by Leslie Ford –

It’s hard to believe that a person could complete four years of high school, pass all but the math portion of the state math exam, and not be awarded his high school diploma. But this is exactly what happened to the articulate, well-mannered man I met when I visited the offices of the Literacy Council of Williamson County on September 10. Karron Wilson, the Seeds of Strength liaison with this nonprofit, had set up the meeting with the Executive Director, Robert Pinhero. Robert invited John, the man mentioned above, to share his experience using the materials supported by our grant.

Without getting into too much detail, a little background might be helpful for readers not familiar with the GED®. First of all, earning a GED® certificate, which is the equivalent of having a high school diploma, isn’t an easy process. I know this personally from my career as Editor-in-Chief with a publishing company that created GED® test-preparation materials. Students must study and prepare to take all four parts of the GED® exam–reading/language arts, science, social studies, and math. In total, the exam takes almost 7 1/2 hours and is delivered exclusively on computer. (The exam is generally taken one part at a time.) I can only imagine how intimidating this exam could be for anyone, let alone a student who does not have a high-school diploma.

It is also helpful to know that in 2014, the GED Testing Service® issued a brand new exam. According to their website, this new test was created to align with current high school standards and to help provide adult learners with the skills and knowledge needed to fill the 4 million jobs available in our country. Holding a GED® certificate can open “the doors for millions of adult learners to college courses, apprenticeships and job training–the pathway adults need to gain skills and knowledge.”

This all sounds wonderful, but for the instructors and volunteers working with GED® students, the new exam makes all previously used GED® materials obsolete. For the Literacy Council of Williamson County, this means that they needed to secure all newmaterials–print as well as test preparation software. Purchasing software that accommodates a large number of students who are studying in a wide variety of locations (home, libraries, housing projects, and classes) is expensive, and it requires purchasing an annual site license. The SoS grant of $9000 covered approximately 40% of the cost of all the new materials including a software license for this year, books, and calculators.

So let’s get back to John. It’s been 22 years since John left high school without a diploma. He has worked at the same job for 17 years, but he doesn’t see opportunities for advancement there. So he would like to attend college. And even though he only failed the math portion of the Texas TAAS exam, he now has to pass all four sections of the GED®. John uses the GED® preparation software from home since he has a computer. When he has questions or needs help, he goes to the classes at the Getsemani Community Center to meet with his instructor. He likes that the software allows him to work at home in the evenings and on weekends. He also believes that working online in the same format as the exam is a plus. When he takes the exam, he will already be familiar with answering questions and writing responses on the computer. Since the test is timed, this will definitely be helpful.

Meeting John put a “real face” on a “GED student”. But it’s important to remember that every student who comes to the Literacy Center has his or her own personal story. Some students, like John, may have had a life experience that interfered with getting their high school diploma. Others, may not be able to read at the high school level in either English or Spanish, and may need to begin instruction at a lower level. But no matter what a student’s situation, the staff and volunteers at the Literacy Center work diligently to determine the best way to help all their students progress so they may reach their goals.

I found the Literacy Council of Williamson County a truly amazing organization; totally dedicated to adult education. Here are several facts that I found impressive:
• Historically, on a per capita basis, this Center has produced more GED® graduates than the community college at about 20% of the cost.
• Students are asked to make a donation if they can. There is no student fee.
• A Student can stay in the program for as long as they need to be there.
• Students can start the program at any time; they are not tied to the semester format required in a community college program.
• A board member is a former student.
• An outstanding employee at the Literacy Council is also a GED® student.

As members of Seeds of Strength, we should all feel proud to play a role in helping other adults in our community fulfill their dreams so they may secure better futures for themselves and their families.