8/14/2019 GED Network Meeting

1/4

GED Network MeetingDecember 4th, 2009; 2:00pm 4:00pm

Catholic Charities

Meeting Minutes

In attendance: Geri Anderson-Nielsen (National Center onEducation and the Economy); Alyssa Ballentine (AmeriCorpsMember w/ Catholic Charities); Emily Breines (AmeriCorpsMember w/ Beyond Talent); Celina Chelala (CatholicCharities); MaryAnn Florez (DC LEARNs); Cara Fuller (SashaBruce Youth Build); Marcia Harrington (Martin Luther King,Jr. Memorial Library); Diane Harris (Southeast Ministries);Christina Keen (Washington Literacy Council); Tim McDuffy((Sasha Bruce Youth Build); Ben Merrion (Martin LutherKing, Jr. Memorial Library); Jessie Stadd (Academy ofHope); and Christine Thelen (AmeriCorps Member w/ BeyondTalent).

I. Ben Merrion chaired the meeting and started off withintroductions and general announcements. Diane Harrisshared that three students from Southeast Ministries hadrecently passed the GED. Marcia Harrington noted that anincreasing number of students were taking the practice

test at the library. She also mentioned that studentsare able to take the practice test at the library onTuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

II. Ben then briefly reviewed the minutes from the previousmeeting and distributed the agenda which included themain topic: Transitioning from GED Programs.

III. Jessie Stadd presented on the Pathways program. Shedescribed it as a typical bridge or transitionprogram which helps post-secondary students who are

interested in transitioning to any post-secondary goalwhether its college, a training program, or employment.The program has two main components covering:

Academic requirements (ACCUPLACER) and the College-readiness requirements. Because there is a big leap fromthe GED math and writing to the ACCUPLACER math andwriting emphasis is placed on math and writing classes

1

8/14/2019 GED Network Meeting

2/4

as well as grammar and technology courses. Individualtutoring sessions and counseling are also available.

The program provides help with completing collegeapplications and financial aid forms such as the FAFSA.

It also helps students apply for grants such as the HerbBlock grant.

The program is open to everyone but is a particularlystrong opportunity for EDP graduates who may needadditional assistance with their math and writingskills.

Once students graduate from the Pathways program themajority will attend UDC, Montgomery College, and a fewhave started classes at Trinity.

There are generally 10 students in each cohort but 7usually complete the program.

Classes are offered during the day or night; 9:00am 12:15pm Mondays Thursdays or 6:30pm 8:30pm Mondays Thursdays.

IV. Emily Breines described a similar program at BeyondTalent called College Compass. The program is open to 18 25 year olds and focuses on math, writing, study

skills, college readiness, student advisement, andindividual tutoring.

The program is taught on the Catholic University campuswhich gives students an opportunity to experience lifeon a college campus.

Courses are in the morning and the next session beginsat the end of January. Although there is a limit of 15students per cohort, 5 usually complete the program.

V. Tim McDuffy talked about Sasha Bruce Youth Build. Hedescribed it as a GED/Construction program that is opento 18 24 year-olds. Students must have at least a 6th

grade reading level to be accepted and the TABE is usedas the initial assessment tool.

50% of the work is academic (the practice test isoffered once a month) and 50% is construction. The

2

8/14/2019 GED Network Meeting

3/4

students receive a stipend for their participation andalso an OSHA Certification upon program completion.

When asked about the gender break down, Tim mentionedthat they generally receive 200 applications of which 30

are accepted and five of these are women.

Enrollment occurs twice a year in September and March.

VI. Jessie mentioned that First Time Computers will giveaway a free lap top to an adult learner if they areaccepted into college or are currently enrolled incollege.

VII. Ben then opened the discussion on the best ways oforganizing for the GED

Network. We talked about a Wiki-based model organized byusable topics like a Wiki that David Rosen has created.He also described Google Wave and offered to have anyoneinterested in trying it to email him about being invitedto join.

VIII. MaryAnn raised the option of having the site bepublic but read only and restrict access to the GEDNetwork for adding material. Everyone seemed to agreethat this would be a good idea. She also documented thecomments from the GED group about what they would like

to have in any tool or platform we use to connectoutside the group:

It should be organized by useful topics

Access to view the site would be open to anyone insideor outside thenetworking group

Administrative privileges (ability to post or revisedocuments, addpeople to the group with these privileges, etc. would

be restricted to

members of the group It should be able to create and store documents and

information

It should be able to share links to useful web sites

It should be able to add to or revise documents thathave been posted

It should be able to use chat or exchange messages

3

8/14/2019 GED Network Meeting

4/4

It shouldnt be too complicated because a lot ofpeople identifythemselves as not being tech savvy!

Question: Do we need to have both synchronous and

asynchronous optionsfor communicating (e.g., a chat would be synchronous

because the exchangeof information happens in real time, at the same time;

an email functionwould be asynchronous because people could post but

responses could comein at any time)

IX. Ben offered to invite Kenn Pendleton of the GED TestingCenter to talk to the group about GED 20/20.

X. MaryAnn offered to bring the Adult Education ProfessionalDevelopment Center (AEPDC) workshop list to the nextmeeting.

XI. Jessie will be chairing the next meeting on Friday,January 8th, 2:00pm 4:00pm at Catholic Charities.

4