“It felt impossible! I had quit school and I really want to get my life back on track. I took HiSET prep classes with one of those online schools that advertise on the Orange line. It seemed easy, and cheap, but the charges for classes and taking the test were ridiculous. I wasn’t able to finish because I didn’t have the time or money. Not having my high school diploma has held me back from a lot for the past 11 years.”
Joshua F., 29 years old
Continuing education is important for many. The economic and career benefits that result are monumental and can catapult an individual to their desired profession. The change in today’s economy and workforce often requires a very important first step. That initial chapter being the finishing or competency at the high school level. According to the Massachusetts Department of Education, around 9,000 adults took high school equivalency tests in 2021. Many reasons affect that choice: family, career growth, economic stability. Though those that return to or continue school may meet blockades in the form of high prices for GEDs and HiSETS. However, the Massachusetts Department of Education began an initiative in September 2022 to help.
The GED is the most common alternative to a high school diploma and can cost up to $144 dollars. Meanwhile, the GED alternative, the HiSET, can cost up to $143 per test, either online or in person. The cost alone, not to mention paying multiple times for retries can become taxing on one’s wallet and may even discourage people from taking it at all. In an attempt at a solution, the Massachusetts Department of Education began covering the cost of the GED on September 12 of last year and just last week began paying for the HiSET, including the covering of the cost of two retakes for each test. Gov. Maura Healey commented on the initiative, its goals, and effects. “By removing testing fees, we are making an investment in Massachusetts residents and their futures,” she said. “No one should be held back from earning their equivalency credential due to costs. This investment will encourage more Massachusetts adult learners to continue their education, earn their credential, and begin higher education or enter the workforce.” With the U.S. already facing a labor shortage, this aid in continuing education for adults could be a gentle push in a positive direction.
More than entering the workforce, officials are looking to break down barriers for students and adult learners. Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll stated, “A high school equivalency credential can be the ticket to economic mobility. By eliminating the fee burden for students earning their high school credentials, we are making sure the cost is no longer a barrier to a brighter future. I hope more Massachusetts students are encouraged to apply for and earn their credential through this opportunity.” As for the reason behind the continuation or completion of their education, Massachusetts Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler recognizes that many may be more family oriented than career driven. “Adult learners are trying to build better lives for themselves and their families,” Tutwiler said, “and this new testing opportunity is designed to make those first steps toward additional education or workforce opportunities easier. I’m proud to see Massachusetts take this step to invest in our less traditional students, and I am encouraged that this will allow even more adult learners to earn their high school equivalency credential.”
It is estimated that within the first year, this program will cost the state approximately $800,000. Test takers will be using a promo code in the place of credit or debit card payment. More information concerning this can be found on DESE’s High School Equivalency webpage here. This initiative also aims to cover the costs of these tests permanently, utilizing an adult education line in the department budget.
This plan can improve the lives of many. Non-traditional students can encompass a wide range of people. Some may not have been able to finish high school because they needed to enter the workforce early to care for family and others may be immigrants who need that documentation to continue their education. This kind of initiative will make it possible for many to achieve what most of the workforce considers to be a basic qualification for decent paying jobs. Those who are qualified and are indeed eligible for better pay and career growth but may not have a U.S. high school diploma will now be able to obtain the equivalent for free, allowing them to bypass the barriers and glass ceilings that stopped them before. Those barriers can be difficult to cross when one wants to obtain their GED but has bills to pay and people to take care of at a low paying job. Shoveling out an additional $144 per test can become a tall order. The importance of this initiative lies in the accessibility to education it provides to all. Hopefully the trend continues, reaching into post-secondary education. “I hope many people who did not earn a high school diploma will see this as a valuable opportunity to return to their education,” Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley said. “This could be the opportunity some Massachusetts adult learners have been waiting for to get a higher degree or a better job.” The encouragement this initiative provides is one of improvement as well. As Riley stated, some people may have been waiting for this opportunity and the doors it opens are towards college degrees and better jobs that lead to career growth. Those who may have felt stuck no longer have to be as Massachusetts seeks to provide opportunity and aid.
Michael S., an Employment Specialist in Boston, is frustrated about the barriers his clients, like Joshua, face in the marketplace. “It’s impossible to effectively place qualified candidates without high school credentials. We’re talking about the minimum expectations for any entry-level employee. Of course, that’s the key term: ‘entry-level.’ As an Employment Specialist, my job is to help clients differentiate between ‘job’ and ‘career.’ That’s what separates what I do from a staffing agency. Most of the time, a staffing agency will simply place willing people into temporary gigs. An Employment Specialist is concerned with short and long-term goals. Unfortunately, when people like Joshua come to me I can’t find any career possibilities without a high school diploma, and even temporary gigs are starting to require that minimum. People can always independently find work, but they come to an Employment Specialist for more than that:, they come for a professional career council. It hurts when I have to let them know there’s nothing they’re eligible or qualified for any available jobs.”
