For many, autumn is a reminder of returning to school. For thousands of people throughout the country and in Rhode Island, “back to school” evokes the memory of not getting their high school diploma – and the hope that they will “someday” go back to get their high school equivalency, a hope that gets pushed further into the background as life gets in the way.
Because four-year graduation rates in Rhode Island’s traditional high school programs range from a high of 96% to a low of 44%, many students are being left behind. Sometimes adults who left school many years ago are now looking to get higher-paying jobs or jobs requiring more advanced training, or to participate in higher education programs. In almost every case, the path to their goal is through a high school equivalency examination. In RI, the only accepted testing solution is the “general educational development” exam, more commonly known as the “GED.” It is a series of four tests each lasting from one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half hours, covering mathematics, social studies, science, and reading/language arts. The GED is primarily available to people 18 and older.
In RI, all GED tests are taken via computer, either at a testing center or on the internet, but extra rules apply to users taking exams at home. Only state residents are allowed to take the test in RI. Each exam can cost $30 unless the test taker qualifies for a fee waiver. If a test taker does not pass the exam, he or she is allowed to retake it again for free after some more study. Applicants qualify for fee waiver if they or a family member participate in RI Works cash assistance, SNAP food assistance, Child Care Assistance, Rite Care/Rite Share health coverage, or if their family income is below a certain amount.
For those considering a GED, the most important thing is to get started and to keep going: some people can complete a GED in a few weeks, while some people are going to take a few years. Some people are going to have interruptions in their studies, and it may take them almost as long to complete as others take to finish college, but as long as those people keep moving and keep working at it, success is possible. Adult education programs have seen it all: They understand that a 35-year-old parent working two jobs is not being lazy if they didn’t get a chance to turn in their homework, and they understand that people who have been out of school for years may need help with refreshers and study skills.
The Community College of Rhode Island offers a program that runs four sets of classes a year, two eight-week sessions in the fall and two eight-week sessions in the spring, with over 200 students enrolled each year. Karina Ham, CCRI’s co-ordinator of adult education, said people wanting to participate can express interest by calling 401-455-6140 or visiting CCRI Providence at 1 Hilton Street, but that the best way is to go online – studentportal.literacypro.com/ri/providers/16 – to the RI Department of Education’s student portal. Classes for this program are free because the adult education program is supported by CCRI and its Workforce Partnerships division.
Ham explained that CCRI will make sure all potential students are tested to determine if they are ready for GED-level classes or would benefit from basic academic knowledge in pre-GED classes for up to a year to help give them the best chance at success. Recently CCRI added the ability for students to take the GED exams in Spanish, helping the population of English Language Learners. Students who have already passed some GED exams since 2014 will be enrolled in the classes that match up with their areas of need for the remaining tests. (GED tests taken before 2014 are no longer valid toward earning a diploma.)
Ham said she knows that many people need a GED to pursue college or a specific trade, but she will ask them, “‘What do you want to do after you get your GED?’ They’ll say, it’s just something they want to check off their boxes that they never did. It’s not necessarily because their job is requiring it, or because they want to attend college afterwards. It’s really just that personal goal that they make for themselves and they want to be able to achieve that.”
CCRI is just one of many programs that aid people who need or want a GED; another is RI Regional Adult Learning. Deborah Anthes, RIRAL’s executive director, reports that the organization serves over 500 students each year.
Anthes also points out that potential test takers might want to consider “National External Diploma Program (NEDP)” which, she writes, “is a flexible, self-directed, web-based program for adults and out-of-school youth to earn a high school diploma by demonstrating competency-based skills through life and work experiences, rather than traditional classroom learning or standardized tests like the GED. The program evaluates participants’ reading, writing, math, and workforce readiness skills in real-world contexts, awarding a high school diploma. Anyone interested in that option can call RIRAL at (401) 762-3841”
The internet age means that many resources exist to help students learn the GED material that didn’t exist when they left school. YouTube has dozens of channels that teach GED classes for free and some offer matching course materials for a small fee. The GED website itself offers free study guides for test takers. A local library or bookstore will also have access to materials students can borrow or buy – look for ones that have the “GED Content Aligned” logo, meaning that the content is most closely going to match the actual exams because the authors have had their manuscripts reviewed by the GED company to earn the badge. Checking with your local library reference desk, you may discover digital books that you can download for free.
Still, even with all the resources and classes, it can seem a daunting challenge to go back to school after a period of months, years, or even decades. Ham offers advice to those thinking about taking up that challenge: “It really is never too late if you want to try and start now, it’s better to start now than tomorrow.”
RESOURCES
- RI Department of Education Adult Education and GED: ride.ri.gov/students-families/education-programs/adult-education-and-ged
- Rhode Island Regional Adult Learning: riral.org
- GED® Official Website: ged.com
- Community College of Rhode Island Adult Education: ccri.edu/adult-education
- CCRI policies, including fee waiver: ccri.edu/workforce/adulted/GED.html
- Light and Salt Learning: lightandsaltlearning.org
- Pass GED Math: youtube.com/@passgedmath2676
Maureen O’Gorman is an adjunct professor at CCRI and works as an adult educator at other institutions. Her statements and opinions are her own.