DSAT Update

October 2020

Adult Education Registration

WWACE is offering online and face-to-face classes for the 20-21 school year. All registration takes place online including all required assessments before students may begin classes. For more information, visit our website.

Graduates!

Since July 1, 2020, seven students have successfully completed the High School Equivalency program and earned a certificate from the state.

High School Equivalency Testing

WWACE has been a TASC test center for the last 2 years. TASC, which is a DRC test, will no longer be offered in Michigan after December 31, 2020. We are currently finishing the series of subtests for those students who have previously passed TASC subtests.

The program began one-on-one testing in June 2020 after some of the stay-at-home restrictions were lifted. We follow all safety precautions during testing, and we were fortunate enough to be able to use the "Behind the Glass" Reading Recovery room for testing over the summer. This gave our testers and staff an extra sense of security and comfort during the testing process.

We are also in the process of becoming a HiSET test center, which will be the High School Equivalency test offered to students who have not yet started testing.

Did You Know?

There are currently 3 tests that adults can take to earn a High School Equivalency certificate in Michigan? GED is the most popular and well-known test, but it is not the only option. All 3 tests are based upon College and Career Readiness Standards. They each cover the same core content and take about the same amount of total time. However both HiSET and TASC offer a paper/pencil testing option for testing as well as splitting the Language Arts portion into separate Reading and Writing tests.

When a test taker completes their test in Michigan, the certificate they receive does not indicate which test was taken. No one really "gets a GED"; a person takes an approved test and, when they successfully pass the entire test with the minimum required scores, they earn the HSE certificate from the state. HSE Certificates from Michigan are recognized by all other states.

Pupils who are 16 or 17 can apply for an age waiver if earning a HSE certificate would be in their best interests due to life circumstances.

Due to Covid-19, testing companies are now offering proctored testing at home for an additional fee. In the past, testing at home usually meant a test taker was taking a fake test and earning a fake certificate. Usually these fake tests cost more than the real tests. Now, students can test from home but only through the official websites. If you have questions about the validity of a test site, please reach out to WWACE staff.

Futures for Frontliners

In September, Governor Whitmer announced a new initiative called Futures for Frontliners.

If adults qualify, they can receive free community college even if they have not yet completed their High School Diploma or Equivalency.

There are 2 paths. The first one is for those who already have a diploma or equivalency or those who will complete their diploma or equivalency by December 31, 2020. The second path is for those who first need Adult Education services to help them complete a diploma or certificate after December 31, 2020.

Applicants must:

Be a Michigan resident
Have worked in an essential industry at least part-time for 11 of the 13 weeks between April 1 – June 30, 2020
Have been required by their job to work outside the home at least some of the time between April 1 – June 30, 2020 (an exception might be an in-home childcare worker)
Not have previously earned an associate or bachelor's degree
Not be in default on a Federal student loan
Complete a Futures for Frontliners scholarship application by 11:59 pm on December 31, 2020

For more information, visit Futures for Frontliners.

Economic Benefits From Adult Education

Many of us have seen the data on how much more money high school graduates or college graduates make in a year compared to peers without the same education background.

Education Functioning Levels (EFLs) in adults also correspond to wages. As an adult student gains skills in English and Math, perhaps while working toward a diploma or certificate, they will also see some of the payoff in their paycheck even before they get their credential.

A recent article in Forbes states estimates that low literacy costs the US $2.2 TRILLION annually. Older studies have shown that, for every $1 invested in Adult Education and Literacy, $7 are returned to the economy - through increased wages that lead to increased tax revenue, improved literacy for children, improved health and a decrease in healthcare costs, reduced need for government assistance, and many other avenues.