For more than 70 years, GED was synonymous with “second chance.”

The high school equivalency degree provided an opportunity for thousands of school dropouts to regain their footing. With a GED, people could get better jobs, access to union apprenticeship programs and join the military. Without the GED, those options are closed to them. That second chance was taken off the table last year when Pearson VUE took over the test from American Council on Education.

“The change couldn’t have been more dramatic,” said Elizabeth “Beth” Derry, Peoria County regional superintendent of schools. “By the end of 2013, people knew change was coming, and we were slammed with students. From October through December 2013 we were all hands on deck.

“Then in January 2014 (when the Pearson VUE test was in place), it was like waiting for sage brush to roll through.”

The numbers bear that out. In 2013, nearly 700 people took the GED test in Peoria County and 384 passed all four parts. In 2014, that dropped to 191 test takers with only 69 people passing all four parts.

Statewide, 35,998 took the test in 2013 and 22,675 passed. By 2014, that had dropped to 8,983 test takers with 2,633 passing.

Anyone concerned with the state budget should be hugely concerned. Projections estimate that people without a high school diploma or a GED cost tax payers $1,500 a year more in social welfare programs than they pay in taxes. With a GED, the scale tips and people pay $236,000 more in taxes than they take over a lifetime, Derry said, adding that taking away the GED as a viable option “truly hurts my soul.”

She spent $28,000 to renovate her test center to comply with Pearson specifications. Test takers are monitored by cameras during the test. In order to become a registered test center, she had to submit photos and was notified a pencil on one of the test stations was reason the center initially failed. Only computers are allowed.

Older people lacking computer skills are hurt by that requirement. No one knows how many people just dropped out because of that new requirement.

“Computers are fine for students who have good technical skills, but for adult learners, this is another barrier. This leaves out an entire group of the population that wants a GED,” Derry said.

A universal barrier for young and old is payment. The tests went from $35 for all segments to $120 payable by credit or debit card. Many people have neither credit nor debit cards.

Now, the GED “no longer feels like a path to inclusion, but a vehicle for exclusion,” Derry said. “Today, Pearson rules all the gateways. Pearson rules the world by controlling so many of the essential tests.”

In agreement is Hedy Elliott-Gardner, coordinator of Moonlight Coalition for Adult Learning with the Peoria Park District, who watched the changes and made a point of speaking with state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth about her concerns.

“I have students who can’t afford the higher fee. I have students who don’t have credit or debit cards,” Elliott-Gardner said. “I made sure to keep Jehan abreast of changes because she has been really supportive of my program.”

Elliott-Gardner said problems with Pearson started almost immediately and go beyond the higher fees and computer only requirement.

At first, Pearson allowed no hand-held calculators for the math portion of the test, she said. Later that ban was reversed and hand-held calculators were allowed. So few passed the math portion of the test, more time was allowed. Months into the new test, it was realized there was math on the social studies and science portions of the test so hand-calculators were allowed for those segments as well.

“All these issues should have been worked out in advance. People blew their limited money and failed the test again and again,” Elliott-Gardner said. “There is still no official book to go with the test.”

State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth responded to these problems immediately. She discovered other members of the Legislature had heard complaints, but no one grasped the overall problems.

“The GED numbers are horrible. Legislators were not aware of what happened. It had happened so quietly, it was unbelievable,” she said.

She invited Elliott-Gardner to jointly address the Illinois Community College Board. Gordon-Booth sponsored a resolution calling for the ICCB to investigate the recent sharp declines in test takers and the pass rates. As a result, the state will begin to provide alternatives to the Pearson VUE test and adopt three high school equivalency assessments.

However, there is no date when the alternative tests become available, and Gordon-Booth said she’ll continue to push for implementation of the options as soon as possible.

“This is a problem that hurts everyone,” Gordon-Booth said.

New York State has 10 test options and the state pays the fee.

Gordon-Booth said she will look into the viability of a pilot program with the state paying the test fee. She wants to be able to calculate savings if the state foots the bill for the test.

Marty Helfers, executive director of the West Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council, said the GED has provided entry for thousands of people to good union construction jobs. When District 150 cut shop classes, many students lost the one area in school where they excelled.

“College is not an option for everyone. Without a high school diploma, people need a GED for 14 of our 15 trades. When road blocks are put in the way for the GED, that means opportunity is eliminated for a segment of the population that is already hard hit.”

Studying for his GED test with Moonlight Coalition is Detrey Robinson, 19. He admits his bad behavior worked against him at Manual High School, but said he felt pressured to drop out.

“I messed up, but this is my second chance. I hope to finish up by the end of summer,” he said.

The Pearson requirement to take the test online is no problem for Robinson who is fluent with computers and technically adept. However, the $120 fee would be a barrier.

Initially alarmed at the cost, he was reassured by Elliott-Gardner that she will cover his fee.

Last year, despite an increase in her costs of 250 percent, Elliott-Gardner covered the test fees and graduated 60 students, aged 17 to 55.

She relies on private donations and has established a new revenue stream.

Earlier this year, she opened a shop carrying local art, food, books and more at the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport. Her students and part-time employees staff the shop. All profits go to covering costs for her GED program.

“These barriers for my students mean I have to be more of an advocate,” she said. “My mission is to provide my students with a free education. I believe to my core that everyone deserves a second opportunity. That’s what this country is about, a second chance.”

Pearson VUE did not respond to a request for an interview.