Pocket Guide to Transitioning

GED Students

Meagen Farrell Howe

Farrell Ink
Brought to you by the Sandra Sullivan
Learning for Life Program of the West
Side Catholic Center

1
 Cover photo “Graduates” by flickr user bredgur, Creative Commons
Copyright.

© 2010 Farrell Ink LLC

This publication (excerpt from Sandra Sullivan Learning for Life

Program: Program Management Procedures) may be reproduced for
educational, non-commerical purposes only when the Sandra Sullivan
Learning for Life Program is attributed.

Pocket Guide to Transitioning GED Students is a free resource thanks to

the support of the Sandra Sullivan Learning for Life Program of the
West Side Catholic Center. To support our ongoing work, please make a
tax deductible donation to:

West Side Catholic Center

Memo: Sullivan Learning for Life Program
3135 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113

HelpCleveland.org

Susan Ertle, Director of Development

sertle@wsccenter.org
216.631.4741 x132

2
Introduction
This guide is designed for use with the Learning for Life Starter
Kit, specifically the training “Transitioning Students to the GED
and Beyond”. The Learning for Life Starter Kit was provided to
six adult basic education & GED programs in Cleveland, Ohio
thanks to the Sandra Sullivan Learning for Life Program of the
West Side Catholic Center. For more information about the
Starter Kit, please see our FREE publications & the trainings at
Scribd.com/farrellink

Put it in Your Pocket

1. Print this document as a double-sided Booklet, 2 pages per
page.
2. Fold it in half.
3. Open as needed.

Forms & Brochures

To access state-specific information on local testing centers &
application procedures outside of Ohio, go to GEDTest.org and click
Locate Testing Center. You can also download PDFs or order free & low
cost GED marketing materials (+ shipping) by clicking Publications.

3
 Transition in Context
Why do we need to encourage post-graduation goals & help transition
students to vocational training & higher education?

The Economy Has Changed

Labor Market Shifts in the United States, 1950 vs. 2000

70%

1950 65%

2000
60%
60%

50%
% of the Labor Market

40%

30%

20% 20% 20%

20%
15%

10%

0%
Manual Labor Skilled Occupations Professional Occupations

Prepared by: Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development

4
More Education = More Money
Most GED prep students want a diploma to get a better job.

Top 5 Skills Employers Want

1. Professionalism
2. Teamwork
3. Oral Communication
4. Ethics & Social Responsibility
5. Reading Comprehension

Source: “Are They Really Ready to Work?” at

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/documents/key_findings_joint.pdf

5
 Skills Graduates Need for College Preparation
Half of college-bound GED & high school graduates require at least one
remedial course when entering college.

Learning to
Personal college & Connect learning to
Learn: Study career counseling real life situations
skills
High Order Develop hypotheses Use technology to
Thinking & ask probing
questions
access, evaluate &
present information
Skills
Graphing, statistics,
Content Academic
vocabulary &
linear equations,
and geometric
Areas composition
reasoning.

Source: “Implementation Guide” by Florida GED PLUS College

Preparation Program, 2006 at http://www.floridatechnet.org/gedplus/

The average GED or high school graduate does not have the skills
required for a living wage job. Additional vocational training,
certificates, and diplomas each increase the average person’s skill level.

It’s not the piece of paper that counts—it’s what you do with it!

GED & high school graduates earn more than non-graduates over time
due to their increased average skill levels and the ability to access
higher education.

6
Goal-Oriented Instruction
Use the ILP as a Working Document
During new student orientation, the Individual Learning Plan (ILP) asks
students to choose a:

Primary Goal (usually GED)

Secondary Goal (often workforce or additional education)

Discuss additional goals & activities with student during class. You can
also RETURN to the Primary & Secondary Goal to revise as student
progresses, especially if they have a vague goal like “Get a better job.”

Adapt Instruction to Meet Secondary Goals

CHECK THE SECONDARY GOAL at the beginning of each tutoring
session! Use the Secondary Goal to apply instruction to real life
situations students may encounter.

CREATE SHORT TERM GOALS & ACTIVITIES to prepare for Secondary

Goal. Example:

◦ Goal: Pass written driver’s test.

◦ Activities: Study driver’s manual. Take online practice
driver’s tests.
FIND AN INFORMAL ASSESSMENT: a practice test or other concrete
way to measure when a student has mastered a skill or met the goal.
Document assessments passed as Progress.

