EK - Testing Programs

LOCAL ACHIEVEMENT TESTING

In addition to the state-administered assessment instruments, the School may adopt and administer criterion-referenced or norm-referenced assessment instruments, or both, at any grade level, but shall not use the same form of an assessment instrument for more than three years. A locally-adopted norm-referenced assessment instrument must be economical, nationally recognized, and state-approved.

Education Code 39.026, 39.032, 19 TAC 101.101

To maintain security and confidential integrity of group-administered achievement tests, the School shall follow the procedures for test security and confidentiality set forth in 19 TAC Chapter 101, Subchapter C. [See EKB]

HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY PROGRAM

The School may apply for authorization to operate a High School Equivalency Program (HSEP).

Education Code 29.087(b); 19 TAC 89.1405(a)

Operation of Program

If the School operates an HSEP, the School must comply with all assurances in the program application. Approved HSEPs shall be required to submit annually one progress report on a form to be provided by the General Educational Development Testing Service (GEDTS) to the TEA. The data in the progress reports must be disaggregated by ethnicity, age, gender, and socioeconomic status.

19 TAC 89.1417(a)

A student enrolled in an HSEP must be offered a seven-hour school day and a 180-day instructional year calendar.

19 TAC 89.1417(d)

Student Eligibility

A student is eligible to participate in the HSEP if:

Court-Ordered

1. The student has been ordered by a court under Code of Criminal Procedure 45.054, or by the Texas Youth Commission, to:
   1. Participate in a preparatory class for the high school equivalency examination; or
   2. Take the high school equivalency examination administered under Education Code 7.111; or

Student at Risk

2. The following conditions are satisfied:
   1. The student is at least 16 years of age at the beginning of the school year or semester;
   2. The student is a student at risk of dropping out of school [see EHBC];
   3. The student and the student's parent or guardian agree in writing to the student's participation;
   4. At least two school years have elapsed since the student first enrolled in ninth grade and the student has accumulated less than one third of the credits required to graduate under the minimum graduation requirements of the district. For students who left school before grade 9, at least three years have elapsed since the student last enrolled in grade 9, or four years since the student last enrolled in grade 7, or five years since the student last enrolled in grade 6; and
   5. Any other conditions specified by the Commissioner.

Education Code 29.087(d); 19 TAC 89.1403

Assessment

A student participating in an HSEP must:

1. Take the assessment instruments specified by Education Code 39.023(a) for grade 9 before entering the program. If the student took a higher grade level assessment before enrollment, the student has met this requirement.
2. Take each grade level assessment instrument administered during the period in which the student is enrolled in the HSEP.
3. Take the assessments listed above before taking the high school equivalency examination.

A student entering an HSEP by order of the court or the Texas Youth Commission is exempt from these assessment requirements.

Education Code 29.087(f); 19 TAC 89.1409(a), (b), (e)

GED TEST

The School must inform each student who has completed the program of the time and place at which the student may take the high school equivalency examination. The School must present to the General Education Development (GED) testing center, on a form provided by the TEA, proof that a student has been administered the assessment instruments.

19 TAC 89.1409(c), (d)

Adopted: 5/30/86

Amended: 9/27/90, 1/29/93, 1/20/95, 1/24/97, 1/31/03, 4/1/05

Reviewed: 1/24/02

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