Kentucky is ahead of the nation when it comes to the percentage of students passing the GED, state lawmakers heard Tuesday. But state education officials say more progress is needed.
The state had a 79% pass rate for the GED (general educational development) in fiscal year 2023 compared to a pass rate of 75% nationally, the Kentucky Office of Adult Education told the state legislative Interim Joint Committee on Education Tuesday. Although the commonwealth was ahead of the nation, adult education officials said the state pass rate needs to be at least six percentage points higher to maintain GED attainment goals.
“Where we really need to be 85% and up in order for us to continue to reduce that number,” state adult education executive director Dr. John Gregory told the committee.
Kentucky is currently at 72.3% of its GED attainment goal for fiscal year 2024, Gregory said, with 2,602 GEDs attained so far. The statewide goal this year is 3,600. That goal was set by state officials after considering baseline data from other states.
“Hopefully, we can get north of 3,300” for 2024, Gregory told lawmakers, although it may be a challenge.
In Northern Kentucky, Gateway Community and Technical College adult education met 48.6% of its recent GED attainment goals – or 106 GEDs attained versus a goal of 218, according to a state adult education feedback report overseen by the Kentucky Center for Statistics. (The report dashboard says the data was up to date as of May 15; most data on the dashboard dates to 2022). Although the report doesn’t list specific GED attainment barriers, Gregory said the cost of the GED test –$144 for the full test or $36 for each of four subtests — has been a barrier in the past.
Right now, the state is covering the cost of an individual’s first GED test in each subject area—plus limited retakes—while funding is available. To qualify, individuals must pass the GED Ready Official Practice Test (which is free).
Eliminating what is a hefty test fee for many is having an impact, Gregory said.
“That has been a significant windfall because that is no longer a barrier,” he told lawmakers.“That’s going to be one of the stepping stones for us to exceed and go beyond our goal.”
But there are other barriers. Being low income was the most reported barrier to employment overall (not specifically to GED attainment) among those enrolled in Gateway’s adult education programs and statewide between 2019 and 21, according to the feedback report data from 2022.
For those enrolled in Gateway adult education, 23.8% enrolled during the 2019-21 time frame reported a low income as a barrier to employment. Being a single parent (13.7%) was the second most reported barrier.
National research has shown a correlation between poverty and employment barriers. A 2019 report in the Economic Review (Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City) shared by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2020 found individuals living in poverty are less likely to work than people in higher income areas due to a lack of resources and access to decent paying jobs.
Getting a GED is a first step in the adult education process for those without a high school diploma, Gregory told lawmakers, calling it a “bridging strategy” for what’s possible.
“There is a significant piece as far as persons who have not completed the high school process. But that is a bridging strategy to transition into the college space – whether you are trying to go the traditional route or get some kind of vocational training,” Gregory said. “It is GED and beyond.”
For more information about GED testing in NKY, contact Gateway Adult Education at the email addresses or phone numbers located on its official website.