7
 Ask the Right Questions
ASK STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR GOALS:

• Tell me more about this career or program. How did you find out
about it? What interests you about it?

• What skills do you have that you can apply to meet this goal?
What skills do you want/need to develop to meet this goal?

ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT MATERIALS to help students

build Higher Order Thinking Skills:

• Develop hypothesis: What do you predict?

• Ask probing questions: Is there any additional information you
would like to know?
• Access & evaluate information: Where can we find more
information? How do we know if information is accurate?
• Present information: Explain this story/lesson to me.

Apply Skills to Real Life Context

CHECK TEACHER’S MANUAL for activities or brainstorm ways to:

FIND AUTHENTIC MATERIALS: concrete objects & publications that

apply what the student is learning to real life, like measuring cups.

CREATE PROJECTS by giving lessons real life consequences, like writing

a letter to a representative or creating a budget to pay bills.

REINFORCE TOP 5 SKILLS EMPLOYERS WANT: ask students to

demonstrate professionalism, oral communication, and ethics/social
responsibility. Examples: giving an oral presentation or creating a
student-led study group.

8
Ohio GED Application
Applicant Requirements & Exceptions
AGE LIMITS: You must be officially withdrawn and19+. Exceptions:

• 18 years of age – Superintendent (or designee) of the

school district where you live or last attended completes the
GED Age Waiver Form.

• 18 years of age AND your class has graduated – Attach an

Official School Transcript to your application to show that
your class has graduated.

• At least 16 years of age, but less than 18 years of age –

Complete the GED Age Waiver Form. A parent, guardian or
court official must sign the GED Parental Consent Form.

Attach all forms to paper application or print out online application.

APPLICANTS WITH DOCUMENTED DISABILITIES can download forms

from GEDTest.org and submit to local GED test administrator. May
receive Testing Accommodations for:

 AD/HD

 Emotional/Mental Health

 Physical/Chronic Health

 Learning Disabilities

Accommodations considered on an individual basis and may include:

extended time, supervised frequent breaks, use of a scribe, talking
calculator, or more depending on recommendation of diagnostician.

9
 Paper Application Instructions
Pick up application at local testing center or download forms from
Ohio Department of Education GED Office: http://www.ode.state.oh.us
under heading Testing or Families click GED.

APPLICANT SIGNATURE MUST BE NOTARIZED.

MAIL with $40 money order or business check (no personal checks)
payable to OHIO TESTING SERVICES to:

GED Application Office

25 S. Front St., 21st Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Online Application Instructions

CREATE A SAFE ACCOUNT at Ohio Department of Education Website:
http://www.ode.state.oh.us Click “SAFE Sign-in”.

Requires: Agreement, Driver’s License, Identifying Information,

Address & Contact Information, and E-mail to create Sign-in.

You can enter an application with your own SAFE account or have a
student create their own to check from home. You can still search for
their status & scores once the application has been submitted.

START NEW SEARCH: can use Applicant ID (sometimes SSN, otherwise

randomly assigned), First Name, Last Name, and/or Birthdate.

ADD NEW APPLICANT: enter personal information. Applicant Status

will be: NOT PASSED and Eligible to TEST: NO.

ENTER NEW APPLICATION: scroll down to bottom of page for button.

10
POST PAYMENT: $40 pay with credit card online or mail money order
or business check with printed personal information (directions above).

Scheduling GED Test

ALLOW TIME TO PROCESS: application by mail takes 7-21 business
days, and online application can take up to 24 hours.

SCHEDULE ONLINE: only if submitted online application. Sign in with

SAFE Account, search for student. Result will have changed to Eligible
to Test: YES with link to Schedule test. Click to see a map of Ohio.
Select your County, then select a testing center to view days & times of
testing. Once scheduled, student must call testing center with changes.

SCHEDULE WITH TESTING CENTER: call the GED test administrator at

your local testing center to schedule the test.

