Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, March 15, 2024
PURPOSE: This amendment moves this rule to the Office
of College and Career Readiness due to an internal reorganization, updates
terminology to reflect current practice, and clarifies the prerequisites and
required documents for the high school equivalence test.
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.
(1)
To be eligible to earn a Missouri Certificate of High School Equivalence, 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(C) Be withdrawn from
school, have successfully completed sixteen (16) units of credit toward high
school graduation, and have written confirmation of course completion from the
superintendent of schools where the most recent high school graduation credits
were earned; or
(D) If home
schooled- have met the requirements of section
167.031,
RSMo, for course instruction, and have written permission of the parent or
legal guardian.
(2)
Missouri Certificate of High School Equivalence administration.
(A) The test(s) to earn a certificate is
administered under the direction of the department at testing centers approved
and designated by the department.
(B) Scheduling a test may be completed
online.
(C) The examinee-selected
testing center approved and designated by the department is responsible for
confirming positive identification of examinees. Positive identification is
defined in this rule as-
1. A current,
permanent Missouri driver's license, which includes a driver, nondriver,
intermediate, commercial, or instruction (learner's) permit;
2. A temporary Missouri license, which
includes a temporary driver, nondriver, intermediate, commercial, or
instruction (learner's) permit;
3.
A Missouri non-driver identification card;
4. A U.S.-issued passport, or passport card,
and proof of Missouri residency per paragraphs (2)(C)1.-3.;
5. A U.S. Military ID and proof of Missouri
residency per paragraphs (2)(C)1.-3.; or
6. A tribal identification card and proof of
Missouri residency per paragraphs (2)(C)1.-3.
(D) Before being allowed to take the tests,
examinees will be required to present appropriate original supporting
documentation to the local testing center approved and designated by the
department.
1. Examinees who are over
seventeen (17) years of age who have dropped out of school-
A. Must provide positive identification as
defined above in (2)(C) if they are taking the test at a high school
equivalence testing center approved and designated by the department;
or
B. Must provide the following,
if they are taking the test at home or a secure location:
(I) The examinee's full name;
(II) The examinee's date of birth;
(III) The last four (4) digits of the
examinee's Social Security number; and
(IV) The examinee's assigned testing ID
number.
2.
Examinees who are enrolled in the Missouri Option Program must provide-
A. A school-issued identification card or
badge that shows all of the following:
(I) The
student's full name;
(II) The
student's current address;
(III)
The student's date of birth;
(IV)
The student's signature; and
(V)
The student's photograph; or
B. A school-issued identification card or
badge that does not show all of the information required in subparagraph
(2)(D)2.A., in combination with a letter on the student's school letterhead and
signed by their Missouri Option Program teacher, coordinator, or authorized
school personnel that contains the information required in parts
(2)(D)2.A.(I)-(V); and
C. Any of
the forms of identification outlined in this regulation, if the examinee is
enrolled in the Missouri Option Program and is in the custody of the state or
county.
(E)
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 approved and designated by the department, or
test vendor. These fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Duplicate
certificates are available for an additional fee.
(3) 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
policies of the department.
(4)
Certificates 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.
(5)
Reexamination.
(A) An applicant who fails to
qualify for the certificate on the first testing may be approved for additional
attempts. The applicant is responsible for all applicable fees.
(6) Tests given by the Defense
Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES) or United States Armed
Forces Institute (USAFI) are recognized by Missouri. Scores must be submitted
to the High School Equivalency Office, PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO
65102-0480. A certificate will be issued if the standard scores meet the
minimum score requirements.
