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General Educational Development (GED) Tests 6-76.1

School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Regulation 6-76.1

INSTRUCTION

General Education Development (GED) Tests/Certificates

  1. Generally

    The following persons may participate in the testing program:

    1. Persons who are at least eighteen years of age and not enrolled in public school or not otherwise meeting the school attendance requirements set forth in § 22.1-254;
    2. Persons sixteen years of age or older who have been instructed by their parents in their home pursuant to § 22.1-254.1 and who have completed such home school instruction;
    3. Persons who have been excused from school attendance pursuant to subsections B and C of § 22.1-254; and
    4. Persons for whom an individual student alternative education plan has been granted pursuant to subsection D of § 22.1-254.

    Under no circumstances shall persons under the age of sixteen be eligible for the testing program.

  2. Eligibility Requirements
    1. Eligibility for persons not enrolled in regular day school or otherwise meeting school attendance requirements.

      An applicant must be at least 18 years of age. Under special circumstances, which are considered by local school authorities to be justifiable, the age limit may be lowered if an applicant is legally withdrawn from school. Notwithstanding the foregoing requirement, applicants below 18 years of age shall provide one of the following:

      1. A letter from an official of the regular day school last attended stating that the applicant has been legally withdrawn from school for a period of one year; or
      2. A letter from an official of the regular school last attended stating that the applicant has been legally withdrawn from school for a period of six months, and a letter from a director of a high school review program stating that the applicant has successfully completed the program; or
      3. A letter from an employer, a recruiting officer of the armed forces, or an admissions officer of an institution of higher learning or post secondary training institution stating that the applicant meets all requirements for employment or admissions, with the exception of a General Education Development Certificate, and a letter from an official of a regular day school last attended recommending the applicant be tested.
    2. Eligibility Requirements for students receiving home instruction or otherwise excused from school.

      Students 16 years of age or older and who meet the criteria stated in Virginia Code § 22.1-254.2 or who have otherwise been exempt from attendance pursuant to Virginia Codes § § 22.1-254 and/or 22.1-254.1 may sit for the examination when the following conditions have been met:

      1. The division superintendent certifies in writing that the parent has been in compliance with home instruction requirements for a minimum of three consecutive years or that the child has been excused from attendance;
      2. The parent provides evidence satisfactory to the superintendent that the child has attained a minimum education level of at least tenth grade; and
      3. The student scores an average of 45 on the official GED Practice Tests administered in accordance with existing practices.
    3. Eligibility requirements for in-school students.

      A student enrolled in the public schools who is at least 16 years of age may take the GED tests if a letter from an official for the regular day school is submitted stating that the applicant meets the following requirements:

      1. The applicant is currently enrolled in an alternative education or dropout prevention program;
      2. The applicant has been enrolled in such alternative education or dropout program for at least six months;
      3. The applicant is within 90 days of completion of a program which will result in the acquisition of marketable skills; and
      4. The class with which the applicant began has graduated.
    4. Eligibility of students with individual student alternative education plans.

      Students who are at least sixteen years of age and participating in the Individual Student Alternative Education Plan Program may take the GED tests if the following conditions are met:

      1. An Individual Student Alternative Education Plan has been developed at a meeting which includes the student, the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) and the principal of the school in which the child is enrolled;
      2. The Individual Student Alternative Education Plan includes:
        1. (1) Career guidance counseling;
        2. (2) Mandatory enrollment and attendance in a general educational development preparatory program or other alternative education program approved by the School Board with attendance requirements that provide for reporting of student attendance by the administrator of such GED preparatory program or approved alternative education program to the principal participating in the design of the Individual Student Alternative Education Plan or his/her designee;
        3. (3) Counseling on the economic impact of failing to complete high school; and
        4. (4) Procedures for reenrollment to comply with the mandatory attendance requirements of Virginia Code § 22.1-254.
  3. Additional Eligibility Requirements
    1. No high school credit is required.
    2. An individual must be a resident of Virginia for a minimum of 30 days immediately prior to making application to take the test.
    3. A standard score battery average of 45 (a total standard score of 225) with no individual test standard score below 35 is required.
    4. Test scores may be accepted for an approved GED battery of tests administered by an approved GED center outside Virginia, provided the requirements established by the Commonwealth of Virginia for the issuance of a certificate have been fulfilled.
  4. Retesting

    An applicant who fails to qualify for a certificate on the basis of test scores may be retested, provided at least 60 days have lapsed since the last testing.

  5. Application and Fees

    A Virginia resident must make application in the school division in which he or she lives. The application must be approved by the school division superintendent or his designee. An applicant approved by the local school official is required to pay a fee of $35 to take the entire battery of five tests or $7 for each individual test. Fees are waived for all in-school students.

Legal Reference

Code of Va., § 22.1-254.2. Testing for general educational development; eligibility; guidelines.

Code of Va., § 22.1- 254. Compulsory attendance required; excuses and waivers; alternative education program attendance; exemptions from article.

Board of Education Regulations Governing General Educational Development Certificates, 8VAC 20-360-10 et seq.

Department of Education Supts. Memo No. 140, July 2, 1993-Extension of General Educational Development (GED) Testing for Certain In-school Students.

Department of Education, Supts. Memo No. 161, August 15, 1990-GED Examinations for Home Instructed Students.

Department of Education Supts. Memo No. 151, July 10, 1992, New General Educational Development Service Eligibility Guidelines.

Approved by Superintendent: October 19, 1993
Revised by Superintendent: January 18, 1994
Revised by Superintendent: June 8, 2000