GED Testing Centers in Cuyahoga County

Cleveland
• 4600 Detroit Rd, Rm 169, Cleveland, OH 44102
Metropolitan School
• Mammie Madge, 216.631.2885
District (CMSD)

Cuyahoga Community • 4250 Richmond Rd., Highland Hills, OH 44122

College-East • Gloria Mobley, 216.987.2136

• 5311 Longwood Ave, Parma, OH 44134

Parma City Schools
• K. Velbeck, 440.885.8762

• 7285 Old Oak Blvd, Middleburg Hts, OH 44130

Polaris Career Center
• P. Carter, 440.891.7750

11
 Checking GED Test Scores
SCORES AVAILABLE within 7-10 days after testing completed.

CHECK ONLINE: Log in with SAFE Account & click New Search

 Search Result will list Eligible to Test: YES with scheduled date of
testing until scored.
 If passed, will read Applicant Status: PASSED
 Either way, scroll down to Scoring History to view subtests and
scores.

PHONE OR MAIL: Local testing centers may call & ODE will mail results
to address on student GED application.

What if student…

Has taken Update

Submit new
personal
GED before application
info

Doesn’t Will be
Must call &
charged $10
show up reschedule
if don’t call

Doesn’t pass May retest

Study in
after time
all subjects target areas
has passed

12
Connect to Local Cleveland Programs

Cleveland Scholarship Program

Address 200 Public Square (Atrium), Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone 216.241.5587
Contact Andrew Prusinski by Phone x140
Website CSPOhio.org
Services Drop-in Resource Center, M-F 10am-5pm
Career, college & financial aid advising
Scholarships for non-traditional adult students
Useful for Class Live Chat with Virtual Advisor on website
Sign up for Social Media updates on scholarships

El Barrio/WSEM
Address 5209 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, OH 44102
Phone 216.651.2037
Contact Call
Website WSEM.org > El Barrio/Workforce Development
Services 2-6 intensive free job training with certifications
Job search & placement services
Case Management in English, Spanish & Arabic
Useful for Class Request an in-class recruitment presentation

13
 Educational Opportunity Center
Address 3740 Carnegie Ave., 2nd Floor
Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone Each staff has own email & phone: click “EOC
Staff” on website for details
Contact Kristine Jackson:
Kristine.Jackson@tri-c.edu or 216.987.6307
Toni Johnson:
Toni.Johnson@tri-c.edu or 216.987.3141
Website http://www.tri-c.edu/pathways/ Pages/eoc.aspx
Services Individual appointments, group workshops,
information & referral:
Career & financial aid advising
Educational planning
Defaulted student loans
Useful for Class In class workshops

Employment Connection
Address 11 Locations around Greater Cleveland
Phone 216.898.1366 or 216.664.4673
Contact Call main phone # or individual centers
Website www.EmploymentConnection.us
Services For Job Seekers @ each location:
Workshops
Job search & placement assistance
Occupation Training Scholarships (after GED)
Useful for Class Quarterly schedule of workshops
Employment Guide: Ten Steps to Reaching Your
Employment Goal

14
Key Financial Education Center
Address Next to Buckeye Key Bank branch:
11461 Buckeye Rd., Cleveland, OH 44104
Phone 216.370.5630
Contact Call or email Financial_education@key.com
Website https://www.Key.com/html/financial-
education.html
Services Learn & Earn Classes: Getting & keeping good
credit, Budgeting & money management,
Checking account classes
Useful for Class Money Made Easy-9 Online Lessons
http://www.thebeehive.org/money/
manage-your-money/money-made-easy

15
 Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................ 3
Transition in Context ............................................................................... 4
Goal-Oriented Instruction ....................................................................... 7
Use the ILP as a Working Document ................................................... 7
Adapt Instruction to Meet Secondary Goals ....................................... 7
Ask the Right Questions ...................................................................... 8
Apply Skills to Real Life Context .......................................................... 8
Ohio GED Application .............................................................................. 9
Applicant Requirements & Exceptions ................................................ 9
Paper Application Instructions .......................................................... 10
Online Application Instructions ......................................................... 10
Scheduling GED Test ......................................................................... 11
GED Testing Centers in Cuyahoga County ......................................... 11
Checking GED Test Scores ................................................................. 12
What if student… .............................................................................. 12
Connect to Local Cleveland Programs ................................................... 13
Cleveland Scholarship Program ......................................................... 13
El Barrio/WSEM ................................................................................ 13
Educational Opportunity Center ....................................................... 14
Employment Connection................................................................... 14
Key Financial Education Center ......................................................... 15

16