The 21st Century GED® Assessment SystemOVAE State Directors’ InstituteMay 11, 2011

The 21st Century GED® Assessment System

GED ® Testing Service Presenters• Nicole M. Chestang, Executive Vice President, • Martin D. Kehe, Vice President, Product

Management• Debi Faucette, Senior Director, Field Outreach, • Tracy Gardner Senior Director, Assessment

Services

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Session Overview

The BIG Announcement!!

“American Council on Education and Pearson to Overhaul GED” Inside Higher Ed, March 15, 2011

“GED Exam Will Be Computerized before New Version is Unveiled in 2014” Youth Today, March 16, 2011

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The GED Testing Service®

DOB: March 11, 2011

Focus: Adult learners

Mission: To achieve the vision of the GED21st Century Initiative

Commitment: To ensure that more adults become career and college ready

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www.GEDtestingservice.com

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About Us

• We believe that education transforms lives• We share your sense of urgency about the

crisis in educational attainment• We know that adult learners are integral to any

strategy designed to improve attainment• We know that partners are critical to realizing

effective, large-scale change

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About Us

• We’re…– Not Pearson– Not Pearson VUE– Not ACE

• We’re…– GED Testing Service®

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The Elephant in the Room

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“For Profit”“For Profit”

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Scope of the GED Program

18,000,000770,000683,000472,000

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The GED® Reality

More than 39 million U.S. adults without a high school credential

10.5 Million are age 18-34

1.3 million U.S. high school dropouts annually

~ 770,000 GED®

Candidates

~ 472,000credentials

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What’s 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 as a transitional step to college or career opportunities

• Diagnostics and additional tools—to 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’s Response

• Pivotal decision to cancel the 5th Edition GED® test (Sept. 2009)

• Engaged with the Bridgespan Group in market evaluation and strategic planning process

• Initiated a pilot of computer-based testing in 11 States

Outcome: GED® 21st Century Initiative, a holistic framework focused on adult learners that facilitates the transition to careers and college

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The GED 21st Century Initiative Goal

Nationally AccessiblePreparation Programs

Next-genGEDExam

Post-testTransitionNetwork

Facilitate development of broadly accessible, multi-platform, accelerated approach to learning

Test aligned with CCSS & other state and int’l standards,

certifying CCR

Foster creation of a comprehensive network for successful transition to PSE & career opportunities

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The GED 21st Century Initiative’s Goal:Facilitate pathways to achieve career & college

readiness and increase PSE attainment & career success

PerformPrepare Progress

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PerformPrepare Progress

GED Readiness

Assessment

Demonstrate preparation for career and PSE

Pathways to instructional

system

Attain PSE credential

and/or career success

Connect to pathways to career and

PSE

Diagnostic post-

assessment

Customized curriculum &differentiated

instruction

• Enroll & persist in PSE to attain credential

• Access family-sustaining careers

• Receive information, counseling, or other supports to enroll in PSE or enter career

• Determine readiness for next-gen GED exam

• Assess learning gains and tailor ongoing instruction

• Take GED diagnostic assessment to identify learning needs

• Identify long-term PSE/career goals

• Take next-gen GED exam and earn credential

Diagnostic pre-

assessment

• Receive customized curriculum

• Access quality, tailored instruction

The GED 21st Century Initiative’s Goal:Facilitate pathways to achieve career & college

readiness and increase PSE attainment & career success

To• Content aligned to 1999 high school

curriculum

• Passing standard empirically setbased on norm-referencedperformance of graduating high school seniors

• Non-standardized paper-based test delivery channel

• Anecdotal proficiency gains

• A disjointed, fragmented system that challenges both adult learners and educators

• Rigorous content aligned to Common Core State Standards (CCSS), & other state and international standards

• Proficiency levels based on criterion-referenced performance standards for both high school and college/career readiness

• Standardized computer-based test delivery channel

• Accelerated proficiency gains

• Comprehensive, easily accessible system of supports that empower both adult learners and educators

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Evolution of the GED® Program

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The GED 21st Century Initiative Timeline

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2011 Deliverables

• 2002 Series continues• Operational CBT begins• Assessment Development

– Test blueprint– Performance levels developed

• Accelerated learning pilots• GED Marketplace Portal launch

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2012 Deliverables

• 2002 Series begins to wind down• CBT expands to additional markets• Assessment Development

– Item development – Field testing

• Accelerated learning pilots• 2014 Test Content and Instructional

requirements shared with the field• Continue to build GED Marketplace Portal

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2013 Deliverables

• 2002 Series comes to a close• CBT widely available • 2014 GED assessment system launch: GED

Readiness Test• Accelerated learning pilots continue and

knowledge is shared with the field • GED Marketplace Portal continues to develop• GED Transition Network launched

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2011-2013: Sunset for the 2002 Series

Thanks for the memories…

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2014: The Dawn of the Next Generation GED® Assessment System

