beyond the ged: preparing for college and a career in the 21 st century

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Beyond the GED: Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st Century January 24, 2014 @AYPF_Tweets #aypfevents

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Beyond the GED: Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st Century. January 24, 2014. @ AYPF_Tweets # aypfevents. A Very Brief History of Second-Chance Education Programs in the U.S. Richard J. Murnane Harvard University January 24, 2014. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

Beyond the GED: Preparing for College and

a Career in the 21st CenturyJanuary 24, 2014

@AYPF_Tweets#aypfevents

Page 2: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

A Very Brief History of Second-Chance Education Programs in the U.S

Richard J. Murnane

Harvard University

January 24, 2014

Page 3: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

The Changing Landscape of Second-Chance Education Programs in the U.S.

In the 1930s there were many programs that taught high school curriculum to adults.

GED was introduced in 1942 to provide returning WWII veterans with a HS completion credential.

In 1947 New York allowed non-veterans to acquire the GED.

By 1974 all states provided open access to the GED.

During the period 1970-1995, the number of GED recipients grew enormously.

In 2011, 12% of HS completion credentials were awarded to GED recipients (down from 17% in 1995).

Recently a number of states including NY have moved to alternative credentialing exams in anticipation of the new, more expensive computer-based set of GED exams.

Page 4: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

Concerns about Alternative HS Completion Credentials

Recipients do not fare as well in labor markets or in post-secondary education and training as conventional high school graduates.

Increasing availability (especially to 16 and 17 year-olds) induces some struggling HS students to drop out.

Use of alternative HS completion route is especially prevalent among black and Hispanic students.

Page 5: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

Why GED Recipients do not Fare Well Problem is not weaker academic skills than terminal HS graduates.

Problem is that credential signals a history of inconsistent attendance and a lack of reliability.

The credential does not measure the attributes employers look for in entry-level hires.

Most GED preparation programs are test-prep, and do not develop or signal critical soft skills.

40% of GED recipients start a post-secondary education or training program within 6 years. Only 12% of those who start a program complete it within 6 years of GED receipt.

Page 6: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

The Challenge One-in-five U.S. students leave HS without a diploma.

Many immigrants arrive in US without a HS diploma.

There is a pressing need for second-chance programs that develop the skills needed for success in post-secondary education and training and that signal acquisition of these skills to employers.

Changing economy means that reliability needs to be accompanied by skill in identifying and solving new problems, often while working in groups, and communicating effectively – the new Artizans’ jobs.

Page 7: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

Questions

How to minimize displacement effects from second-chance program?

– Increasing minimum age for alternative programs helps

– Developing programs with real curriculum may help as well.

Can programs be designed that appeal to former students who did not thrive in high school? Would context-based curriculum improve outcomes?

Would better designed second-chance programs increase life chances of participants? (Need to both develop skills that improve post-secondary outcomes and signal these skills to employers)

Would such programs be good social investments?

Page 8: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

The power of using High School Equivalency as a bridge to college

LaGuardia Community College

Page 9: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

JOHNNY

Dropped out of high school to work to support his child

Decades later, enrolled in GED Bridge program when his teenage son said “I’m going to drop out of high school just like you!”

Enrolled at LaGCC, graduated in 2 years, Psychology major, with honors

Full scholarship to NYU

Son and daughter now college students at LaGCC, his brother just completed GED Bridge program

Page 10: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

GERALDINE

Teenage mother of 2

Struggled with attendance but supported by program staff

Earned GED in Bridge to Health & then graduated from LaGuardia’s 6 month Community Health Worker Training Program

Working as Community Health Worker, educating at-risk communities about diabetes awareness and prevention

Now enrolled as Health and Human Services Degree major at LaGCC

Page 11: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

JUAN

Earned his GED diploma in Bridge to Health, working full-time during GED classes in his family's store

Entered LaGCC, 3.5 GPA , completed biology degree to prepare for dental studies

Transferred to BS at SUNY Stony Brook University this spring, hoping to to enroll at dental school after BS degree

Page 12: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

NAYLYNN

No interest in college at onset of GED Bridge to Science program

Goal was high school diploma and continue work at drugstore

College and career workshops led her to discover her passion for marine biology

Enrolled at LaGCC, Biology major, ended first semester with 3.7 GPA

Page 13: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

KABHIR

Earned his GED diploma through the Bridge to Health Program

Worked F/T at UPS and became a father to twin daughters during the semester

Applied and entered the EMT program at LaGCC

Was in the top 25% of students enrolled in classes

Earned his EMT-B certification and is now working as First Responder in New York City

Page 14: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

KALIN AND MARI

Sisters originally from Peru

First languages were Chinese and Spanish

2nd language English, did not start learning English until they were teenagers

Earned GED in Bridge Program and entered LaGuardia

Kalin – computer science major – 3.97 GPA

Mari – communication studies – 3.87 GPA

Page 15: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

Themes and Next StepsBeyond the GED: AYPF ForumDr. Elizabeth Zachry Rutschow January 24, 2014

Page 16: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

Where does LaGuardia Bridge fit among GED reforms?

1. Revising the standards Instructional standards Credentialing standards

2. GED-to-college bridge programs Rigorous curricula Transition supports GED-then-college sequential enrollment

3. Concurrent enrollment programGED-to-college bridge with direct college

enrollment

Page 17: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

What do we know?

Currently, the most promising programs…….contextualize in careers…provide enhanced transition supports…offer direct connections to postsecondary education

What changed? Program persistence High school

credentialing College enrollment and

persistence College credits earned

Page 18: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

The 2014 GED: Part of the way there?

Aiming higher…

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards

Assess high completion and college-readiness

Pushes for computer literacy

But…

Will students pass? Only 60% pass the current

test

Can programs prepare students? Few current investments

What are the outcomes? Which programs improve

college success and employment?

Page 19: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

Future considerations

Accelerating instruction and creating better milestones Which outcomes are most important for students success in

college and careers?? Earning college credits before the GED

Do concurrent enrollment programs provide more success? Federal financial aid and policies

The removal of the “ability to benefit” from federal financial aid

The barriers of developmental education Lower skilled students

How can we help the 75% of adults with below 9th grade skills?

Page 20: Beyond the GED:  Preparing for College and a Career in the 21 st  Century

Questions?Richard J. Murnane, Harvard Graduate School of Education [email protected]

Gail O. Mellow, LaGuardia Community College [email protected]

Vanessa Martin, MDRC [email protected]

Elizabeth Zachry Rutschow, [email protected]

@AYPF_Tweets#aypfevents