Scott Buckley, options and TASC instructor at the Kenneth ‘Honey’ Rubenstein Juvenile Center in Davis, shows two awards the Center received for the greatest number of TASC Tests given and the highest passing rate for TASC Tests given.
By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
DAVIS – Cadets at the Kenneth ‘Honey’ Rubenstein Juvenile Center are fortunate that they prepare well and have the opportunity to take the TASC test which is the Test Assessing Secondary Completion, a high school equivalency assessment for reading, writing, math, science and social studies. Rubenstein Center Principal Junior Helmick said the school achieves recognition for not only giving the greatest number of TASC tests, but for having the highest passing rate for those taking the test.
Scott Buckley, options and TASC instructor at the center said the cadets have a pretty high success rate with the exam. Buckley has taught at the Center for 26 years.
“The test if formerly the GED and they have transformed the test based off what employers say they want in an employee,” Buckley said. “It is much more difficult. Before with the GED it was basic, but now, they want applicants to not only be able to perform functions, but to be able to take the concepts and apply them to work.”
Buckley said the awards are important and said most of the cadets had some problems in school.
“It shows that the cadets can achieve. It was never embedded in them they could achieve. Sometimes you see students that have been cast away or pushed away and the school system doesn’t want to deal with them. Here at the Rubenstein Center we can get more one-on-one work with them and they find success and realize they can do it. Before long, they are successful.”
Buckley said the success rate at the Center is above 80 percent.
“That is something boastful, but it is also a reflection on how hard these cadets work,” he said. “They come in and they realize this is part of their program, but more than that, it is their future. Our hope is they see this as the first step once they get out of here. Cadets take the ACT and the ASFAB – they are eligible to enter college, a career center or a technical center once they leave here. There is a lot of opportunity and this has been beneficial to a great number of our kids. Others just work on their high school credits.”
“It’s nice to see as many as the kids that pass,” TASC instructor Vaia Medor said. “Having this gives them the opportunity to get jobs. We try to work with them on math, science, social studies, writing and reading so they can pass the tests, get a job and get back to normal society so they don’t end up back here or somewhere like here.”
She said she likes seeing the boys pass the TASC because it’s a stepping stone in their life.
“It’s great to see them moving forward and getting to do more things and have a chance at a job. It’s a big deal and it’s nice to see that.”
Principal Junior Helmick said there are many others at the Rubenstein Center that help behind the scenes.
“We have a Title I person and a special education department and transition specialists,” he said. “So everyone is working in the same direction with these students to get them to graduate and get a high school diploma.”
