[AAACE-NLA] Transition Programs for Adults, Tomorrow's Collegiates

[Hal Beder]

This is a very important topic.  Consider the following.

Very credible studies by economists such as 
Cameron, Heckman, Murnane and Tyler show that 
while the incomes of GED holders are meager and 
flat over time, only a little bit of post 
secondary education has a large payoff in terms of income.

About 2/3 of GED recipients say they want to go 
on to postsecondary (GED Testing Service, 2004) 
but only 30% earn as much as 1 post secondary 
credit by age 27 (Murnane et.al.: 2000) .
In public 2 year colleges, 34% of GED graduates 
who enrolled in 1995-96 earned certificates by 
2001, 60% never obtained a certificate or degree 
and were not enrolled (BPS, 2001).

While the mean age for traditional high school 
graduates enrolled in postsecondary education is 
26, the mean age for GED graduates is 32.  GED 
graduates begin postsecondary education later 
than traditional graduates. While the mean age 
that traditional graduates begin postsecondary 
education is 21, the mean age for GED graduates is 27 (NPSAS 2004).

Thirty-two percent of GED graduates enrolled in 
postsecondary education are married compared with 
20 percent for traditional high school graduates. 
Forty nine percent of GED graduates have 
dependent children; twenty-three percent of 
traditional high school graduates have dependant 
children;   While on the average traditional high 
school graduates receive $857 in financial aide, 
the figure for GED graduates is only $165 (NPSAS, 
2004). If you are married, have children and have 
to make ends meet, of course postsecondary education is a struggle.


Conclusion:  We must not think of successful 
completion of adult literacy education as an 
ending.  We must think of it as a beginning and 
then provide the means for a successful next step.












At 09:13 AM 1/27/2006, you wrote:
>AAACE-NLA Colleagues,
>
>Today's Boston Globe carries an op ed piece entitled "Tomorrow's
>Collegiates: adult students" by Silja Kallenbach, Director of the New
>England Literacy Resource Center and Cynthia Zafft, Coordinator of
>the National College Transition Network, both at World Education in
>Boston. You'll find it at:
>
>         http://tinyurl.com/8hma2
>
>It's a terrific argument for a federal investment in adult basic
>education, in particular for adult transition to college programs.
>Do these work? Consider that since the New England ABE-to-College
>Transition project was launched in 2000:
>
>• 2,353 adults have participated
>• 67% have completed the programs
>• 80% of those who complete have entered postsecondary education
>• This is nearly double the national college matriculation rate for
>GED recipients.
>
>At a time when many higher education institutions are eager to
>recruit new students, higher education institutions should advocate
>for college transition program funding to prepare adults to enter and
>succeed in college. While many transition programs might be located
>on college campuses, successful transition programs are also offered
>by public schools and community-based organizations.  College
>transition programs are good for adult education and literacy, higher
>education, and especially for adult learners.
>
>David J. Rosen
>Adult Literacy Advocate
>DJRosen at theworld.com
>
>
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