CLEVELAND (AP) — Ohioans without high school diplomas willhave to pay more next year to take a
test for an equivalency certificatebut can receive vouchers toward that expense if they get careercounseling
beforehand at certain sites.The GED test in Ohio isexpected to cost $120 in January — triple the current
cost — with theswitch from a paper test to a computerized version.Test-takerscan get $80 in vouchers toward
that cost if they first meet with acounselor at one of Ohio’s 91 career-technical district sites, The
PlainDealer in Cleveland (http://bit.ly/18SrU3f) reported. The program wasallotted $4 million in the state
budget."A lot of people take theGED because they want a better job," Ohio Department of
Educationspokesman John Charlton said. "If they are getting counseling to helpwith a resume and learn
about jobs, it helps."The American Council on Education, which administers the GED, decided the test
should reflect college-readiness standards.Morethan 19,200 Ohioans took the GED last year, and 13,248 — more
thantwo-thirds of them — passed. About 1.4 million Ohio had no high schooldiploma, according to the GED
Testing Service, the state’s vendor.Thenew test, which is scored immediately, contains sections on
reading,math, science and social studies, each costing $30. The vouchers fortest-takers who get career
counseling apply $20 to each section,Charlton said.People who have passed some but not all sections ofthe
old test will have to start fresh with the new version, thenewspaper reported.Those who fail and must retake
a section will be charged only $10, Charlton said.The number taking the GED increased by nearly 2,000
between November and mid-December compared with last year, Charlton said.The GED is accepted as an
alternative to a high school diploma.Statistics show people lacking a high school diploma or GED have
trouble finding jobs, the newspaper reported.___Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.comCopyright 2013 The Associated
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