WSR 16-23-158
PROPOSED RULES
STATE BOARD FOR COMMUNITY
AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES
[Filed November 23, 2016, 8:14 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 16-02-006.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 131-48-080, compliance with rules; WAC 131-48-100, eligibility to take the high school equivalency certificate; and WAC 131-48-110, eligibility for award of high school equivalency certificate.
Hearing Location(s): State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, 4th Floor, Cascade Room, on January 19, 2017, at 8:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: January 19, 2017.
Submit Written Comments to: Lou Sager, 1300 Quince Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail lsager@sbctc.edu, by January 16, 2017.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Beth Gordon by January 16, 2017, TTY (360) 704-4309.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Rule changes are needed to accommodate our approval from the general equivalency diploma (GED) testing service to have our state's 1418 open doors program be a GED options program. The publisher of the high school equivalency tests does not allow students enrolled in any type of high school program to take the tests unless it is a GED options program. Our current statute requires any student in a high school program to be released from the high school before testing unless they meet certain criteria. The statute needs to reflect the change to allow students in 1418 open doors programs to test for the high school equivalency credential without having to be released from the school district as high school equivalency test preparation is a required component of the 1418 open doors program. Adding this criterion will allow students to remain in the program and test when they are ready instead of having to be released to take one or two tests, reenrolled to prepare for the remaining tests, and released again to finish testing.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28B.50.912.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 131-48 WAC.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: Staff proposes to amend WAC 131-48-100 and 131-48-110 to include students enrolled in the open doors 1418 program, as the program has been approved by the test publisher as a state options program. The change in language has no fiscal impact.
Name of Proponent: State board for community and technical colleges, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: Lou Sager, 1300 Quince Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 704-4321.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The changes in statute do no impact small business or school district cost.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The changes in statute do not create or change any costs.
November 23, 2016
Beth J. Gordon
Executive Assistant
and Rules Coordinator
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 13-19-039, filed 9/12/13, effective 10/13/13)
WAC 131-48-100 Eligibility to take the high school equivalency test.
The following individuals shall be eligible to take the high school equivalency test in official high school equivalency testing centers, provided that they are not enrolled in public, private, or home-based instruction of high school or a high school completion program at the time the test is administered:
(1) Any person age nineteen or over who has not graduated from a public or private high school.
(2) Any person between the ages of sixteen and nineteen who has not graduated from a public or private high school and who has been adjudged by a school district in accordance with rules of the state board of education to have a substantial and warranted reason for leaving the regular high school education program.
(3) Any student age sixteen or over who has completed an education center individual student program in accordance with the provisions of chapter 392-185 WAC.
(4) Any person between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one who has not graduated from public or private high school and is currently enrolled in the state options (open doors 1418) program.
(5) Any person between the ages of sixteen and nineteen who has not graduated from a public or private high school, and who has completed a program of home-based instruction in compliance with RCW 28A.225.010(4) as certified by the written and notarized statement of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who provided the home-based instruction.
(((5))) (6) Any person who is an active member of the military, national guard, or reserves and has not received a high school diploma.
(((6))) (7) Adjudicated youth under the director of prisons, jails, detention centers, parole and probation offices, and other corrections facilities while enrolled in school if so ordered by a court or officer of the court.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 13-19-039, filed 9/12/13, effective 10/13/13)
WAC 131-48-110 Eligibility for award of high school equivalency certificate.
The high school equivalency certificate shall be awarded jointly by the state board for community and technical colleges and the superintendent of public instruction to persons who achieve the minimum proficiency level on the high school equivalency test and who meet the following:
(1) Are residents of Washington state; and
(2) Are nineteen years of age or older on the date of issuance; or
(3) Have been adjudged by a district as possessing a substantial and warranted reason for leaving the regular high school education program((.)); or
(4) Are currently enrolled in the state options (open doors 1418) program; or
(5) Have completed a program of home-based instruction in compliance with RCW 28A.225.010(4) and chapter 28A.220 RCW((.
(5))); or
(6) Are active members of the military, national guard, or reserves((.
(6))); or
(7) Are adjudicated youth under the director of prisons, jails, detention centers, parole and probation offices, and other corrections facilities and so ordered by a court or officer of the court.