Return-Path: <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j2UG5NG29393; Wed, 30 Mar 2005 11:05:23 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 11:05:23 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <671c69e0888404d1558979cf4358e99d@comcast.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: David Rosen <djrosen@comcast.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:1352] Research on GED Earnings X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.619.2) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Status: O Content-Length: 1996 Lines: 51 NIFL-Focus on Basics Colleagues, GED holder earnings is an area where we have some good research, based on employer-reported data on earnings for large numbers of GED holders in several states. I think this research should inform what we counsel students. Brown University researcher, John Tyler, has found that: 1. Economic benefits to the GED (without postsecondary education) accrue only to dropouts who leave school with very low levels of basic skills. Although the increased earnings may be as high as 15%, this is usually 15% of a low wage or salary, so this is far from a ticket out of poverty. There are _no earnings differences_ between high-skilled dropouts with and without a GED unless they go on for post-secondary education. 2. The biggest payoffs of a GED occur for those who use it to access post-secondary education, but very few GED holders do this. (I think Tyler said under 5%, but I'll have to check that.) However, if they do complete a degree program, the earnings differences between high school diploma holders who go on to college and GED holders disappear. 3. It takes up to five years for measurable earnings differences to appear. The primary mechanism for increased earnings is moving from non-employment to employment. 4. Preliminary results show no impact on post-release earnings for white male offenders who obtain a GED while in prison. As i interpret these findings, the overall message for school dropouts who are considering getting a GED in order to increase their earnings should be: get the basic skills you need to succeed in college and go on for post-secondary education if you want to earn more than poverty wages. If the GED is part of that plan, because a GED is required to enter college in your state, then get the GED, or an adult diploma. But don't stop there, go on. Reference: NCSALL GED Research Briefs http://gseweb.harvard.edu/~ncsall/research/repbriefs.htm David J. Rosen djrosen@comcast.net
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