ND Teal Community CallJune 17, 2014

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Teal Community Call Agenda

1.Welcome and Roll-call

2.Adapting to the 2014 GED

3.Examples of What Works Well

4.Other Issues/Questions

5.Next Topical and Community Calls

6.NDTAC Conference

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Welcome and Roll-call

Roll-call

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Adapting to the 2014 GED

Potential issues Title I, Part D Programs may face with the new GED Administering the GED now requires a computer The difficulty of the GED has increased The cost of the GED has increased

The information on the following slides is available at http://www.gedtestingservice.com/educators/2014-faqs

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Computer Format of the 2014 GED

ABOUT THE 2014 GED® TEST

What is the test format?The test is on computer.

Note: Most correctional institutions will be offering the 2014 GED® test on computer. Certain institutions, however, may be granted a waiver to continue administering the 2002 Series test on paper for a limited period of time while they improve their computer infrastructure. Check with your local GED Administrator™ for more information on the Transitional Waiver Program in your jurisdiction and institution.

Is keyboarding speed an issue? How does this influence test time?The time given is adequate for students to construct their answer and key in their response. Field testing has demonstrated that even test-takers with minimal keyboarding skills have adequate time.

Will there still be multiple versions (forms) of each subject test?Yes, as in any high quality standardized testing program, multiple equivalent forms of the test will be administered to test-takers to ensure that test security is maintained and to offer multiple testing opportunities to test-takers who might not pass on their first attempt. The 2014 GED® test offers three forms in English and three forms in Spanish. 

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Difficulty of the 2014 GED

STANDARDIZATION, NORMING, AND PASSING STANDARDS

 

How hard is the test?

The test is aligned with today's high school standards. The difficulty level needed to pass the GED® test is the same difficulty level as needed to pass high school today.

Since the test is being normed on high school graduates, will there be much of a difference in passing rates?

The Passing Standard for high school equivalency was set based on the performance of a national sample of high school graduates from the class of 2013.  The cut score for high school equivalency was set at a performance level such that the passing rates on the individual content-area tests are comparable to those that are currently in place for the 2002 Series GED® Test.  The Passing Standard on each content area test has been established at a scaled score of 150 on a scale of 100 to 200.

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Cost of the 2014 GEDPRICING

What is the price breakdown per test?

The 2014 GED® test including all the standard elements of the 2014 GED® program costs jurisdictions $30 per each of the 4 modules, for a total of $120.  The price that test-takers pay is set by jurisdictions, and varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  For more information about the complete 2014 GED® program, visit the web site at http://www.gedtestingservice.com/educators/2014program.

Is there funding available to help offset the costs?

Studies conducted in 2011 by GED Testing Service demonstrated that funding to help students offset the cost of testing is available from a variety of sources nationwide.

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2014 GED in the Correctional Setting

Any comments regarding limitations or accommodations for testing in corrections? Most correctional institutions will be offering the 2014 GED® test on

computer. Certain institutions, however, may be granted a waiver to continue administering the 2002 Series test on paper for a limited period of time while they improve their computer infrastructure. Check with your local GED Administrator™ for more information on the Transitional Waiver Program in your jurisdiction and institution.

Will the web resources be downloadable for correctional education?  Yes.

How long will correctional facilities have before they will be required to offer computer based testing? This decision is being made on a case-by-case basis based on waiver

applications submitted by jurisdictions to the GED Testing Service. Check with your local GED Administrator™ for more information on the Transitional Waiver Program in your jurisdiction and institution.

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2014 GED in the Correctional Setting

What about programs for those incarcerated and computers are not an option because of security? Most prisons will be able to offer the test on computer. Prisons

not able to offer computer-based testing will continue to offer the 2002 Series GED® Test on paper for a limited approved amount of time. Check with your local GED Administrator™ for more information on the Transitional Waiver Program in your jurisdiction and institution.

Will students from the correctional education setting be included in norming sample this year? The test has been normed on a national sample of high school

graduates from the class of 2013. As such, students from corrections, who are typically adults, were not included in this sample.

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2014 GED in the Correctional Setting

Can practice tests for corrections be used in the classroom or only in testing area? Practice tests in corrections or otherwise may be used in an

instructional setting, keeping in mind that for the score to be truly predictive of how a student will score on the operational test the administration conditions need to be as similar as possible to an actual testing environment.

Will there be an offline version of the 2014 GED® test tutorial? Yes, there is an offline version of the tutorial for use in

corrections.

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Examples of What Works Well

During last call, we had an assignment: For the next call, please think about sharing something

from one of your programs or facilities that is working especially well

Examples?

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Other Issues/Questions

Any Other Topics or Issues for Discussion?

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Next Scheduled Calls

Third Topical Call Family Engagement—Tuesday, June 24, 2014

3—4:30 PM ET

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NDTAC Conference

Dates: July 21 – 23 Location: The Renaissance Washington, DC Dupont

Circle Hotel Conference Registration: http://bit.ly/1hY0uAa