States Drop GED

Kirk Proctor, of the Missouri Career Center, said the organization is looking for a way to cover the increased test cost for students participating in a GED preparation and job training program he oversees. He said his students can't come up with $140, noting they need help paying for the current, cheaper test.

"A lot of them are just barely making it," he said. "Transportation is a challenge. Eating is a challenge. For them, coming up with $140 for an assessment, it's basically telling them, 'Forget about ever getting this part of your life complete.'"

One program participant, Nicole Williams, a 21-year-old Kansas City mother of three, said she was hopeful she'd pass the GED test soon so she could avoid the electronic version. With it, she said, "you've got to learn how to type, use the computer, plus your GED. That's three things instead of just trying to focus all on your GED test."
Source: Some States Dropping GED as Test Price Spikes By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH
“It’s a complete paradigm shift because the GED has been the monopoly. It’s been the only thing in town for high school equivalency testing. It’s kind of like Kleenex at this point.”

The announcement of some states dropping the GED comes as the test’s maker, GED Testing Service, moves to introduce the new version in January. It is the first revamp since for-profit Pearson Vue Testing acquired a joint ownership interest in the nonprofit Washington-based service.

Because of the changes, the test cost is doubling to $120. The price led to sticker shock for test-takers, nonprofits, and states. Some states try to subsi
Source: Some States Drop GED As Prices Go Up  by Associated Pres
it currently costs $140 to take the test in the state of Missouri, which is one of the 40 states looking for a solution to the problem. Many of those wanting to take the GED cannot afford the test by itself, especially if they have to take it again to get a better score.

"A lot of them are just barely making it," Kirk Proctor of the Missouri Career Center, told AP. "Transportation is a challenge. Eating is a challenge. For them, coming up with $140 for an assessment, it's basically telling them, 'Forget about ever getting this part of your life complete.'"

One of the problems is the cost of technology. The GED used to be paper-based, but now is switching to an electronic-based system. Testing sites are unable to come up with the needed funds and are looking to go back to the more traditional paper-based exam. Those tests can cost between $50 and $60 instead of the $140 or higher.
Source: States Drop GED as Cost of Test Rises By Sami K. Martin