| Equation | (# participants) x (% participants who pass the high school equivalence test) – (% counterfactual rate of passing high school equivalence test in a comparable population)] x ($ per participant present discounted benefits) |
| Explanation | This metric estimates the impacts of obtaining a high school diploma equivalent on lifetime health, estimated in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALY). Number of participants: Reported by program. Percentage of participants who pass the high school equivalence test: Reported by program. Counterfactual rate of passing high school equivalence test in a comparable population: [75%]. This is the GED passing rate of African Americans in Minnesota in 2013 (GED Testing Services, 2014). QALY increase: [5.1]. We estimate that high school graduation boosts the future health status of students by 5.1 QALYs at age 85, based on the work of Muennig, et al. (2010) $ value per QALY: [$50,000]. Benefits are then discounted to present value based on the average age of participation to life expectancy. |
| References | GED Testing Service. (2014). 2013 annual statistical report on the GED test. Retrieved from: https://www.gedtestingservice.com/uploads/files/5b49fc887db0c075da20a68b17d313cd.pdf Muennig, P., Fiscella, K., Tancredl, D., & Franks, P. (2010). The relative health burden of selected social and behavioral risk factors in the united states: Implications for policy. American Journal of Public Health, 100(9), 1758–1764. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.165019 |
EDU005 High school equivalence leading to improved health