It’s a brand new day for adult learners

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Computer-Based Testing (CBT)

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Testing Locations

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Chief Examiner Role

Work-Time Ranges0 – 25%

26 – 50%

51 – 75%

76 – 100%

% of CEs in Work-Time Range59.9%

17.4%

7.5%

15.1%

Testing Availability

• Test centers most often test no more than 30 days per year

• Testing on weekdays during the daytime

• 82% of test centers reported no waiting lists but,

– Significant waiting lists in some jurisdictions– ANY wait is significant for prepared test-

takers

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Insights from the Market Research

• GED® testing is offered largely on a part-time basis

• 75% of centers reported that they could test at least 100 more candidates per year = another 1.3 million candidates

• Weekday, day-time hours = significant challenges for working adults to schedule convenient appointments

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GED Testing: Operational Challenges

• Labor- and resource-intensive– People– Time– Money

• Test security • Availability (location, testing center hours, &

scheduling)• Wait time for credentials to be issued• Key processes are not yet automated

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What CBT Is…and Is Not

• What CBT is…– Standardized mode of test delivery that

includes technology-based tools for data management, reporting and enhanced security procedures

• What CBT is not…– “Online” testing– An automated system that completely

replaces human interaction or judgment

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Benefits for Test-Takers

• Rapid turnaround of results• More choices--when and where to test• Ease of registration• More consistent test-taker experience

All part of GED Testing Service’s commitment to serving more test-takers, and providing an accessible, valid and reliable testing process.

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Why Now?

• Test-takers need increased access

– Only testing 2% of eligible population

– No marked increase in testing over past 8 years

• National & local governments requiring more efficient

processes

• Well-traveled road with many successful examples

• Prepares the way for the new GED assessment

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Road to CBT

• May – October, 2010– 11-state pilot– Usability and Comparability Studies– Finding: CBT is usable and comparable

• November 2010 to June 2011– Operational CBT planning

• July/August 2011– Operational CBT launched

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The CBT Planning & Implementation Timeline

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2011

• Data gathering • Planning process for first four jurisdictions• Initiate orientation program for next wave of

jurisdictions• Live CBT for lead jurisdictions• Evaluation

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2012

• Data gathering and exploration continues for next wave of jurisdictions

• CBT network expands in jurisdictions• Orientation program continues • Ongoing evaluation and operational adjustments

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2013

• Data gathering and exploration for final wave of jurisdictions

• CBT becomes dominant mode of delivery for jurisdictions that implemented in mid-2011 & early to mid-2012

• Project orientation program winds down• Evaluation program continues• Live CBT operational in all jurisdictions by end of

2013

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Is the Field ready for CBT?• Almost 60% of test centers already have computers—23

computers on average• About the same percentage (60%) offer computer-based

testing (outside of GED tests)• 9 states have computers available in at least 75% of

their current test centers: Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and West Virginia

• California, Michigan, and Texas each had more than 50 centers with potentially available additional computers

• Yes, but we still have work to do…Source: Test Center Profile, 2010

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The Elephant in the Room - Costs

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CostCost

PBT Cost Structure

PBT costs paid by jurisdictions– GED testing materials (as determined by GED Testing Service)– Staffing expenses: proctoring exams, registration, fee collection,

data management, reporting, transcript processing– Facilities expenses – Accommodations– Test scoring– Security: test and document handling and storage; staff training

and monitoring– Transcript and credential issuance

Average cost to the jurisdictions: ~ $150

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Following the MoneyGED® testing is supported in varying degrees by:

Just because it’s not in the GED® Program budget, doesn’t mean that it’s not in someone’s budget

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The Truth About Test-Taker Fees

• More than 46,000 GED® test candidates in all but five US states received grants or scholarships to test, totaling more than $3.3 million in 2009

• More than two-thirds of test centers get less than half of their funding from test fees

• Only one fourth of test centers rely solely on test fees for their support

• States varied in test-taker fees charged across test centers & in circumstances for fee waivers

Source: Test Center Profile, 2010

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Current Fees to Test-Takers

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CBT Cost Structure – All Inclusive• Test battery leasing• Phone and internet registration• Fee collection• Test scoring • Instant unofficial score reports• Reporting • Data management• Data transfers• On demand testing• Test security• Proctoring• FacilitiesTest Center Compensation ~$40-$50 for 7.5 hour test

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CBT Costs to Jurisdictions

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CBT: Fees to Test-Takers

Jurisdictions still set test-taker fees…however, the most needy test-takers won’t be forgotten

The GED Testing Service will be the lead sponsor in a consortium of partners who will create a foundation to support test-takers.

