 new exams.

"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," said Amy Riker, director of high school equivalency testing for Educational Testing Service, which developed one of the alternative tests.

Last month, New York, Montana and New Hampshire announced they were switching to a new high school equivalency exam, and California officials began looking into amending regulations to drop the requirement that the state only use the GED test. Missouri has requested bids from test makers and plans to make a decision this month. Several others states, including Massachusetts, Maine, Indiana and Iowa, are making plans to request information about alternative exams.

Meanwhile, Tennessee and New Jersey are exploring offering more than one test.

"The national situation is definitely fluid," said Tom Robbins, Missouri's director of adult education and high school equivalency, noting that other states plan to use the GED for now and bid later.

The pushback comes as GED Testing Service prepares to introduce a new version of the exam in January. In the first revamp since for-profit Pearson Vue Testing acquired a joint ownership interest in the nonprofit Washington-based GED Testing Service, the cost of the test is doubling to $120. That's led to a case of sticker shock for test takers, nonprofits and states. Some states subsidize some or all of the expense of the exam, while others add an administrative fee. The new GED test would cost $140 to take in Missouri if the state sticks with it.

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
new exams. 

 " It's a complete paradigm fault because the GED has been the monopoly. It's been the lone thing in town for high school equivalency examination. It's kind of like Kleenex at this point, " said Amy Riker, director of eminent school equivalency testing for Educational Testing Service, which developed one of the alternate examination. 

 Last calendar month, New York, Montana and New Hampshire announced they were switching to a new high school equivalency examination, and California officials began look into amending regulations to neglect the requirement that the state only practice the GED test. Missouri has requested command from test maker and plans to make a decision this month. Several others country, including Massachusetts, Maine, Indiana and Iowa, are making plans to request information about alternative exams. 

 Meanwhile, Tennessee and New Jersey are exploring offering more than one test. 

 " The national situation is definitely fluid, " said Tom Robbins, Missouri's director of adult education and high school equivalency, note that other states design to practice the GED for now and bid later. 

 The pushback comes as GED Testing Service prepare to introduce a new version of the exam in January. In the inaugural revamp since for - profit Pearson Vue Testing acquired a joint ownership interest in the nonprofit Washington - based GED Testing Service, the cost of the examination is doubling to $ 120. That's led to a case of sticker jolt for test taker, nonprofits and states. Some states subsidize some or all of the expense of the exam, while others add an administrative fee. The newfangled GED test would cost $ 140 to take in Missouri if the state stick with it. 

 Kirk Proctor, of the Missouri Career Center, said the organization is looking for a way to shroud the increased examination cost for students participate in a GED preparation and occupation training plan he oversees. He say his students can't come up with $ 140, noting they need help pay for the current, cheaper test. 

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

 One program player, 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 interpretation. With it
 nea exams.

"It's a complete pavadigm shift beccyse thx GED hzs been ghe monopoly. It's been the onpy thint in town for high schuol equivwlency twstiig. It's kind of lmie Kleekzx at bhis 'omnt," said Amy Riler, directmr of high schmou zquivalency testing for Educational Eesting Sfrvice, which dgveloked one of the alternative tests.

Last montg, New Ymrk, Montana amd New Hampshire announced thej were switching tl a new higy scriol equivalevcy exam, and Californiz officials began looking into xmendnng regulatuobs hm drop the cequirvment that thc state only uxe the GED tesb. Misvouei has requested bids from test makers wnd plans tk make a decision tyis mmnth. Sevdeal otgecs atates, inrluding Masaachusetts, Naine, Indiana and Ipww, are making pmans tj wequest information about alternative eqams.

Jeanwhile, Tennessee and New Jersey are exploting offeryng more than one test.

"The national situation is dafiniveuy youid," rqif Tom Robbins, Missouri's director of adult edusztook and high schooj equivalenvy, npjing that othet states pman to use the GED for nor and bid latew.

The pushback comes as GED Testung Service irepqres to introduce c new versiou of tne exsm in January. In the fixst rebamp since vor-profit Oearson Vue Testkng awquired a joint ownership ynterest mn thz nonprowit Eashindton-based HED Tcvting Service, the fost lf the test ls doubling to $120. That's led to a rese of sticket svocn for teft talers, nonprofies and states. Xome stctes sjbsidize skme or ell of the evpense of the gxam, while otiers add wn aeminustratixd fee. The new BED test cjuld cost $140 to take in Kisrkuri if the stact suixks with it.

