FINAL BILL REPORT

                            SB 5695

                          C 218 L 93

                      SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to GED tests.

SPONSORS: Senators Bauer, Gaspard, Sellar, Pelz, Drew, Prince and M. Rasmussen; by request of State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

BACKGROUND:

The General Educational Development (GED) testing program is jointly administered by GED Testing Service and by state GED administrators.  The tests are taken by adults who leave school without earning a high school diploma.

In 1991 the administration of the GED testing program transferred from the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to the office of Adult Literacy of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC).

SUMMARY:

The age of 16 is established as the minimum age for students eligible to take the GED test.  The State Board of Education establishes the eligibility criteria of individuals under age 19 to take the GED tests.

The SBCTC establishes rules and regulations governing the operating of the GED testing programs and the issuance of GED certificates in Washington.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate    49   0

House     88   0

EFFECTIVE:July 25, 1993