6A-6.021: State of Florida High School Diplomas
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this proposed rule amendment is to update information on scores needed to obtain a General Education Diploma (GED).
SUMMARY: The rule is amended to update GED Passing Scores due to changes made by the American Council of Education, General Education Development Testing Service.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1001.02(1), 1003.435(1), (5) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1003.435 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: April 15, 2008, 8:30 a.m.
PLACE: 325 West Gaines Street, Department of Education, Tallahassee, Florida
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Teresa Bestor, Director, Adult Education and GED Programs, Division of Workforce Education, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 644, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400, (850)245-9906
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
6A-6.021 State of
The Commissioner shall award a State of Florida high school diploma pursuant to Section 1003.435, Florida Statutes, to a candidate who meets all of the requirements prescribed herein and has attained on each of the five (5) General Education Development Tests a minimum standard score of 410 or above on a scale of “0” to “800”, with an average score of 450. forty-two (42) or above on each of the five (5) General Educational Development tests, with an average of forty-five (45) effective July 1, 1998; forty-four (44) or above on each of the five (5) General Educational Development tests, with an average of forty-five (45) effective July 1, 1999; and forty-five (45) or above on each of the five (5) General Educational Development tests, with an average of forty-five (45) effective July 1, 2000.
(1) The Department, shall designate official testing centers in the state which are authorized to act as agents of the state in administering the GED Tests. The Department shall provide tests and test materials annually to the official testing designated centers, provide test scoring and reporting services, maintain a perpetual record of individual test results, and issue state of
(2) Each official designated testing center shall establish a schedule for testing which adequately meets the needs of the candidates public within its service area.
(3) Each district shall establish a fee of not less than the total national and state required fees nor more than fifty (50) dollars for each candidate applicant taking the entire test battery consisting of the five (5) GED Tests. This fee shall be paid at the time the application is filed. A fee of not less than the total national and state required fees nor more than the ten (10) dollars shall be paid by each candidate applicant for each retake of the Social Studies, Science, Reading Interpreting Literature and the Arts, and Mathematics tests. A fee of not less than the total national and state required fees nor more than twelve (12) dollars shall be paid by the candidate for each retake of the Writing Skills Test. However, the school board, community college, or agency administering the testing center may authorize the waiver, on a uniform or, on an individual basis, of all or any portion of the fees prescribed in this subsection herein. It is recommended that districts identify and access funding sources such as the additional fees placed on vocational courses for the purpose of financial aid for use as a source of scholarships for students.
(4) In order to defray state costs for the testing program, each school board, community college, or agency administering the GED Tests shall remit to the Department the following fees:
(a) Entire battery of five (5) tests: seventeen (17) dollars.
(b) Retake of the Social Studies, Science, Interpreting Literature and the Arts, and Mathematics tests: four (4) dollars.
(c) Retake of the Writing Skills test: five (5) dollars.
(d) Duplication of diploma: four (4) dollars.
(e) Duplication of transcript: four (4) dollars.
(f) Conversion of scores from applicants who have taken the GED in the military: seven (7) dollars.
(g) Annual contract fee as directed by the American Council on Education.
(5) The following requirements shall govern eligibility of candidates to take the GED Tests.
(a) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of examination. However, under extraordinary circumstances, according to rules of the local school board, persons who are at least sixteen (16) years of age may be permitted to take the tests. Additionally, incarcerated youth above the age of sixteen (16) years of age at the time of examination may be permitted to take the test based on the written approval of the Department of Corrections Chief Examiner.
(b) Submit an application to an approved testing center on Form DVE 090, Application for State of
(c) Reside in the State at the time application is made.
(d) Present a valid social security card, social security number or taxpayer identification number properly listing the name and associated number of the examinee. Additionally, the examinee must present a valid Florida Driver’s License, or Florida Identification Card.
(5)(6) The Chief Examiner of each official testing center shall inform all candidates of testing opportunity and restesting limitations. Upon successful completion of the GED Tests as prescribed herein, a candidate shall be awarded a State of
(6)(7) Each candidate taking the GED Tests will be issued an official transcript of scores. A candidate who fails to attain the required minimum scores on the initial GED Tests may test a maximum of three (3) times in each subject area during the GED contract year. A candidate who fails to attain the required minimum scores on the initial GED testing may retake the tests at any subsequent testing session. After the second testing a candidate shall be eligible to retake the tests at any subsequent session if an overall minimum standard score of two hundred twenty (220) has been achieved and the candidate has made a standard score of forty five (45) or more on at least three (3) of the tests. A candidate who fails to achieve a standard score of forty five (45) or more on three (3) or more of the tests after the second testing shall not be eligible to retake the tests for a period of six (6) months.
Specific Authority 1001.02(1), 1003.435(1), (5)(6)(b) FS. Law Implemented 1003.435 FS. History–Amended 2-20-64, 4-11-70, 6-7-70, 6-17-74, Repromulgated 12-5-74, Amended 5-4-76, 6-7-77, 1-1-79, 9-1-79, 12-7-82, 7-10-85, Formerly 6A-6.21, Amended 12-21-87, 3-1-98,_________.