PRINCETON, New Jersey, Nov. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Nineteen percent of Oklahomans over the age of 25 haven’t finished high school, leaving large populations of the state underprepared to meet workforce demands. Studies also show those who lack a high school credential are more likely to live in poverty or be incarcerated.

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In June, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signed House Bill 1687 allowing adult learning centers to offer multiple test options to test takers, including the HiSET^® exam. The purpose of the bill is to bolster education attainment by giving students the autonomy to be active participants in their educational progress.

State-approved tests measure high school equivalent skills, and are accepted for college or job applications and the U.S. military. Oklahomans with a high school credential are from diverse backgrounds. Having more options lead to meeting more of everyone’s needs.

The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, also referred to as CareerTech, oversees a system of vocational and certification initiatives for disadvantaged adults. In 2014, CareerTech took over responsibility for the state’s high school equivalency diploma program.  

The HiSET exam, developed by Educational Testing Service (ETS) and Iowa Testing Programs, first became a test option in 2014, and is currently offered in 16 other states and four U.S. territories. The test is offered in computer- or paper-delivered formats and is cheaper than previous options.

“The way we speak and think about high school equivalency has really changed now that there are options available,” said Amy Riker, National Executive Director of the HiSET program at ETS. “It’s our mission to empower test takers with correct information on how to reach education goals, and we’re looking forward to working with Oklahoma educators to make that happen.”    

For more information about the HiSET program from ETS, please visit www.hiset.ets.org.

For more information about the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, please visit www.oklifelonglearning.com.

About ETS
At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, and by conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL^® and TOEIC ^® tests, the GRE^® tests and The Praxis Series^® assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org