Chapter PI 5

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(10m)(a) (a) The Challenge Academy program under s. 321.03 (1) (c), Stats.

PI 5.02(10m)(b) (b) A federal job corps program under 29 USC 3193.

PI 5.02(10m)(c) (c) A secure residential facility for youth.

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 History History: 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 5.03 PI 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 History History: 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 5.035 PI 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 History History: 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 5.037 PI 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 Note Note: 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 Note Note: 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 History History: Emerg. cr. eff. 1-2-04; CR 03-102: cr. Register April 2004 No. 580, eff. 5-1-04.

PI 5.04 PI 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 History History: 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 5.05 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 5.05(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) (b)

PI 5.05(1)(b)1. 1. Has successfully completed 0.5 high school credit in health under s. 118.33 (1) (a), Stats.; or

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) (c)

PI 5.05(1)(c)1. 1. Has successfully completed 3 high school credits in social studies under s. 118.33, (1) (a), Stats.; or

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.

PI 5.05(1)(d) (d) Has attained employability skills, including skills in job seeking, applying for work, retaining a job, and self-development and awareness skills. The applicant shall provide written verification of attainment of these skills from a high school, TCS district, community-based organization, college, university, psychologist licensed by the department or by the department of safety and professional services, or a school counselor licensed by the department. This requirement shall be waived for a person who is 55 years of age or older at his or her written request.

PI 5.05(1)(e) (e) Has completed instruction in career awareness, including instruction in setting short-term and long-term career goals. The applicant shall provide written verification of completion of the instruction from a high school, TCS district, community-based organization, college, university, or psychologist licensed by the department or by the department of safety and professional services, or a school counselor licensed by the department. This requirement shall be waived for a person who is 55 years of age or older at his or her written request.

PI 5.05(2) (2) Notwithstanding s. PI 5.03 (2), the state superintendent may grant a high school equivalency diploma to a person who meets the requirements under s. PI 5.035 (1) (b) and all of the requirements under this section. The high school equivalency diploma may be granted no sooner than at the end of the semester in which he or she takes the final general educational development test under s. PI 5.035 (1) (b) 2.

PI 5.05 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1988, No. 386, eff. 7-1-88; renum. to be (1), cr. (2), Register, June, 1992, No. 438, eff. 7-1-92; corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6., Stats., Register, March, 1996, No. 483; corrections in (2) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register October 2001 No. 550; emerg. am. (1) (a), eff. 1-2-04; CR 03-102: am. (1) (a) Register April 2004 No. 580, eff. 4-1-04; corrections in (1) (d) and (e) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register February 2012 No. 674; CR 13-114: am. (1) (a) Register June 2014 No. 702, eff. 7-1-14.

PI 5.06 PI 5.06 High school equivalency diploma based on attainment of high school credits.

PI 5.06(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 has completed at least 22 high school credits, including at least 4 in English or communications; 3 in social studies, including citizenship; 2 in mathematics; 2 in science; and 0.5 in health.

PI 5.06(2) (2) Post-secondary credits shall be accepted by the state superintendent in meeting the requirements under sub. (1). A post-secondary course which grants 3 semester credits or 4 quarter credits is equivalent to one high school credit.

PI 5.06(3) (3) The applicant shall provide certified transcripts from public or private high schools, TCS districts, colleges, or universities to document completion of the credits.

PI 5.06 Note Note: Persons who meet the requirements of this section may be eligible for a high school diploma and should contact their school district of residence to determine if they meet the school board requirements for the school district high school diploma.

PI 5.06 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1988, No. 386, eff. 7-1-88; corrections in (3) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6., Stats., Register, March, 1996, No. 483.

PI 5.07 PI 5.07 High school equivalency diploma based on post-secondary education. The state superintendent shall grant a high school equivalency diploma to a person who meets the requirements of s. PI 5.03 and has earned at least 24 post-secondary semester credits or 32 post-secondary quarter credits, including credit in each subject in which the person did not complete the high school credits required under s. 118.33 (1) (a), Stats., except physical education. Only post-secondary credit may be counted in meeting the credits required under this section. The applicant shall provide certified transcripts from a public or private high school to document completion of requirements of s. 118.33 (1) (a), Stats.; and from colleges, universities or TCS districts to document completion of the post-secondary credits.

PI 5.07 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1988, No. 386, eff. 7-1-88; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6., Stats., Register, March, 1996, No. 483.

PI 5.08 PI 5.08 High school equivalency diploma based on a foreign diploma or degree. 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 5.08(1) (1) Presents a high school diploma or the equivalent or a degree from an institution of higher learning earned in another country and a certified transcript attesting to the completion of the program of study required for the diploma or degree. If the transcript is not in English, the applicant shall also provide a certified translation.

PI 5.08(2) (2) Is a United States citizen or meets both of the following requirements:

PI 5.08(2)(a) (a) Documents that he or she is able to speak, read and write words in ordinary usage in the English language as required for United States citizenship under 8 USC 1423.

PI 5.08(2)(b) (b) Has successfully completed a course in citizenship approved by the state superintendent; has received a passing score on a test in citizenship administered by the state superintendent; or documents that he or she has satisfied the requirement for knowledge of United States history and forms of government required for United States citizenship under 8 USC 1423.

PI 5.08 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1988, No. 386, eff. 7-1-88.

PI 5.09 PI 5.09 High school equivalency diploma based on completion of a program approved by the state superintendent.

PI 5.09(1) (1) A TCS district, college, university, community-based organization, federal job corps center or the department of corrections may submit a plan to the state superintendent requesting approval of a program for determining high school equivalency. The program shall be designed to determine whether a person has attained the knowledge and skills generally associated with graduation from high school, including employability skills, career awareness, citizenship, and each of the subject areas under s. 118.33 (1) (a), Stats., except physical education. The plan shall include all of the following:

PI 5.09(1)(a) (a) A description of any courses, training, and counseling which will be included in the proposed program, including the number of hours of instructional time, if any; and a description of the methods of evaluation or assessment that will be used to determine the person’s knowledge and skills.

PI 5.09(1)(b) (b) The qualifications of the professional staff members who will be involved in the program.

PI 5.09(1)(c) (c) A description of any groups, such as older adults, minorities, displaced homemakers or displaced workers, which might be effectively served by the proposed program, and a description of how the program will meet the special needs of these groups.

PI 5.09(1)(d) (d) A plan for evaluating the proposed program to determine its effectiveness in assessing high school equivalency.

PI 5.09(2) (2) 

PI 5.09(2)(a) (a) The state superintendent may approve the program for an initial period of time, not to exceed one year. At the end of the initial approval period, if the state superintendent determines that the program has successfully measured attainment of high school equivalency, as described in sub. (1) (intro.), he or she may grant continuing approval, subject to annual reviews. The state superintendent may withdraw approval of a program at any time, if the program does not meet all of the requirements of this section and of the approved plan.

PI 5.09(2)(b) (b) The state superintendent shall approve or disapprove the application in writing. If the application is not approved, the reasons for disapproval shall be specified in the written disapproval. An agency under sub. (1) which has been denied approval may, within 30 days of receipt of the written disapproval:

PI 5.09(2)(b)1. 1. Resubmit the application with additional information or modifications in the proposed program, or,