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Why Aren’t There Plans for a National Rollout of CBT?• State policies

– Test-taker fees– Eligibility– Preparation requirements

• Funding models• Access concerns

– Location…location…location…– Community-college network– Corrections

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www.GEDcbt.org

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THE NEXT-GEN GED® ASSESSMENT:THE FUTURE OF CAREER AND COLLEGE READINESS (CCR) FOR ADULT LEARNERS

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Guiding Principles of the GED®

Assessment Design

• The GED® assessment targets will– Focus heavily on what matters most for postsecondary success– De-emphasize what is less important– Focus students and teachers on a powerful skill set that they

can deploy across the subject areas, as well as in careers and college

– Build on the strongest evidence in order to predict readiness incareer, college, and life

• The four subject-level assessments will reinforce core masteries (e.g., use of evidence) that strongly predict career and college readiness

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The New GED® Assessment and Career and College Readiness Standards

• Raise the rigor of the GED® assessment by aligning with national & international career- and college-readiness expectations—e.g. CCSS

• Provide a framework for informing test development as well as provide clear guidelines for adult educators responsible for preparing test-takers

Assessment Design: An Inclusive ProcessWe will convene groups of stakeholders at various times in the process (over the next three years)

• Admissions Officers• Adult ED Instructors• Business Community • Community Colleges • Educational Policy• GED® Administrators• Higher Ed • High School/K-12 • Military• Psychometrics • Voc Ed/ trades

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Assessment Development Timeline

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2011

• Assessment development partners identified• Content standards and assessment targets

finalized• Performance level descriptors drafted• Item development begins

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2012

• Item Development and Field Testing for Operational and Readiness Tests

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2013

• Item Development and Field Testing for Diagnostic Test

• Release of GED Readiness Test v. 1.0• Construction of 2014 Operational GED Test

Forms

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Assessment Development Communication

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2011

• Computer-based testing tutorial available on the GED website (June)

• Assessment targets and draft Performance Level Descriptors shared with GED stakeholders (July)

• GED stakeholders involved in PLD refinement

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2012

• GED stakeholders involved in PLD refinement• GED Item Sampler released (July)

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2013

• Release of GED Readiness Test v. 1.0 (September)

• GED stakeholders involved in preliminary setting of Performance Standards (fall 2013)

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Assessment Design Principles

CentralMatters

Non-Negotiables

StretchAreas

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The Four Subject-level Assessments

1. 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

2. 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 introduced in grades 6-8 and mastered in grades 9-12

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The Four Subject-level Assessments

3. Science & 4. Social Studies

• Focus: Literacy and quantitative reasoning skills in context of the content

• Includes assessment of selected core content in each subject area

Literacy Content• 75% literary non-fiction; 25% will be literature.

• Text complexity ranging from high school thru college and career readiness levels.

• Focus on general academic vocabulary

• US Founding Documents and the “great conversation”that followed will be required texts

• All writing tasks will require the test taker to analyze a given source text or texts, using evidence drawn solely from the text(s).

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Mathematics Content

• Quantitative Skills and Problem Solving• Algebraic Problem Solving• Elementary and Intermediate Algebraic

Techniques• Geometric Problem Solving• Using Graphs of Functions• Descriptive Statistics and Basic Inference

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Rethinking Performance Levels & CredentialsNOW…The current exam

– Is pass-fail and – Doesn’t provide information about skills that

examinees demonstrate at different levels

FUTURE… Each content-area test in the 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

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Next Generation Assessment Performance Standards – An Illustration2002 Series GED® Tests

Passing Standard

Credential

No Credential

Next generation GED® assessment

Performance Standard 2 …tied to current level ofhigh school equivalencywith corresponding PLD

Performance Standard 3 …tied to college-readinesswith corresponding PLD

Performance Standard 1 …tied to pre-GED®

performance levelwith corresponding PLD

Scor

e Sc

ale Score

Scale

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Rethinking Performance Levels & Credentials• What does the test-taker get?

– Information—which is central to improving performance

• What does the educator or employer get?– Information—A roadmap of current skills and

developmental needs, as measured against a career and college-ready framework—which is critical to planning for skills development

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GROUP ACTIVITY

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Instructions: Part One

• Identify key issues and themes• Time: 15 minutes• Assign a spokesperson• Note down the group’s ideas

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Instructions: Part 2, Action Planning

• Time: 30 minutes• Select a theme or issue from the list• Brainstorm actions/plans that will help address the issue

or theme in the next 12-18 months• Questions for consideration:

– Who do you need to involve?– What decisions will need to be made?

• What additional information will you need?• What obstacles do you face?

• Each group will select 1 or 2 actions to share

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DISCUSSION & WRAP-UP

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Contact InfoNicole M. Chestang, Executive Vice PresidentNicole.Chestang@GEDtestingservice.com

Martin D. Kehe, Vice President, Product ManagementMartin.Kehe@GEDtestingservice.com

Debi Faucette, Senior Director, Partner OutreachDebi.Faucette@GEDtestingservice.com

Tracy Gardner, Senior Director, Assessment ServicesTracy.Gardner@GEDtestingservice.com

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