SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Upcoming changes to high school equivalency testing in 2014 have local school leaders concerned about what next year will bring. The new GED test will cost more than three times what it costs now and the questions will be more difficult. Although it doesn't take effect until 2014, school leaders at area testing centers are already concerned.
The state is changing the GED test from paper to computer-only. Then students will see test that are more college and career based. School leaders say that means there will be more essay and fill-in the blank questions rather than multiple choice.
At the Ozarks Technical Community College's testing center school leaders say their biggest concern is the price difference. The test will go from a total of $40 to $140.
"We're concerned because we have students now that are in our classes that have difficulty coming up with the $40," said Ramona George, OTC Adult Education and Literacy director. "People have trouble coming up with that now, so we think when that jumps that's going to be definitely a concern."
She says there have been talks at the school of possibly starting a scholarship to help with the costs. She says the school may also teach more rigorous classes to help with the difficulty of the new test.
Right now, school leaders urge tudents to simply take the test this year before the changes take effect in 2014.
