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New Alternative for High School Equivalency Exam

Posted on 08/29/2012

Diploma

Common Core Standards (www) is a nationwide initiative that is intended to bring diverse state curriculum requirements into alignment with each other following the principles of standards-based education reform (www). To date, California and 45 other states, The District of Columbia, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands have formally adopted the Common Core Standards, and have committed to begin implementation over the next several years. The hope is that these new standards as well as updated accountability will help students compete and succeed in the challenging current global economy.

While the Common Core Standards are primarily focused on K-12 education, their impact on Adult Education will most certainly be felt, both in the classroom and in assessment areas.

In response to these changing needs, McGraw-Hill Education (www) is developing an alternative to the High School Equivalency Exam, which will be aligned with the new standards. The new assessment tool, known as the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) will cover Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies content through Grade 14 to allow for placement and transition to postsecondary programs. Working with consortia of 25 states, McGraw-Hill Education plans to pilot the assessment in the fall of 2012 in New York State.

McGraw-Hill Research Foundation has also released a new white paper (pdf), Common Core State Standards: What Effect Could They Have on Adult Education and High School Equivalency Programs in the U.S.? Written by Jeffrey A. Fantine, Adult Education Consultant and Mitch Rosin, Director, Adult Learning and Workforce Initiatives at McGraw-Hill Education, the 25-page paper provides a concise overview of how the new standards might impact adult education and high school equivalency programs and assessment areas, and includes a collection of opinions from key adult education experts in the field.

For more information on the TSAC, e-mail mhcontemporary@mcgraw-hill.com.

This information was originally presented in Issue 30, August 7, 2012 (www) of CAAL News

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