Diagnostic assessment approaches intend to provide fine-grained reports of what students know and can do, focusing on their areas of strengths and weaknesses. However, current application of such diagnostic approaches is limited by the scoring method for item responses; important diagnostic information, such as type of errors and strategy use is…

"Career Academies" is a dropout prevention strategy for youth considered most at risk of dropping out of high school. Students in the program take both career-related and academic courses and acquire work experience through partnerships with local employers. "Career Academies" integrate rigorous academic curricula with career…

The purpose of this study was to determine the quality of an e-mentoring program and the impact of participation on at-risk high school students enrolled in dropout prevention programs. The quality of the program was evaluated based on the ease of implementation, use of technology, and overall satisfaction. Indicators of student's self-esteem,…

The General Educational Development (GED) credential is often considered to be the equivalent of a high school diploma for students who do not graduate from high school. A GED credential can expand opportunities in the labor market (Song and Hsu 2008) and in postsecondary education for those who obtain it. Nearly all postsecondary institutions (98…

The purpose of this study was to identify differences in performance if any, between learners with a high school diploma, and those with a GED credential, at two postsecondary institutions, Holland College on Prince Edward Island (PEI) and Nova Scotia Community College in Nova Scotia (NS). Of interest is how these adults perform in a postsecondary…

The purpose of this study was to examine the alternative routes to passing the high school exit exam that were available during the school year 2008-09 to students to earn a standard high school diploma. The authors examined alternative routes in the 26 states with active or soon to be active exit exams. They documented the alternative routes…

The "National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program" is a residential education and training program designed for youth ages 16 to 18 who have dropped out of or been expelled from high school. During the 22-week residential period, participants are offered GED preparation classes and other program services intended to promote positive youth…

This study examines the demographic, academic, social, and behavioral differences between GED (General Educational Development) candidates who were and were not retained in grade. Differences between candidates who were and were not retained in grade are examined with regard to factors such as demographics, delinquent behaviors, reasons for…

The study examined whether participating in the "National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program", a quasi-military residential/mentoring program for dropouts, improved the educational and other outcomes of at-risk youth. The study analyzed data on about 1,000 16- to 18-year-old high school dropouts enrolled in 10 ChalleNGe programs throughout…

To identify characteristics of students in Florida's Early Exit Program (EEP) with respect to their performance in high school, names and General Educational Development (GED) test scores were obtained for all students who passed the GED tests as part of the EEP between January 1, 1981, and May 1, 1983. Four districts were identified that had…

The differences in income, crime, health, mental health, and substance use among high school dropouts, GED recipients, and high school graduates are investigated. The study sample is drawn from the Chicago Longitudinal Study (CLS), an ongoing investigation of a panel of low-income minority children who grew up in the inner city. After controlling…

The General Educational Development (GED) Tests date from 1942, when the United States Armed Forces Institute designed a battery of tests to provide military personnel and veterans the opportunity to obtain a credential that demonstrated proficiency on par with high school graduates. Since World War II, the GED Tests have also been beneficial to…

The equivalency of the students of three kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) exit programs in Saskatchewan (Canada) was investigated. The programs were: (1) the Adult Basic Education Program (ABE); (2) the Division IV program; and (3) the General Educational Development (GED) tests. Participants were 134 Division IV students, 67 ABE students, and…

An evaluation study was done (1) to compare the performance of adult high school diploma students and traditional students in three basic areas of skill development (vocabulary, language arts, and reading comprehension) and (2) to test the association between selected demographic variables and performance in these three basic skill areas. The…