New GED Test Scheduled for January 2014 and How It Will Affect DACA Applicants

Undocumented youth have confronted many roadblocks in their lives, especially in education.   Negative immigration-education policy and laws meant to deny undocumented students access to higher education gave some an excuse to drop out from high school.  Some, regrettably, did not see the point of graduating from High School after the continued failure of Congress to pass the DREAM Act at the federal level.  High School dropout rates are a problem all over the country which affects Hispanics, minorities and immigrant populations in disproportionate numbers. Bad immigration-education policy only makes things worse.

With the introduction of the process for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the opportunity to enroll into a GED program to qualify for application, GED education experienced a sudden increase on demand. Click here for an article on the demand  for GED instruction.

GED stands for General Education Development. The test is administrated by a division of the American Council on Education.  Click here for a link to their site. The administrators are updating the test to spring testers into advancing their education into college and will convert the official GED test to a computer-based version. The service states that the new test "is no longer an endpoint for adults, but rather a springboard for further education, training, and better paying jobs."

For potential DACA applicants it means GED enrollment, preparation and test taking will need to be done before the end of 2013. Any module taken will not count unless the whole battery of test is completed and certification obtained by then.  If the student had only completed certain modules, he or she will need to start all over to comply with the new test on 2014.   Also new fees will be on effect.

This is what the Arizona Department of Education is posting on its website.