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Adult Learning Center offers help with new HiSET test and more

By Douglass Huxley 3 min read

PARKERSBURG -- The State of West Virginia changed the test required to obtain the High School Equivalency Diploma in January of this year.

This means that anyone who took the previous TASC exam, Test Assessing Secondary Completion, between 2014 and 2022, and did not pass all five subjects required, must complete the needed subjects by December 2022, or all previous scores will be obsolete, and they will have to start the test taking process over again.

The HiSET, High School Equivalency Test, is now the new test administered to obtain the High School Equivalency Diploma. The new test still has an essay portion, but the rest is now comprised of multiple choice questions, and a calculator can now be used for the entirety of the math part.

"We officially started testing at the end of April with the HiSET, and it's gone pretty well so far," said Deanna Addis, adult education instructor for the Wood County Adult Learning Center. "We don't have the numbers to say there's a higher success rate yet, because there just hasn't been enough people to take it, but I think we'll see that."

The Adult Learning Center offers classes, free of charge, to help students prepare to take the new HiSET, or to complete portions of the TASC they haven't yet.

"Anybody that started the TASC, and that was 2014 until Dec. 31 (2021), if they did not finish all five test, and pass, then they need to come in before December of this year and get that done," Addis said.

"We just want to make sure we get as many people in to finish as we can, so they didn't waste that effort," said Regional Adult Education Coordinator Julie Hagan.

The Adult Learning Center not only helps students prepare for the HiSET, but has a variety of other courses, programs, and assistance it offers for free as well. Those include career exploration, college preparation, resume assistance, basic computer skills, and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Some of the industry recognized certification programs include: Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint, Adobe, Intuit QuickBooks, Digital Literacy, and Customer Service.

"I just don't think the public is grasping the amount of things that we can help with," Hagan said. "Maybe they're just looking for a better job, they can come in and get some of these certifications to help build their portfolio. We can help them with creating a resume, writing a cover letter, a thank you letter, with references. All of that."

The Adult Learning Center has open enrollment, and the only stipulation for enrollment is that an individual has to be 17 or older, and not currently enrolled in a K-12 system. Students do not have to be a West Virginia resident to enroll in any of the programs offered and all of the programs, courses, and assistance offered at the Adult Learning Center are free of charge.

"We will never charge anyone for anything," Hagan said.

Individuals interested in completing their TASC, taking the new HiSET, or enrolling in any of the programs offered at the Adult Learning Center can visit the offices at the old St Joseph's building at 600 18th St, Suite 610 or 916 Market St, or call 304-834-1019. More information can also be found on the Facebook page at fb.com/MOVAdultEd.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com

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