Taking the Easy Way Out: How the GED Testing Program Induces Students to Drop Out

Area of Science:

• Education Policy
• Sociology of Education

Background:

• The availability of alternative credentialing, such as the General Education Development (GED) certificate, can alter student motivations and educational pathways.
• Understanding the impact of GED policies on high school completion is crucial for educational attainment and workforce readiness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of three distinct General Education Development (GED) policy innovations on high school graduation rates.
• To determine the causal relationship between GED accessibility and high school dropout behavior.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of policy changes related to GED testing standards and program implementation in specific states.
• Econometric evaluation of the impact of GED policy shifts on high school graduation and dropout rates.

Main Results:

• A six-point decrease in the GED pass rate led to a 1.3-point decline in overall dropout rates.
• The implementation of a GED certification program within high schools in Oregon resulted in a four percent decrease in graduation rates.
• The introduction of GED certificates in California correlated with a 3-point increase in dropout rates.

Conclusions:

• The General Education Development (GED) program appears to incentivize high school students to drop out, negatively affecting overall graduation rates.
• Policy interventions aimed at increasing GED accessibility may have unintended consequences for high school completion.