Chapter PI 5
HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES
OF GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PI 5.01 Intent statement. PI 5.035 General educational development test. PI 5.037 Certificate of general educational development and high school equivalency diploma fees. PI 5.04 Certificate of general educational development. PI 5.05 High school equivalency diploma based on passing of the general educational development test with additional requirements in citizenship, health, career awareness and employability skills. PI 5.06 High school equivalency diploma based on attainment of high school credits. PI 5.07 High school equivalency diploma based on post-secondary education. PI 5.08 High school equivalency diploma based on a foreign diploma or degree. PI 5.09 High school equivalency diploma based on completion of a program approved by the state superintendent. Ch. PI 5 NoteNote: Chapter PI 5 as it existed on February 29, 1988 was repealed and a new chapter PI 5 was created effective July 1, 1988.
PI 5.01(1)(1) Under s. 115.29 (4) (a), Stats., the state superintendent may issue a high school equivalency diploma to a person who, in the state superintendent’s judgment, has presented satisfactory evidence of having completed a recognized high school course of study or its equivalent; and the state superintendent may establish the standards by which high school graduation equivalency may be determined. The purpose of the high school equivalency diploma is to provide a credential to adults who did not graduate from high school and are unable to receive a high school diploma from their school district of residence, but are able to demonstrate attainment of credits, knowledge, and skills that are equivalent to those which would be attained in a high school program of study. This chapter sets forth criteria for determining that equivalency, based on s. 118.33, Stats., the high school graduation standards, and s. 121.02 (1) (m), Stats., the education for employment standard. The age eligibility requirements are intended to aid school districts in serving children at risk by discouraging youths from dropping out of school to pursue the high school equivalency diploma. PI 5.01(2)(2) This chapter also provides for the granting of a certificate of general educational development to a person who achieves passing scores, as determined by the state superintendent, on the general educational development test but has not met the additional requirements for the high school equivalency diploma. PI 5.02PI 5.02 Definitions. In this chapter: PI 5.02(1)(1) “Certificate of general educational development” means the certificate granted to a person who has achieved a passing score on the general educational development test. PI 5.02(2)(2) “College” or “university” means an institution which is accredited on a degree granting level by an accrediting agency which is listed by the United States department of education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. PI 5.02(3)(3) “Community-based organization” means a private nonprofit organization which is representative of a community or a significant segment of a community and which provides educational and job training services. PI 5.02(4)(4) “Course” means study which has the fundamental purposes of developing the knowledge, concepts, and skills in a subject; and evaluation of the degree of attainment of the knowledge, concepts and skills. PI 5.02(5)(5) “Department” means the Wisconsin department of public instruction. PI 5.02(6)(6) “General educational development test” means the test developed by GED Testing Service and administered in Wisconsin at testing sites approved by the state superintendent and GED Testing Service. PI 5.02(6m)(6m) “Graduated from high school” for purposes of compulsory attendance under s. 118.15 (1) (a), Stats., means having received a diploma in satisfaction of school board requirements under s. 118.33, Stats., or a high school equivalency diploma under s. 115.29 (4) (a), Stats. PI 5.02(7)(7) “High school credit” means the credit given for successful completion of a school term of study in one course in the high school grades that meets daily for a normal class period or the equivalent in time, or a high school level correspondence course, or a high school level course offered in a TCS district or college or university program. PI 5.02(8)(8) “High school diploma” means the diploma granted by a public or private high school to a person who has successfully completed the program of study required by the public school board or private high school. PI 5.02(9)(9) “High school equivalency diploma” means the diploma granted by the state superintendent under s. 115.29 (4) (a), Stats., and this chapter. PI 5.02(10)(10) “Post-secondary credit” means the credit given for successful completion of a course in a college, university, or TCS district which meets requirements for the institution’s post-secondary certificate, diploma, or associate, bachelors’ or advanced degree. PI 5.02(10m)(10m) “Residential program” includes any of the following: PI 5.02(11)(11) “State superintendent” means the Wisconsin state superintendent of public instruction. PI 5.02(11m)(11m) “Subtest” means one of the 4 content area tests given under the general educational development test. PI 5.02(11n)(11n) “TCS district” means a technical college system district established under s. 38.02, Stats. PI 5.02(11p)(11p) “Test” means the entire battery of 5 subtests given under the general educational development test. PI 5.02 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, February, 1988, No. 386, eff. 7-1-88; cr. (6m), Register, June, 1992, No. 438, eff. 