DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of the Secretary

Statutory Authority: 14 Delaware Code, Section 122(b) (14 Del.C. §122(b))

14 DE Admin. Code 910

PROPOSED

PUBLIC NOTICE

Education Impact Analysis Pursuant To 14 Del.C. Section 122(d)

910 Delaware Requirements for Issuance of the GED® Test Credential

A. Type of Regulatory Action Required

Amendment to Existing Regulation

B. Synopsis of Subject Matter of the Regulation

The Secretary of Education seeks the consent of the State Board of Education to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 910 Delaware General Educational Development (GED) Endorsement. This regulation is being reviewed in order to provide greater access to a secondary credential assessment in Delaware. The new GED® Test to be initiated in January 2014 will only be computer based and will have an increased cost of $120, up from $75.00. This revision aligns with the Department’s focus of preparing Delawareans to be college and career ready. The use of multiple secondary credential assessments, in addition to the GED®, will permit adults without a high school diploma increased access to attaining a secondary credential for entry into post-secondary institutions, training opportunities and employment. Because the new GED® Test is computerized, the Official Practice Test and the 45 day waiting period between retests are no longer necessary and the elimination will allow for Delawareans access to credential faster and also reduces the administrative burden to the State.

Persons wishing to present their views regarding this matter may do so in writing by the close of business on or before December 5, 2013 to Susan Haberstroh, Education Associate, Regulation Review, Department of Education, at 401 Federal Street, Suite 2, Dover, Delaware 19901. A copy of this regulation is available from the above address or may be viewed at the Department of Education business office.

C. Impact Criteria

1. Will the amended regulation help improve student achievement as measured against state achievement standards? The regulation is related to a Secondary Credential assessment and to providing a credential to adult students who have not completed the requirements for a traditional high school diploma. The regulation and the secondary credential assessments do not specifically address student achievement as measured against state achievement standards.

2. Will the amended regulation help ensure that all students receive an equitable education? The regulation is related to a secondary credential assessment and to providing a credential to adult students who have not completed the requirements for a traditional high school diploma.

3. Will the amended regulation help to ensure that all students’ health and safety are adequately protected? The regulation is related to a secondary credential assessment and providing a credential to adult students who have not completed the requirements for a traditional high school diploma. The regulation and the assessments do not specifically address the health and safety of students.

4. Will the amended regulation help to ensure that all students’ legal rights are respected? The regulation is related to secondary credential assessments and providing a credential to adult students who have not completed the requirements for a traditional high school diploma. The regulation and tests do not specifically address the legal rights of students.

5. Will the amended regulation preserve the necessary authority and flexibility of decision making at the local board and school level? The regulation preserves the necessary authority and flexibility of decision making at the local board and school levels.

6. Will the amended regulation place unnecessary reporting or administrative requirements or mandates upon decision makers at the local board and school levels? The regulation does not place unnecessary reporting or administrative requirements or mandates upon decision makers at the local board and school levels.

7. Will the decision making authority and accountability for addressing the subject to be regulated be placed in the same entity? The regulation maintains the current process for authority and accountability for the secondary credential program.

8. Will the amended regulation be consistent with and not an impediment to the implementation of other state educational policies, in particular to state educational policies addressing achievement in the core academic subjects of mathematics, science, language arts and social studies? The regulation is consistent with other state educational policies, especially as it relates to providing opportunities for adult students.

9. Is there a less burdensome method for addressing the purpose of the regulation? There is not a less burdensome method for addressing the purpose of the regulation.

10. What is the cost to the State and to the local school boards of compliance with the regulation? There are no additional costs to the State or to the local school boards for compliance with the regulation.

910 Delaware Requirements for issuance of the GED® Test Secondary Credential

The A Delaware GED® test credential secondary credential is given to persons who satisfactorily pass the GED® Test a recognized secondary credential assessment approved by the Delaware Department of Education.

1.0 Eligibility to take the GED® test a secondary credential assessment

1.1 For persons 18 years of age or older, an applicant shall:

1.1.2 Be a resident of Delaware or, if a resident of another state, be currently employed in Delaware and have been so employed for a minimum of six months prior to taking the test; and

1.1.2 Certify under his or her signature on the GED® secondary credential assessment application form that he or she is not enrolled in a public or non public school program; and.

1.1.3 Provide a verified copy of the Official GED Practice Test® indicating the applicant has passed the Official GED Practice Test™ with a score of 2450 or better and not less than 470 on each of the 5 sub test areas.

1.2 For a person 16 or 17 years of age an applicant shall:

1.2.1 Seek a waiver of the 18 years of age requirement by completing a written application to the Delaware Department of Education that includes showing good cause for taking the test early and designating where the test will be taken; and

1.2.2 Be a resident of the State of Delaware; and

1.2.3 Verify that they are at least 16 years of age at the time of the application for the waiver of the age requirement using a birth certificate, drivers driver’s license, a State of Delaware Identification Card or other comparable and reliable documentation of age; and

1.2.4 Provide verification of withdrawal from the applicant’s public or non public school program; and

1.2.5 Provide a transcript from the applicant’s public or non public school program; and.

1.2.6 Provide a verified copy of the Official GED Practice Test™ indicating the applicant has passed the Official GED Practice Test™ with a score of 2450 or better and not less than 470 on each of the 5 sub test areas.

2.0 Scores Required for the Delaware GED® test a Delaware secondary Credential

An individual shall have a standard score of not less than 410 on each of the five tests with an average standard score of not less than 450 for all five tests and a total standard score of not less than 2250 in order to be issued a GED® test credential attain the minimum passing standard as approved by the Delaware Department of Education.

3.0 Retesting Assessment Approval Process

Forty five days shall lapse prior to retesting and instruction is recommended before retesting.

3.1 The assessment provider must complete a DOE approved application. The application must include at minimum the following:

3.1.1 provider’s qualification and experience;

3.1.2 assessment content and form;

3.1.3 validation and norming processes;

3.1.4 assessment delivery;

3.1.5 technology processes;

3.1.6 security provisions;

3.1.7 accommodations processes;

3.1.8 assessment scoring and reporting processes;

3.1.9 assessment data access requirements;