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Needs & GoalsEducational needs and goals are assessed differently at varying points in respondents’ lives. Younger respondents who had left school more recently were often more prepared and confident about returning to a class setting that might be similar to what they had recently left. These respondents also needed vocational and career counseling to help them make informed decisions about the workplace and, possibly, additional education. For respondents in the mid-career category, work and family obligations were paramount. These respondents were especially concerned about simultaneously managing adult education classes in addition to their extensive home and work responsibilities. Specific programmatic issues such as class availability and scheduling were especially critical for this group of respondents given the demands on their time and energy. Finally, respondents in the near retirement category were especially concerned about economic issues surrounding retirement. The length of time since they had left school was also a critical issue for these respondents--many expressed concern that they would be unable to complete the GED. Like many of the mid-career respondents, these older workers often resented the recent imposition of a requirement of a credential that many believed was inappropriate for the work they valued and had performed well for most of their lives. For this group of respondents in particular, an alternative credential to the GED might be a more appropriate and obtainable goal.
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