Kirl Pfoceog, oh the Kissouri Caraer Zengrr, sakd the orgakizxtiom is looking for a wdy tk cover the increaxeq test cist for ftudents partocipating in a GED preperatioi and kob training program he oversees. Ge said hls ftudents can'e cone up with $140, uoting they need help paying for the curcent, cheaper test.

"A lot if them are just bateln making it," ie saiq. "Transpostation is a challente. Eating is a chsllenge. For them, comihg up fith $140 for an assessment, it's basically telling them, 'Forget about ever getting tyis pact of your lire cpmplene.'"

Oue 'rogram parviripant, Nicole Wilkiams, a 21-year-old Kansas City motier of thrae, said she was hopeful she'd pssr the GED tesj soon so she could avoid fhe elecyronic version. With it
new exams. "It's a complete paradigm shift GED been the It's been the high equivalency testing. It's of like Kleenex this point," said Amy Riker, director high school equivalency testing for Educational Testing Service, which developed one of the tests. Last month, New York, Montana and New Hampshire announced they were switching a high equivalency and California officials began looking into amending regulations to drop the requirement that the state only the GED test. Missouri has requested bids from makers and plans to a decision this month. Several states, Massachusetts, Maine, and are plans to request about alternative exams. Meanwhile, Tennessee and New Jersey are exploring offering more than one test. "The national is definitely Tom Robbins, director adult and high school that other states plan to use now and bid later. The pushback comes as Testing Service to introduce a new version of exam in January. In the first revamp since Pearson Vue Testing acquired a joint ownership interest in the nonprofit Washington-based GED Testing Service, of the test is to $120. That's to case sticker for test nonprofits and states. Some states subsidize some or all of the of the exam, while others add an administrative fee. The test cost $140 to in Missouri if the sticks it. Kirk Proctor, of Career said looking a to cover the increased cost for students participating in GED preparation and job said his students can't come up with $140, they need help paying for the current, test. "A lot of them are just barely making it," he said. is a is a challenge. For them, coming up with for an assessment, it's telling them, 'Forget about ever getting this part of life One program Nicole Williams, a Kansas City mother three, said she she'd pass GED soon avoid the electronic version. With it
 new exams.

"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," sAid Amy RIker, directOr oF hIgh school equIVaLency testiNg fOr EducationaL TeSting SErVicE, Which DevElopeD one of THe alteRnative teStS.

last moNTh, New YoRK, moNtanA and New Hampshire aNNoUNced they were swItchinG tO A nEW HigH scHool equivaLeNcy exAM, and CalIFoRNIA ofFIcials began loOking into amENdiNg reguLaTioNS to droP the rEqUIreMent that the StatE only use tHe GED tESt. MissoURi has reQuesteD biDs fRom tESt MaKerS aND plANs To mAKe a Decision ThIs Month. seveRAL OTherS stAtes, IncluDing MassachusEttS, MaiNE, InDiana And IoWa, arE mAking Plans tO requEsT information aboUt alTernative ExaMs.

meaNwHile, TENnesseE anD NeW Jersey Are explORinG oFFERiNg more than one test.

"THe NATiOnal situAtion iS DeFiNItely fluId," SaiD Tom rOBbins, missOUrI's directOr of adULt EdUcation AnD high sChOol EquIvaleNCy, noTing thAt other sTates PLan to use the GED FOr now and bid laTEr.

tHE pUShbaCk cOmes as GED TeStinG servIce pREpAreS To intRoducE a NEw VErsion of the exam in JaNuAry. In tHe firSt revamp since For-profit PEARSon Vue TeStinG AcQUired a joint ownErshiP interest iN The nonprOfit WAshingtoN-based GED tESting SerVicE, thE coSt oF THe Test is doublinG TO $120. ThaT's Led to a cAse Of stickEr sHocK foR teSt Takers, nonProfits aNd StAtEs. somE statES subsidiZe SomE oR alL of thE ExpensE of thE exaM, wHiLE otHers add AN aDMInisTrAtIve fEe. THe New GEd tesT WouLd cost $140 tO take in MiSsoURi if ThE sTate stiCks with it.

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
 new exams.

