GFC Campus News Special Edition

ABLE partner in building student success ~

Adult Basic Literacy Education

By Suzanne Waring

You've heard the old maxim - location, location, location.

When Drew Uecker became the Director of Adult Basic Education with the Great Falls School District, he set out to increase the number of individuals who earn their General Education Development test (GED) and then go to college. He had several ideas in mind, including location.

Uecker approached Great Falls College MSU about providing residency for the Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE) Program that is the umbrella for providing GED and English as a Second Language (ESL) education. The college had the right spot, and ABLE moved in three years ago this June.

Then a Pathways course was added to the six-week GED curriculum. During the course, students prepared a resume, explored vocational fields, and filled out the paperwork for financial aid and enrollment to Great Falls College MSU.

By the time students completed their GED, they were familiar with the college because that's where they were attending classes. "Seeing other students, they discovered they weren't any different from those attending college classes. In addition, it was easy to enroll because they already had the paperwork done," said Uecker.

Another facet was added to the ABLE program. For tutoring with their college classes, students could return to the classroom where teachers had helped them achieved success with the GED.

Rachel Mosely took advantage of ABLE's services. After dropping out of high school, she decided that she wanted to finish but felt that she was too old to return to high school. She opted to get a GED. "Once I made the decision, I took the placement test to discover my weak areas. I studied and passed the GED examination."

Mosely had a plan. She next studied for the Certified Nurse Attendant License and became employed. She has worked while attending college for three semesters. "College is so important because I want a really good job, and I want to set a good example for my daughter," she said.

GEDs awarded have increased 74 percent since changes have been made. Furthermore, last fall semester 78 former GED students enrolled in college. That is close to a 930 percent increase. Before then, on the average, fewer than ten who had completed their GED through the Great Falls' ABLE program went on to college throughout an academic year.

Wow! It's apparent that certain strategies and location do make a difference!

Notification to All Students Who Have Started but Not Finished the GED Examination

Students who have not completed the five examinations to earn a general equivalency diploma (GED) are urged to finish before December 31, 2013, when the high school equivalency test changes to a new format. Drew Uecker, Director of Adult Basic Education with Great Falls Public Schools, said around three hundred people who have not successfully completed all of the exams.

Stop by the Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE) office located on the Great Falls College MSU, 2100 16th Avenue South in Great Falls or call 406-771-5108 to learn what you need to do to complete your GED.

ABLE will now be using the Montana High School Equivalency Test (ETS HiSET), which was unanimously approved by the Montana Board of Public Education for use beginning January 1, 2014.

Highlights of HiSET

Cost

~ $50 (to include two free retests in a calendar year)

~    Services can include:
      registration, accommodations, scoring,
      diagnostic score reports, and transcripts.

Phased-in Test

Phase I

~ 2014-15 test is similar to current GED.

~ Students will be allowed to use 2002 individual test
battery scores to combine with HiSET test batteries.

~ Compatible with current professional development
materials.

Phase II

~    2013-2015 ETS will work collaboratively with MT to
      develop a college/career ready assessment aligned
      to the common core.

For more information: http://hiset.ets.org/

Meet Suzanne Waring . . .

The author of this article, Dr. Suzanne Waring, is a freelance writer living in Great Falls.

Suzanne retired after a long career with Great Falls College MSU as an English instructor and Director of Outreach.
She continues to serve the College as a member of the Great Falls College MSU Development Board.

Visit the ABLE website!

ABLE Staff

Left to right:

Bridgette Pence

Vicki Mattingly

Jodi Christian

Irina Payne

Christine Perkins

Katya Marandino Irish

Tammie Hickey

Veronica Griffith

Jeff Agamenoni

Not pictured:

Steve Bennetts, Brittany Deffinbaugh, Jackie Goldhahn, Jan Lovec

Below:

Drew Uecker

Director of Adult Basic Education and Principal of Paris Education Center

A success story!

In late August 2010, Annie Redfield-Kling enrolled in the ABLE program at Great Falls College. She scored high enough on the entrance test to take the GED but did not feel comfortable with her skills in math. Through September, she was in the ABLE classroom every day completing all of the assignments in the math book. She took her GED test in October and passed.

As soon as she received her diploma, she enrolled at Great Falls College, completed an Associate degree and transferred to MSU-Northern to pursue a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree with a Native American Studies Minor.

With a full scholarship to the Native American Political Leadership Program at George Washington University, Annie spent spring semester 2013 in Washington, DC where she served as an intern with the National Indian Education Association, took two courses in Political Management from GWU and two additional courses from Northern. Annie was recently elected President of the Associated Students of MSU Northern.

Annie Kling

Above: Congressman Steve Daines with Annie in Washington, DC

"I would like to tell everyone that once you get over the initial fear, nervousness and socially ingrained stigma, each time you make progress you validate yourself as successful," said Annie.

"Once GED testing is done and you receive that certificate in the mail, your spirits soar and you suddenly realize that there is nothing in the world that can hold you back from achieving your dreams. It is so incredibly freeing! I had family support and encouragement.

The only obstacle I had was me. I had to conquer my fears of failure."

Great Falls College MSU | Changing Lives - Achieving Dreams

Great Falls College MSU is a two-year comprehensive college. Our Mission is to foster the success of our students and their communities through innovative, flexible learning opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds, and aspirations resulting in self-fulfillment and competitiveness in an increasingly global society.

Great Falls College MSU is committed to the provision of equal opportunity for education, employment, and participation in all College programs and activities without regard to race, color, gender, marital status, disability, age, disadvantage, religion, political affiliation and/or national origin. The college's Equal Opportunity Officers are the Executive Director of Human Resources and the Associate Dean for Student Services. Tel: 406/771-5123. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact the Director of Disability & Learning Support Services office at 406/771-4311.

Information on the Gainful Employment Programs can be found at: www.gfcmsu.edu/catalog.