New Jersey and West Virginia Approve CTB/McGraw-Hill's TASC as Official High School Equivalency Exam Alternative

MONTEREY, Calif., Dec. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CTB/McGraw-Hill, one of the nation's leading educational assessment partners, today announced that two additional states, New Jersey and West Virginia, have selected the company's TASC (Test Assessing Secondary Completion) as an official state-wide high school equivalency alternative. In West Virginia, TASC will replace the GED® as the state's sole high school equivalency assessment for 6,000 annual test takers seeking a high school equivalency credential; in New Jersey, TASC will be available as an official high school equivalency option for 14,000 annual test takers.

New Jersey and West Virginia's adoptions of TASC represent the latest steps in an ongoing movement by states across the country to identify high-quality alternatives to the GED that are more affordable and accessible for the 40 million U.S. adults who lack a high school diploma or equivalency. Earlier this year, the states of New York and Indiana selected TASC as their official high school equivalency assessment to serve some 65,000 annual test takers in the two states, while Nevada and Wyoming have also authorized TASC for statewide use. TASC will be available for use in all six states beginning in January 2014.

"We are incredibly proud that New Jersey and West Virginia have chosen TASC to serve their thousands of annual high school equivalency test takers, many of whom will benefit immensely from a more affordable and flexible alternative to the current exam," said Ellen Haley, president of CTB/McGraw-Hill. "As postsecondary degrees continue to be a prerequisite for some of the fastest-growing industries in our economy, the accessibility of testing solutions like TASC will be increasingly vital to expanding career opportunities and improving the quality of life in these states and across the country."

Built from the ground up to address the learning standards set forth by the Common Core, TASC provides newly developed and field-tested content that measures test takers' level of achievement relative to that of graduating high school seniors and readiness for college and the workforce. The new test features a design that allows states to gradually transition from the foundational concepts of newly implemented Common Core State Standards to a deeper alignment over a three-year period. In addition, TASC will be available as a paper-and-pencil exam as well as online, providing flexibility for test takers and allowing states to phase in computer-based testing at a pace that meets their students' needs. TASC also allows states to follow the secure processes for administering the exam that they already have in place.

CTB has extensive experience in developing assessments for the adult basic education market. For more than 45 years, CTB's TABE® has been the leading measure of achievement used by educators, states and employers to assess the knowledge and skills of test takers. CTB's expertise and capabilities in assessing adult basic education allowed the company to respond quickly to states' need for an alternative high school equivalency assessment.

TASC assesses English language arts (including reading and writing), math, science, and social studies. It will be available in English and Spanish and in large print, Braille and audio versions.

More information on the TASC can be found at TASCtest.com or on Twitter at @theTASCtest.