7-1-92; cr. (11m), (11p), Register, April, 1995, No. 472, eff. 5-1-95; corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1. and 6.; Stats., Register, March, 1996, No. 483; CR 03-102: am. (6m) and (9) Register April 2004 No. 580, eff. 5-1-04; EmR1324: emerg. am. (6), (11m), eff. 12-27-13; CR 13-114 am. (6), (11m) Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14; CR 21-031: cr. (10m) Register September 2021 No. 789, eff. 10-1-21. PI 5.03PI 5.03 Eligibility. No person may be granted a high school equivalency diploma or certificate of general educational development unless that person verifies in writing that he or she: PI 5.03(1)(1) Is a resident of Wisconsin for voting purposes, or has lived in Wisconsin for at least 10 days, or is a migrant worker, as defined in s. 103.90 (5) (a), Stats., or is the child of a migrant worker. PI 5.03(2)(2) Is at least 18 years and 6 months of age, or that the class with which the person entered grade 9 has graduated from high school. PI 5.03(3)(3) Has not graduated from high school and is not enrolled in any public or private high school. PI 5.03(4)(4) Has completed a counseling session or sessions provided by a high school, TCS district, community-based organization, college, university, psychologist licensed by the department or the department of safety and professional services, or a school counselor licensed by the department. The sessions shall include all of the following: PI 5.03(4)(a)(a) Assessment of the person’s reading level and career interests and aptitudes. PI 5.03(4)(b)(b) Discussion of the options available to the individual regarding completion of high school, the high school equivalency diploma, and the certificate of general educational development, and the requirements, expectations, benefits and limitations of each option. PI 5.03(4)(c)(c) Development of a plan for completion of one of the options discussed, and subsequent activities necessary to work toward an identified goal, career or occupation. PI 5.03 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, February, 1988, No. 386, eff. 7-1-88; correction in (4) (intro.) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6., Stats., Register, March, 1996, No. 483; correction in (4) (intro.) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register February 2012 No. 674. PI 5.035PI 5.035 General educational development test. PI 5.035(1)(1) No person may take the general educational development test unless the person is at least 18 years and 6 months of age or the class with which the person entered grade 9 has graduated from high school except as follows: PI 5.035(1)(a)(a) A person who meets the requirements under s. PI 5.03 (1), (3) and (4) and who is at least 17 years of age may take the general educational development test if one of the following applies: PI 5.035(1)(a)1.1. The person is or has been incarcerated in a correctional institution and has written recommendation of the person responsible for the educational program in the correctional institution; or PI 5.035(1)(a)2.2. The person is enrolled in a federal job corps center program and has the written recommendation to take the general educational development test from the person responsible for the educational program in the job corps center. After July 1, 1992, no person may take the GED test under this subdivision unless the program at the job corps center has been approved under s. PI 5.09; or PI 5.035(1)(a)3.3. The person provides written verification that he or she was excused from regular school attendance under s. 118.15 (1) (c) 2., Stats., is enrolled in a program approved under s. PI 5.09, and has written permission to take the test from his or her parent or legal guardian. PI 5.035(1)(b)(b) A person who meets the requirements under s. PI 5.03 (1) and (4) and who is at least 17 years of age may begin taking the general educational development tests except that the person may not take the final test unless the person is continuously enrolled and attending a program under a contracted arrangement between the local high school of residence and a TCS district, residential program, or a community-based organization which leads to a high school equivalency diploma and meets the requirements under s. 118.15 (1) (c) 2., Stats. PI 5.035(2)(2) The state superintendent shall determine the general educational development test passing score on each subtest. The score for each subtest shall be set at or above the minimum standard established by the general educational development testing service of the American council on education. PI 5.035(3)(3) The subtest and test scores established under sub. (2) may be based on either of the following: PI 5.035(3)(a)(a) The national norming study conducted by the general educational development testing service of the American council on education. PI 5.035(3)(b)(b) A statewide norming study which shall be conducted at the state superintendent’s direction. If a statewide norming study is conducted, all of the following requirements shall be met: PI 5.035(3)(b)1.1. The norming study shall be conducted in collaboration with the general educational development testing service of the American council on education or other equivalent, qualified agency. PI 5.035(3)(b)2.2. The norming study shall include administering the general educational development tests to a representative sample of graduating high school seniors in Wisconsin. A representative sample shall be comparable to Wisconsin’s high school senior population with respect to gender, race, size of school district and regions of the state. PI 5.035(3)(b)3.3. The norming study results shall be summarized by the collaborating entity under subd. 1. and evaluated