Section 5.035. General educational development test.

 

(1)  No person may take the general educational development test unless the person is at least 18 years and 6 months of age or the class with which the person entered grade 9 has graduated from high school except as follows:

(a) A person who meets the requirements under s. PI 5.03 (1) , (3) and (4) and who is at least 17 years of age may take the general educational development test if one of the following applies:

1. The person is or has been incarcerated in a correctional institution and has written recommendation of the person responsible for the educational program in the correctional institution; or

2. The person is enrolled in a federal job corps center program and has the written recommendation to take the general educational development test from the person responsible for the educational program in the job corps center. After July 1, 1992, no person may take the GED test under this subdivision unless the program at the job corps center has been approved under s. PI 5.09 ; or

3. The person provides written verification that he or she was excused from regular school attendance under s. 118.15 (1) (c) 2. , Stats., is enrolled in a program approved under s. PI 5.09 , and has written permission to take the test from his or her parent or legal guardian.

(b)

1. A person who meets the requirements under s. PI 5.03 (1) and (4) and who is at least 17 years of age may begin taking the general educational development tests except that the person may not take the final test until he or she is eligible as specified under subd. 2. and only if the person is continuously enrolled and attending a program under a contracted arrangement between the local high school of residence and a TCS district or a community-based organization which leads to a high school equivalency diploma and meets the requirements under s. 118.15 (1) (c) 2. , Stats.

2. A person who begins taking the general educational development test under par. (a) may take the final test no sooner than three weeks prior to the end of the semester in which the person turns 18 years of age or 3 weeks prior to the graduation date of the class in which the person entered grade 9.

(2)  The state superintendent shall determine the general educational development test passing score on each subtest. The score for each subtest shall be set at or above the minimum standard established by the general educational development testing service of the American council on education.

(3)  The subtest and test scores established under sub. (2) may be based on either of the following:

(a) The national norming study conducted by the general educational development testing service of the American council on education.

(b) A statewide norming study which shall be conducted at the state superintendent's direction. If a statewide norming study is conducted, all of the following requirements shall be met:

1. The norming study shall be conducted in collaboration with the general educational development testing service of the American council on education or other equivalent, qualified agency.

2. The norming study shall include administering the general educational development tests to a representative sample of graduating high school seniors in Wisconsin. A representative sample shall be comparable to Wisconsin's high school senior population with respect to gender, race, size of school district and regions of the state.

3. The norming study results shall be summarized by the collaborating entity under subd. 1. and evaluated by the task force established under sub. (5) .

(4)  The state superintendent shall consider the recommendations made by the general educational development task force established under sub. (5) .

(5)  The state superintendent shall appoint a task force representing business, labor, education interest groups, students, counselors, teachers, and other interested persons to advise the state superintendent in establishing a general educational development test passing score on each subtest.

(6)  Based on the process specified under sub. (3) , the state superintendent establishes the general educational development subtest and test passing scores. A minimum standard score of no less than the score set by GED Testing Service shall be required on each subtest in the battery of 4 subtests.

History: Cr. Register, June, 1992, No. 438 , eff. 7-1-92; emerg. renum. (intro.), cr. (2) to (6), eff. 9-15-94; renum. (intro.) to be (1) (intro.), cr. (2) to (6), Register, April, 1995, No. 472 , eff. 5-1-95; correction in (1) (b) 1. made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6., Stats., Register, March, 1996, No. 483 ; emerg. am. (2), (5) and (6), eff. 1-2-04; CR 03-102 : am. (1) (b) 1., (2), (5) and (6) Register April 2004 No. 580 , eff. 4-1-04; EmR1324 : emerg. consol. (6) (intro.) and (a) and renum. to (6) and am., eff. 12-27-13; CR 13-114 : am. (2), (5), consol. (6) (intro.) and (a) and renum. to (6) and am., r. (6) (b) Register June 2014 No. 702 , eff. 7-1-14; EmR1610 : emerg. am. (6) eff. 2-13-16; CR 16-021 : am. (6) Register July 2016 No. 727 , eff. 8-1-16.