or employers) about the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities that the candidate has demonstrated 22

Proposed Performance Levels Level 1. Does Not Meet the Standard for HS Exit Level 2. Ready for High School Exit Level 3. Career- and College-Ready 23

Next Generation Assessment Performance Standards – An Illustration Series GED ® Tests No Credential Score Scale Credential Next generation Assessment Performance Standard 3 … tied to college-readiness with corresponding PLD Performance Standard 1 … tied to pre-GED ® performance level with corresponding PLD. Performance at this level does not earn a credential, but does receive performance feedback. Score Scale Passing Cut Score for High School Exit No Credential Credential Additional Endorsement Performance Standard 2 … tied to present level of high school exit with corresponding PLD Passing Cut Score for High School Equivalency

25 The Four Subject-level Assessments Literacy Focus: demonstration of the ability to read and comprehend a range of complex texts, especially complex nonfiction Writing tasks will require test takers to analyze given source texts, using evidence

26 The Four Subject-level Assessments Math Focus on the material in CCSS that is most important for a wide range of postsecondary outcomes Includes material from the career and college ready standards that is introduced in grades 6-8, but reinforced and mastered in grades 9-12

27 The Four Subject-level Assessments Science Social Studies Focus on each test: Literacy and quantitative reasoning skills in context of the content Includes assessment of selected core content in each subject area

28 Resources – about CBT

29 Resources – about GED Testing Service

Contact Information Debi Faucette Senior Director, Field Outreach C. T. Turner Director, Public Affairs Websites: For test-takers: For educators: 30

Questions, Comments, and Next Steps 31