Why Are Students Pursuing Their GED (High School Equivalency Diploma)? Stories of Students in a Suburban GED Center

• In Event: Teaching and Learning With Marginalized Adult Learners

Abstract

This study utilizes a collective case study of three students pulling from phenomenological methods to understand more about the phenomenon of leaving school early to pursue the GED, guided by the research question: Why do some students who are at risk of dropping out leave school early to pursue the GED? Rumberger (2012) conceptual model of high school performance was used to explore the interplay of individual and institutional factors influencing leaving school early to pursue the GED. Findings include being offered a pathway out of high school earlier, a pathway towards future opportunities, the GED provided them with a better educational experience.

Author

• Angela Lange, University of Colorado - Denver