The Council of State Governments West

 

November 26, 2013

In This Issue
Last Chance to Finish a GED Before New Test in January
WLA 2013
Farm Bill Conference Call
2014 CSG & CSG West Annual Conference 

August 9-13. 2014
Anchorage Alaska
Quick Links
 




Upcoming Webinars
Job Growth and Innovation Utilizing STEM Education 
Dec. 3, 1-2 p.m. EST
 
National Farm Bill Conference Call
Dec. 4, 1 p.m. EST
 
Dec. 5, 2-3 p.m. EST
Contact Us
CSG West
1107 Ninth St. 
Suite 730
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916.553.4423
Fax: 916.446-5760
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List

Last Chance to Finish a GED Before New Test in January


By: Hans Poschman, CSG West 

 

graduates-sm.jpg For anyone who is in the process of getting their GED, December 31 is a very important date; it is the day that they must complete their GED by or start over from the beginning.  In January, a new version of the GED test will be released. Anyone who has taken portions of the GED and not completed all requirements to receive their GED will have their scores erased and will have to start over at the beginning of the process. It is estimated that 1 million people could be affected by the change.

 

Many states are taking steps to help people in the process of getting their GED finish before the deadline. In Oklahoma, additional testing days have been added to meet demand and make it more convenient for test takers. In California, letters have gone out to the more than 30,000 people who have completed a portion, but not all of the GED in the last two years. Wyoming has added additional tests that it will be recognized as a high school equivalency exam.

 

The 2014 update to the GED is the first change since 2001 and shifts the test from pen and paper to electronic.  Additionally, the test is supposed to be more rigorous and cost more. The changes are designed to bring the test closer to the new college and career readiness standards most states have adopted. The updated GED will allow test takers to receive their scores the same day, however all the changes come at a price, and the new test will cost $120 (though it may be subsidized in some states).

 

To find out more about the GED testing guidelines visit: http://www.gedtestingservice.com/finishtheged/

 

Congratulations to the WLA 2013 Graduates!
2013 WLA Class President Arizona Senator Kelli Ward

WLA 2013 was a success with 38 Western Legislators completing the program. They elected Arizona Senator Kelli Ward as their class president. She will serve on the CSG Executive Committee for the next year representing the interests of the 500 alumni of the program including almost 300 who are still serving in Western state legislatures. The 2013 WLA class was a great group of legislators and will do great things.  

 

 

 

2013 WLA Class:

Representative Eric Feige
Alaska
Representative Shelley HughesAlaska
Representative Benjamin NageakAlaska
Representative Thomas "T.J." ShopeArizona
Representative Victoria SteeleArizona
Senator Kelli WardArizona
Representative Lois LandgrafColorado
Representative Polly LawrenceColorado
Representative Ty CullenHawaii
Representative Linda IchiyamaHawaii
Senator Gilbert KaheleHawaii
Representative Daynette "Dee" MorikawaHawaii
Senator Jim GuthrieIdaho
Senator Dan JohnsonIdaho
Representative Christy PerryIdaho
Senator Michelle StennettIdaho
Representative Mary McNallyMontana
Representative David "Doc" MooreMontana
Senator Scott BoulangerMontana
Assemblyman Andrew "Andy" EisenNevada
Senator Scott HammondNevada
Assemblyman James HealeyNevada
Assemblyman James OscarsonNevada
Representative Cathrynn BrownNew Mexico
Representative Doreen GallegosNew Mexico
Representative Stephanie Garcia RichardNew Mexico
Senator Bill HansellOregon
Representative Alissa Keny-GuyerOregon
Senator Elizabeth Steiner HaywardOregon
Senator Deidre HendersonUtah
Representative Joel BriscoeUtah
Representative V. Lowry SnowUtah
Representatives Kristine LyttonWashington
Representative Drew MacEwenWashington
Senator Ann RiversWashington
Representative Kathy ColemanWyoming
Representative Dan KirkbrideWyoming
Representative Lloyd Charles LarsenWyoming

Farm Bill Conference Call

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 1 p.m. EST

 

While the Farm Bill accounts for less than 1 percent of the federal budget, the legislation affects all Americans, but especially more than 2 million American farm operations and 47 million Americans receiving food assistance. House and Senate negotiators have been at work on the long overdue renewal of the Farm Bill since late October. The CSG regional offices and State Agriculture and Rural Leaders will host a complimentary conference call on the 2013 Farm Bill. To register and for call-in information, email Hans Poschman at  [email protected].
 

The mission of CSG West is to facilitate regional, nonpartisan cooperation and exchange of information, and to strengthen legislative institutions among our 13 member states. These services are achieved through a variety of programs and services offered to legislators and their staff, including the convening of policy forums, professional development training, international relations opportunities, publications and institutional links with other political entities in the West.   

 

CSG West serves the Western legislatures of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Associate members include the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia and the Pacific islands of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.