Adult Learner Transitions

Transitioning: ESL to Pre-GED and GED to Postsecondary

At Austin Learning Academy (ALA), we emphasize the importance of accomplishing short-term goals and moving on to tackling long-term goals. In 2005-2006, 3% of our ESL students completed their General Educational Development (GED) credential in English, and 38% of GED graduates went on to postsecondary education or training. From July 2006 to December 2006, 4% of ESL students have already transitioned to Pre-GED classes, 35% of Pre-GED students have transitioned to GED classes, and 3% of our GED graduates have enrolled in Austin Community College (ACC) for the spring semester.

To allow students to accomplish their long and short-term goals, ALA incorporates three strategies: introduction, reinforcement, and follow-up. We introduce the concept of education as a series of steps toward employment. This concept is reinforced throughout the learning experience. Then we follow up on students as they make their journey. ALA offers valuable support services, including free child care, that allow students to continue through their short-term goals and on to long-term goals.

During ESL registration and orientation, we highlight the classes we offer: ESL, Pre-GED (ABE), and GED, explaining that each class is a step to the next. ESL students understandably find it hard to believe they will advance, but we plant the seed by giving them examples of other students who have progressed onward. We also place posters in the classrooms with photos of students and their achievements. Progressing to the next level is presented as the normal course of their educational process. BEST (Basic English Skills Test) testing is administered three times a year. When ESL students meet the transition requirement, we encourage them to visit the Pre-GED class before registering the following month, in order to increase their comfort about changing classes. Teachers phone students who are referred to Pre-GED classes to remind them about registration and encourage them to take that next step.

During Pre-GED and GED registration and orientation, an ACC counselor specializing in GED to ACC transition, speaks to registrants about moving on to post-secondary education at the community college level. This is a powerful motivating tool, because students begin to realize that the goal of a higher education is an attainable one. Pre-GED class is held next door to a GED class, which makes it much more comfortable for students to transition to GED. Photos of past and current graduates are in the classrooms, and students often ask who they are, in which class they started, and what they are doing now. GED teachers help students with financial aid applications and take Pre-GED and GED students on monthly visits to ACC to visit counseling and financial aid offices as well as various classes that are of interest to students. ACC gives ALA access to DISCOVER, an online career guidance program, and students are encouraged to use this program as well as Texas WorkSource’s guide to high growth occupations in central Texas to consider what they may wish to study. ALA also takes advantage of its collaboration with Capital IDEA, an organization which partners with employers to fund qualified participants’ post-secondary education. Teachers call and write to students who complete the GED to follow up on their progress in post-secondary education or training and employment status. The coordinator collaborates with Austin Community College to determine which students are enrolled there.

The most important strategy we use at ALA is to show students that other people just like them have achieved long term goals. We expect great things from our students, and they deliver.

The following policies are in place at ALA to ease transition of students.

ESL to ABE Transition Policy

• ESL students who score 65 on the Oral BEST or 541 on BEST Plus AND score 66 on BEST Literacy MUST transition to Pre-GED.
• Registering students with 65 Oral BEST or 541 BEST Plus scores MAY NOT be enrolled in ESL classes. They MUST be referred to ALA Pre-GED class.
• Continuing students with scores of 65 Oral BEST or 541 BEST Plus and 66 on BEST Literacy MAY NOT continue in ESL classes. They MUST be referred to ALA Pre-GED class.
• Those who are reluctant to transition are encouraged to visit the Pre-GED class one morning at 9 am – 12 noon before registration day.
• Children may remain in the same Early Childhood class.

Policy for Determining ABE or GED Class
Students registering for ABE and GED classes will be baseline tested with the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) form 9 or 10 at registration and orientation. Student’s LOWEST score will determine in which class he will be placed, according to table below.

Policy for ABE to GED Transition
Students in the Adult Basic Education class (ALA Pre-GED) are studying to transition to GED class. In order for students to advance from ABE to GED class, they MUST have progress TABE scores in ALL sections at the GED class level, according to the table below.

Connie Seibert is the Adult Education Coordinator and teaches GED class for the  Austin Learning Academy.