ABE-TO-College Transition

Postsecondary education is correlated with improved employment and earnings, economic growth and productivity, increased civic participation and voting, and intergenerational economic and social mobility (Carnevale & Desrochers, 2004). Many GED and external high school diploma program graduates recognize these benefits and wish to pursue postsecondary education, but they need additional preparation to have a successful college experience. A typical GED graduate does not know academic vocabulary or how to read college texts, write term papers, or do elementary algebra. Often, as first generation college students, they do not know how to navigate the college environment and many must learn how to juggle work and child care while finding time to study and complete assignments on time. They especially need financial aid and help with seeking every available financial resource.

To help bridge the gap between the skills and knowledge of GED graduates and what they need to make more rapid progress and succeed in post-secondary education, NELRC created the New England ABE-to-College Transition Project in 2000. Now a consortium of 25 programs in six states partnered with over 40 college partners, these college transition programs serve well over 600 students a year. Each program provides academic preparation in college level reading, writing, pre-algebra/algebra, computer and Internet skills, study and other college survival skills—such as the note and test taking strategies—as well as educational counseling.

ABE-to-College Transition Project is funded by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation that contracts with NELRC to serve as its intermediary. NELRC designed, coordinates and monitors the Project and provides professional development and technical assistance to the programs. NELRC collects data on individual students’ demographics, learning gains, completion rates, next steps, as well as student and staff assessments of the services and their impact.

In response to growing interest in this emerging branch of the ABE continuum, in 2004 NELRC launched The National ABE-to-College Transition Network to support ABE staff, programs and states in establishing and strengthening ABE-to-college transition services through technical assistance, professional development, collegial sharing, advocacy and increased visibility for this critical sector of the adult basic education system. Please read more about the Network at www.collegetransition.org and our professional development and technical assistance services. www.collegetransition.org/services.html This site features numerous resources for program planners, teachers, counselors, researchers and policy-makers interested in college transitions for GED and ESOL students.

NELRC’s technical assistance and professional development related to college transitions are designed and led by

Sandy Goodman
New England College Transition Project Director
sgoodman@worlded.org

Priyanka Sharma
National College Transition Network Coordinator
psharma@worlded.org

Cynthia Zafft
National College Transition Network Director
czafft@worlded.org

Please see Cynthia’s bio.