The Education Exchange
Stedman Government Center, Room 214
4808 Tower Hill Rd
Wakefield, RI 02879 401.783.0293
High School Equivalency & Transitions to College
Preparing for the GED or External Diploma Program
Advanced Secondary Education (ASE) Advanced Secondary Education provides students with comprehensive training in basic skills, such as reading, writing, math, and test-taking. Using these skills as a foundation, students in the ASE program prepare to obtain their GED, which allows them to pursue other opportunities, in an educational environment or the workplace.
Distance Learning Some students are committed to achieving their educational goals, but are unable to attend classes. For students who lack reliable transportation or child care or who have work obligations that conflict with class schedules, The Education Exchange offers a supportive and personalized online learning experience. Students in the distance learning program have access to the online educational software Skills Tutor 24, but they also have a dedicated teacher on staff at The Education Exchange to provide additional guidance and support. Weekly progress meetings ensure that distance learning participants make the necessary strides toward achieving their educational goals.
GED Fast Track Students who demonstrate high school level proficiency in some or all of the areas tested in the GED may participate in the GED Fast Track program, which allows them to accelerate their preparation to take the GED. This accelerated program is particularly useful for students who have a significant amount of high school experience and who plan to pursue educational or workplace opportunities that are dependent on obtaining their GED.
Obtaining a GED or Diploma
General Educational Development The General Educational Development (GED) is a test-based alternative to a high school diploma for students who, for a variety of reasons, did not complete high school and receive a diploma. After completing the appropriate preparation and pre-testing, students are able to obtain their GED at The Education Exchange, which is a certified GED testing facility.
External Diploma Program Taking the GED is not the best choice for every student. Some students have skills based on life experience but don’t have a diploma and are not comfortable with a test-based alternative. For these students, The Education Exchange offers the External Diploma Program (EDP), which allows students to demonstrate high school level skills in real-life situations.
Diploma Plus The Diploma Plus Program allows at-risk students to pursue a diploma, rather than a GED, by earning academic credit based on the demonstration of competencies. The Diploma Plus program is staffed with Rhode Island certified teachers from The Education Exchange and is run with approval from, and cooperation with, the appropriate school district.
Transitions to College Beyond helping students achieve literacy, master English language skills, and obtain a GED or other non-traditional diploma, The Education Exchange also offers the opportunity to pursue additional educational opportunities. Many students attend The Education Exchange with the goal of eventually attending a college or technical school, but feel unprepared and overwhelmed at the prospect of joining the world of higher education. To succeed in a college environment, students must master basic educational tasks, including: study skills, time management, research and writing, problem solving, and test-taking. Our Transitions to College program addresses these needs and others, while encouraging students to trust their ability to succeed at the next level.