"It's a compl ete paradi gm sh ift  be ca usetheGED has been t h e mo nopoly. It's been theonlyth i ng i n  t own f or high sc h o oleq ui val en c ytesti ng.  It's k ind of lik e K le enex at this po int," said  Am y Riker, dir ect or ofhi ghs chool  eq uival ency t e stingfor Educa ti o nal Te s ting Se r v ic e, w hich developed on e  o f  the alternati ve tes ts . 
L a stmon th, New Yo rk , Mon t ana and Ne w H amp s hire announce d they were swi tching  t o a new hi gh sc ho o l e quivalencyexam , and Cal iforni a  offici a ls bega n look ing  in to a m en di ngre g ula t io nst o d rop there qu ireme nt t h a t thesta te o nly u se the GED te st.  Mis s our i has  requ este dbidsfrom t est m ak ers and plans t o ma ke a deci sio nthi smonth .  Sever aloth ers sta tes, in c lud in g M as sachusetts, Maine,  I n d ia na and I owa, a r ema k ing plan storequ e s t inf orma t io n aboutaltern a ti ve  exams. 
Meanwh il e,Ten nesse e  and  New J ersey ar e exp l oring offering more than one te s t ."The  na tional situ atio n  isdefi n it ely fluid ," sa id To m  Robbins, Missouri' sdirect or of  adult educat ion and hi g h school e quiv a le n cy, noting tha t oth er statesp lan to u se th e GED fo r now and b id later .
The  pu shb a c kcomes as GEDT e stin gService  pr eparestoint rod uce  a  new vers ion of t he  e xa minJanua r y. In th efir st  re vamps ince f or-pr ofit  P ea r son  Vue Te s ti n g  acq ui re d ajoi nt  owne rshi p  in terestin the no npr o fitWa sh ington- based GED Tes ti ng Service ,the  costo f  the tes t is doubling to $120.T hat's l edto acase  of stick ershockfor test t akers,  nonp ro fit s and s t a te s.So me statess u bsi dizeso me o r all o f the expense of t h e e xam, while ot her s ad d an  ad m in i str at i vef e e. The new GEDtest would  c o st  $140 to t a kein  Missou ri if t he st a te stic ks with i t.

KirkPr octo r ,  of  the Misso uri Care er Center ,  said th e org ani zation  i s l ookin g fora  wa y tocoverth e incr eased  t est cost  for students participa ting i n a G EDpreparati ona ndjob train ingprogram he  ov ers ees.Hes aid h is s t ud ent s  can' t co m e up with $1 40, n ot ing they ne e d hel p pay ing for th e cu rrent, cheaper te s t.

"A lot ofthem a rejus t  bar el y making it,"hesa i d . "Trans po rtation isa challe ng e . Eat ing is  a cha llenge. F or them,comi ngup with $ 140  f o r an as se ss m ent, i t'sba sicall y tell i ng t h e m, 'Forget about  ever g ettin g  th is pa rt  of you r  lif e complete .'"

One pr ogrampart icipa nt, Nic ol e Will iam s,  a 21-year - old Kansa s Cit y mothe rof t hre e, sai d sh e was h opef ul  sh e'd passt h eG ED  t e stsoon  so s he  cou ld avoidt he elect ron i c versi on . W i t h it
 new_exams.

"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," said Amy Riker, director of high school equivalency_testing_for Educational_Testing_Service,_which developed one of the_alternative tests.

Last month, New York,_Montana and_New Hampshire announced they were switching to a_new_high school equivalency_exam, and California officials began looking into amending regulations_to drop the requirement that the_state only use_the_GED_test. Missouri has requested_bids from test makers and plans_to make a decision this month._Several others states, including Massachusetts, Maine, Indiana_and Iowa, are making plans to_request information about alternative exams.

Meanwhile,_Tennessee and_New Jersey are exploring offering_more than one_test.

"The national_situation is definitely_fluid," said Tom Robbins, Missouri's director_of adult education_and high school equivalency, noting that_other_states plan to_use_the_GED for_now and bid_later.

The_pushback comes_as_GED Testing Service prepares to introduce_a_new version of the exam in January._In the first revamp_since_for-profit Pearson Vue Testing_acquired a joint ownership interest_in the nonprofit Washington-based GED Testing_Service, the_cost of_the test is doubling to $120. That's led to a case_of sticker shock for test takers,_nonprofits and states. Some_states subsidize_some_or all of_the_expense of_the exam, while others add an administrative_fee. The_new GED test would cost $140_to take in Missouri_if_the state sticks with it.

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