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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">Please excuse multiple postings
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">The test for the Ohio High School Equivalence Diploma, known as a General Educational Development (GEDŽ) diploma, for Ohioans who did not finish high school is transitioning
to a Computer Based Test (CBT) only format in 2014. The Paper Based Test (PBT) will no longer be offered in 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">GEDŽ Test in 2013<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">Online registration for taking the GEDŽ in 2013 will close on September 30th. <span style="color:red">
</span>Test-takers<span style="color:#1F497D"> </span>wishing to have 120 days after registering to take the test<span style="color:#1F497D">
</span>must register by August 9th. Test-takers can still sign up for the test after September 30th but they must go to a
<a href="http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing/GED/GED-Testing-Centers">testing center</a> to register. The current GEDŽ test has five parts. If a test-taker has not passed all five parts
<b>by December 21, 2013</b>, they will have to start over in January 2014. . All test takers must
<a href="http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing/GED/GED-Application-and-Forms/Using-SAFE-to-Apply-for-Your-GED">
create a SAFE account</a> at the Ohio Department of Educations website prior to taking the GEDŽ assessment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">GEDŽ Test in 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">The new test will start on January 2, 2014. The test will be taken on a computer and there is no longer a paper-based option. The price of taking the GEDŽ will increase
from $40 to $120. There will be four content areas: Literacy, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. More information on the 2014 test content is included in the
<a href="http://www.proliteracy.org/Downloads/ProLiteracy_ged-2014-quick-guide-2.pdf">
GEDŽ 2014 Quick Guide</a> from New Readers Press.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">Ohio Department of Education<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">The Ohio Department of Education administers the GEDŽ test. They have information about the
<a href="http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing/GED/">GEDŽ test</a> and a <a href="http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing/GED/GED-FAQs">
Frequently Asked Questions</a> (FAQ) section on their website.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">Ohio ABLE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">The
<a href="https://www.ohiohighered.org/ABLE">Ohio Adult Basic & Literacy Education</a> (ABLE) program offers
<a href="https://www.ohiohighered.org/GED">GEDŽ test preparation services</a> in all
<a href="https://www.ohiohighered.org/able/locations">88 Ohio counties</a>. <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">Libraries and 2014 GEDŽ<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">There are several ways that libraries can help community members with the GEDŽ transition. One way is to communicate the need for test-takers to finish all parts
of the test before the end of the year or they will have to start over again in 2014.
<a href="http://gedtestingservice.com/educators/closeout">GEDŽ Testing Service</a> has flyers, posters, a press release template, an email template, a letter template, and a phone script for libraries to download and use. Libraries can also order print materials
through <a href="http://gedtestingservice.com/educators/brandcentralinfo">Brand Central</a>, though they will need to create an account.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">Libraries can highlight print and online resources to help test-takers prepare for the GEDŽ. All Ohioans have access to tests, courses, and eBooks in the areas of
GEDŽ practice tests, GEDŽ preparation courses and guides, GEDŽ skills improvement, and Spanish-language GEDŽ preparation in the
<a href="http://www.oplin.org/tests">Learning Express Library</a> through the Libraries Connect Ohio partnership.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">As test-takers prepare to take the 2014 GEDŽ on a computer, libraries can provide resources to help test-takers become more comfortable using the computer. Ohio ABLE
has provided a <a href="http://www.ohioable.org/files/SkillsforCBT.pdf">list of skills test-takers will need</a> for computer based testing that includes keyboarding, mouse maneuverability, and navigation skills. The Goodwill Community Foundation has online
tutorials for <a href="http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computerbasics">Computer Basics</a> like a
<a href="http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computers/module/14">Mouse Tutorial</a>, and
<a href="http://www.gcflearnfree.org/internet101">Internet 101</a>, including Browser Basics that focuses on navigation skills. The State Library is working on additional resources for digital literacy skills for both formal instruction and informal one-on-one
assistance and will share these resources soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">Libraries are also encouraged to work with their
<a href="https://www.ohiohighered.org/able/locations">local ABLE provider</a> to share resources and explore opportunities to work together.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">More Information<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">The GEDŽ Testing Service has information on the
<a href="http://www.gedtestingservice.com/educators/new-assessment">2014 New Assessment</a> and a
<a href="http://www.gedtestingservice.com/educators/2014-faqs">Frequently Asked Questions</a> (FAQ) section about 2014 GEDŽ on their website.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">Still have questions? Contact State Library Development Consultant Ashlee Tominey at
<a href="mailto:atominey@library.ohio.gov">atominey@library.ohio.gov</a> or 614-644-6889.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#002E62"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif"">----------<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#002E62"><img border="0" width="120" height="126" id="Picture_x0020_11" src="cid:image010.jpg@01CE6E6A.C5CDA320"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#002E62">Marsha McDevitt-Stredney<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#002E62">Director, Marketing & Communications<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#002E62">274 E. 1<sup>st</sup> Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#002E62">Columbus, OH 43201<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#002E62">Tel: 614-644-6875<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#002E62">Fax: 614-466-3584<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://library.ohio.gov"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:blue">library.ohio.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/StateLibraryOhio"><b><i><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="30" height="30" id="Picture_x0020_7" src="cid:image011.png@01CE6E6A.C5CDA320"></span></i></b></a><b><i><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">
</span></i></b><a href="http://twitter.com/statelibohio" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="32" height="32" id="Picture_x0020_8" src="cid:image005.png@01CE6E6A.C5AA1590" alt="Description: Twitter logo - links to the State Library of Ohio's Twitter page"></span></i></b></a><b><i><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></i></b><a href="http://library.ohio.gov/blog/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="31" height="31" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image012.jpg@01CE6E6A.C5CDA320" alt="Description: Blog logo - Links to the State Library of Ohio's blog"></span></i></b></a><b><i><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></i></b><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></b><a href="http://pinterest.com/stlibohio/"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="31" height="31" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image013.png@01CE6E6A.C5CDA320"></span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><br>
</span></b><a href="http://library.ohio.gov/state-librarian/share-your-story"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:blue">Share Your Story</span></a><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#002E62">
by </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#002E62">telling us how a
<br>
State Library service or resource helped <br>
you or your library.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:#002E62"><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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