Mo. Code Regs. tit. 5 § 20-500.330

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 21, November 1, 2024.

Section 5 CSR 20-500.330 - Administration of High School Equivalence Program

PURPOSE: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (department) determines applicant eligibility, arranges for testing, establishes minimum standard score requirements, issues certificates, and approves reexamination in accordance with the policies and procedures of test vendors approved and designated by the department.

(1) To be eligible to earn a Missouri High School Equivalence Certificate, a person must be a resident of Missouri (with a Missouri mailing address) and meet one (1) of the following requirements:

(A) Be seventeen (17) years of age or older;

(B) Be currently enrolled in school and qualify as a participant in an approved Missouri Option Program for at-risk youth;

(C) Be sixteen (16) years of age, withdrawn from school, have successfully completed sixteen (16) units of credit toward high school graduation, and have written permission from the superintendent or principal of the school last attended; or

(D) If home schooled-be sixteen (16) years of age, have met the requirements of section 167.031, RSMo, for course instruction, and have written permission of the parent or legal guardian.

(2) Arrangements for taking the test(s).

(A) The test(s) to earn a Missouri High School Equivalence Certificate are administered under the direction of the department at centers approved and designated by the department.

(B) Application forms may be obtained by contacting the Missouri High School Equivalency Office (HSEO), PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480. The completed form is to be returned for approval. Only approved applicants may take the examination. Positive identification in the form of a current Missouri driver's license, Missouri non-driver ID, or U.S. issued passport must be presented by the examinee before being allowed to take the test(s). The local testing center is responsible for positive identification of examinees.

(C) Examination fee(s) must be paid by the examinee to cover the cost of administering the program. Based on the test(s) identified by the department and method of test administration chosen by the examinee, fees may be paid to the department, testing center, or test vendor. These fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Duplicate certificates are available for an additional fee.

(3) Local testing centers will assign testing dates to applicants who have requested testing and who have been authorized by the department to take the test(s) or to retake all or part of a test.

(4) The Missouri Certificate of High School Equivalence is awarded on the basis of the successful completion of the designated test(s). Minimum standard scores are established in accordance with the policies and procedures of the designated test vendor(s).

(5) Certificates of High School Equivalence are issued only by the department. Public high schools are not permitted to issue these certificates nor are they permitted to issue a diploma on the basis of the designated test(s) unless the district is part of the Missouri Option Program.

(6) Reexamination.

(A) An applicant who fails to qualify for the certificate on the first testing may be approved for additional attempts per vendor's requirements.

(7) General Educational Development Test or GED[R] Tests given by the Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES) or United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI) are recognized by Missouri. A completed application form, fee, and an official transcript of GED scores must be submitted to the HSEO, PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480. A Missouri Certificate of High School Equivalence will be issued if the standard scores meet the minimum score requirements established by the board.

5 CSR 20-500.330

AUTHORITY: sections 161.092 and 167.031, RSMo Supp. 2011, and sections 161.093 and 161.095, RSMo 2000.* This rule previously filed as 5 CSR 60-100.020. Original rule filed Oct. 10, 1969, effective Oct. 20, 1969. Amended: Filed Oct. 14, 1976, effective Feb. 1, 1977. Amended: Filed Feb. 13, 1978, effective May 15, 1978. Amended: Filed June 28, 1985, effective Oct. 14, 1985. Amended: Filed Sept. 25, 1987, effective Jan. 29, 1988. Amended: Filed Jan. 28, 1992, effective Sept. 6, 1992. Amended: Filed Oct. 31, 1996, effective June 30, 1997. Amended: Filed March 24, 1998, effective Oct. 30, 1998. Amended: Filed March 21, 2001, effective Oct. 30, 2001. Amended: Filed Sept. 24, 2002, effective April 30, 2003. Amended: Filed Nov. 28, 2007, effective June 30, 2008. Amended: Filed Jan. 4, 2010, effective July 30, 2010. Moved to 5 CSR 20-500.330, effective Aug. 16, 2011. Amended: Filed April 20, 2012, effective Dec. 30, 2012.

*Original authority: 161.092, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 2002, 2003; 161.093, RSMo 1977; 161.095, RSMo 1977; and 167.031, RSMo 1963, amended 1977, 1986, 1990, 1993, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009.