State DOE Looking to Graduate from Relying Solely on GED

With the GED exam about to go through some big changes in both cost and questions, the state Department of Education is reaching out to find other options for those seeking a high school equivalency degree.

One significant change: The 2014 GED will be aligned with the national Common Core State Standards. It will also be given entirely online, and, perhaps most importantly, the New Jersey-based developer of the exam is doubling its price, to $120.

Given the changes, the state Department of Education last week sent out a notice to schools and others pertinent parties that it would soon be seeking potential alternatives to the GED for New Jersey residents, so as to provide more options for those seeking an equivalency degree in the state.

“This shift affords the Department the opportunity to perform an in-depth analysis of alternative assessments with the goal of offering a range of testing options to New Jersey residents -- with an eye towards the highest-quality assessments and the lowest-possible testing costs,” read the memo from Peter Shulman, the state’s assistant education commissioner.

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