LearningExpress Library is a free comprehensive, interactive online learning platform of practice tests and tutorial course series designed to help patrons—students and adult learners—succeed on the academic or licensing tests they must pass. You'll get immediate scoring, complete answer explanations, and an individualized analysis of your results. Key “Learning Centers” include computer skills; GED preparation; job search and workplace skills; skill building for adults and college preparation.
The Test Prep Review web site offers free TABE practice tests as well as online courses, assessment modules and links to helpful web sites. In addtion to TABE practice tests, many other practice tests are available.
Pre-collegiate Stackable Certificates
Ohio realizes the need to create new, accessible pathways that make it easier for adult learners – particularly those from hard-to-serve populations – to prepare themselves for career-relevant postsecondary education and training. These new pathways must offer effective remedial education, provide supports that help adult learners overcome both academic and non-academic barriers and allow learners to move smoothly from adult career-technical programs to a credential or degree program at a two- or four-year campus.
Through Ohio’s “Stackable Certificate” Initiative, adult learners will have better access to ABLE (Adult Basic and Literacy Education) services for basic skills remediation up through GED preparation level, while community colleges’ developmental education programs will provide transition services to prepare students for the first credit-bearing college-level course. This is a critically important element of the initiative because many of Ohio’s adult learners are not immediately ready for college. Either because of a legacy of substandard secondary achievement or a number of years of “interrupted” education, these learners must build their basic skills in reading, writing, mathematics and/or language proficiency prior to entering college course work.
Following is a summary of pilot projects for Stackable Certificates launched by Thrive region education partners.
Ashland, Richland and Crawford counties. In 2008-09, North Central State College partnered with Mansfield City School District Adult Basic Literacy and Education program to pilot a campus-based bridge program for adults who have a GED/diploma, yet score concurrently into the lowest developmental levels in math, reading and writing. This approach provides personalized, self-paced instruction at no cost (not even Pell) to the student. The intention is to adequately prepare students to place into at least higher levels of developmental courses. In 2009-10, the College will integrate a student success workshop into the program. Students successfully completing the workshop who enroll in NC State could then articulate for the three-credit success course. The program runs four days a week (morning and afternoon) on NC State’s main campus, and is open to residents from any of these counties. For more information, contact Dee Bell, Mansfield City Schools 419-525-6380 or dbell@mansfield.k12.oh.us.
Seneca, Huron and Sandusky counties. Terra Community College has partnered with Fostoria City Schools ABLE, Norwalk City Schools ABLE and Vanguard Sentinel ABLE to develop a project called FOCUS. The remedial classes would consist of individuals from the ABLE programs in Fostoria, Norwalk and Fremont along with individuals who score at lower levels in COMPASS testing at Terra Community College. The two instructors have already been identified and will begin teaching English and Math beginning August 24. For more information, contact Beth Hannan at Terra Community College (419-559-2237 or bhannam@terra.edu); Kelly West at ABLE Fostoria City Schools (419-436-4163 or kwest@fostoriaschools.org); Donna Slack at Norwalk City Schools ABLE (419-663-9107 slackd@norwalk-city.k12.oh.us) or Dennis Newman at Vanguard-Sentinel ABLE (419-334-6901 or newma-d@vscc.k12.oh.us)
Marion, Morrow, Wyandot and Knox counties. Programming coming soon!
