Legislation Proposed by Congressional Black Caucus Members Targets High School Reform - General Equivalency Diploma Reform and Improvement Act - Brief Article

Black Issues in Higher Education, July 19, 2001

Two Congressional Black Caucus members want to bring more young adults back to high school while strengthening alternate routes to a high-school diploma.

Reps. Eva Clayton, D-N.C., and Julia Carson, D-Ind., have proposed the General Equivalency Diploma Reform and Improvement Act as H.R. 1893 in Congress. The bill would support a study of the GED, along with a federal review of how the U.S. Department of Education can better serve the needs of low-income, disadvantaged youth in need of education support.

While a GED is important for many individuals, the legislation states that it is important to assess the value of a GED compared to a traditional high-school diploma. "As the economy now demands higher skilled workers, the GED is no longer an adequate alternative to a traditional high-school degree," the bill states.

To meet these needs, the federal government needs to work with schools to get more pregnant teens and other disadvantaged youth into education programs that can lead to high-paying careers.

The bill was referred to the Education and the Workforce Committee.