by the task force established under sub. (5). PI 5.035(4)(4) The state superintendent shall consider the recommendations made by the general educational development task force established under sub. (5). PI 5.035(5)(5) The state superintendent shall appoint a task force representing business, labor, education interest groups, students, counselors, teachers, and other interested persons to advise the state superintendent in establishing a general educational development test passing score on each subtest. PI 5.035(6)(6) Based on the process specified under sub. (3), the state superintendent establishes the general educational development subtest and test passing scores. A minimum standard score of no less than the score set by GED Testing Service shall be required on each subtest in the battery of 4 subtests. PI 5.035 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, June, 1992, No. 438, eff. 7-1-92; emerg. renum. (intro.), cr. (2) to (6), eff. 9-15-94; renum. (intro.) to be (1) (intro.), cr. (2) to (6), Register, April, 1995, No. 472, eff. 5-1-95; correction in (1) (b) 1. made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6., Stats., Register, March, 1996, No. 483; emerg. am. (2), (5) and (6), eff. 1-2-04; CR 03-102: am. (1) (b) 1., (2), (5) and (6) Register April 2004 No. 580, eff. 4-1-04; EmR1324: emerg. consol. (6) (intro.) and (a) and renum. to (6) and am., eff. 12-27-13; CR 13-114: am. (2), (5), consol. (6) (intro.) and (a) and renum. to (6) and am., r. (6) (b) Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14; EmR1610: emerg. am. (6) eff. 2-13-16; CR 16-021: am. (6) Register July 2016 No. 727, eff. 8-1-16; EmR2046: emerg. consol. (1) (b) (intro.), 1. and renum. (1) (b) and am., r. (1) (b) 2., eff. 12-15-20; CR 21-031: consol. (1) (b) (intro.), 1. and renum. (1) (b) and am., r. (1) (b) 2. Register September 2021 No. 789, eff. 10-1-21. PI 5.037PI 5.037 Certificate of general educational development and high school equivalency diploma fees. PI 5.037(1)(1) The state superintendent shall establish fees for issuing a certificate of general educational development or a high school equivalency diploma sufficient to fund program implementation and administration costs to the department under this chapter. The state superintendent may provide fee exemptions based on financial need. PI 5.037(2)(2) If the fee under sub. (1) is modified, the department shall submit the proposed fee change to the assembly and senate committees having jurisdiction over kindergarten through grade 12 public education for review. PI 5.037 NoteNote: GED/HSED fee, fee exemption, and fee reduction information is available on the department’s web site at https://dpi.wi.gov/ged or may be obtained at no charge from the Department of Public Instruction, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841. PI 5.037 NoteNote: The treatment of s. PI 5.037 first applies to persons applying for a certificate of general educational development or a high school equivalency diploma on or after January 1, 2004. PI 5.037 HistoryHistory: Emerg. cr. eff. 1-2-04; CR 03-102: cr. Register April 2004 No. 580, eff. 5-1-04. PI 5.04PI 5.04 Certificate of general educational development. The state superintendent shall grant a certificate of general educational development to a person who meets the requirements under s. PI 5.03 and completes the general educational development test with a passing score on each subtest as determined by the state superintendent. PI 5.04 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, February, 1988, No. 386, eff. 7-1-88; emerg. cr. 1. a., eff. 4-18-89; r. and recr. (2) (b) 2., Register, October, 1989, No. 406, eff. 11-1-89; renum. (1) to be PI 5.04, r. (2), Register, June, 1992, No. 438, eff. 7-1-92; emerg. am. eff. 1-2-04; CR 03-102: am. Register April 2004 No. 580, eff. 5-1-04; EmR1324: emerg. am., eff. 12-27-13; CR 13-114: am. Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14. PI 5.05PI 5.05 High school equivalency diploma based on passing of the general educational development test with additional requirements in citizenship, health, career awareness and employability skills. PI 5.05(1)(1) The state superintendent shall grant a high school equivalency diploma to a person who meets the requirements of s. PI 5.03 and all of the following: PI 5.05(1)(a)(a) Has completed the general educational development test with a passing score on each subtest as determined by the state superintendent. PI 5.05(1)(b)2.2. Has successfully completed a course in health approved by the state superintendent. A course may be approved if it is taught by a person who is licensed by the department or the state TCS board to teach health or health occupations, and if it includes at least 30 hours of instruction in mental and emotional, personal, family, community and environmental health; or PI 5.05(1)(b)3.3. Has received a passing score on a test in health administered by the state superintendent. PI 5.05(1)(c)2.2. Has successfully completed a course in citizenship approved by the state superintendent. A course may be approved if it is taught by a person who is licensed by the department or the state TCS board to teach social studies and if it includes at least 30 hours of instruction in the forms, funding and function of local, state and national government; principles of constitutional government; federalism; basic rights and responsibilities of citizenship, including ways to participate in the political process; and influence of government on the economy; or PI 5.05(1)(c)3.3. Has received a passing score on a test in citizenship administered by the state superintendent.
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