Newark center to offer GED exam in Spanish only

NEWARK, N.J. - A testing center in New Jersey's largest city plans to be the first in the state to offer GED exams exclusively in Spanish.

Nearly 1,000 of the 15,000 who took the exam in New Jersey last year did so in Spanish. But La Casa de Don Pedro's GED program in Newark will be a Spanish-only center when it starts next month.

An educator there says taking the exam in Spanish will make it easier for students to focus on learning English.

The GED consists of separate tests in math, social studies, science, reading, writing and basic English fluency. To get the high school equivalency degree, students must pass all six parts.

Some immigration-reform groups say students should have to pass the exam in English. - AP