2010 State of the City Issues
Encouraging Growing Industries | Strengthening Existing Businesses |
Creating a Supportive Tax Structure | Supporting the City's Work Force

Photo by William Alatriste

Supporting the City's Work Force

Improving the City's GED Testing System

"Creating more jobs isn't enough. We have to make sure that New Yorkers have the skills and education they need to get those jobs. We still have 1.6 million New Yorkers who are out of school and don't have a high school diploma - and they're more than twice likely to be unemployed as someone with a college degree."

Speaker Quinn proposed concrete steps aimed at improving the city’s GED testing system, which is currently fragmented and inadequate in assisting New Yorkers lacking a high school diploma. The Speaker’s reforms address New Yorkers who are unemployed and face the greatest obstacles in finding a job. The three-tiered plan will help New Yorkers take the first crucial step towards employment.

• The Council, together with the Department of Education and the Department of Small Business Services, will create a citywide pilot at Workforce 1 Centers that will connect individuals without a high school diploma to GED testing and test preparation courses.

• In order to ensure that those who take the GED are adequately prepared, individuals who sign up to take the GED will first take an Official Practice Test to assess their preparedness.

• The Council will work closely with the Literacy Assistance Center, DOE and SBS to better coordinate the GED system, with a goal of streamlining access to services so that individuals can build skills, obtain a GED if needed and receive assistance in their job search.