Place where comments are to be submitted and deadline for submission:
Comments should be submitted to Carl Bryan, Department of Public Instruction, 125 S. Webster Street, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841 or at adminrules@dpi.wi.gov. The Department will publish a hearing notice in the Administrative Register which will provide information on the deadline for the submission of comments. SECTION 1. PI 5.035 (1) (b) and 1. are consolidated, renumbered PI 5.035 (1) (b), and amended to read:
PI 5.035 (1) (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 untilunless he or she is eligible as specified under subd. 2. and only if the person is continuously enrolled and attending a program under a contracted arrangement between the local high school of residence and a TCS district 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. SECTION 2. PI 5.035 (1) (b) 2. is repealed.
SECTION 3. STATEMENT OF EMERGENCY
The Department of Public Instruction finds an emergency exists and that a rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public welfare. A statement of the facts constituting the emergency is:
Due to the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, there is an increased concern about the number of students who are credit deficient or may become credit deficient and the demand for credit recovery. The COVID-19 pandemic also has left test centers and adult basic education programs that contract with school districts in an unpredictable situation due to testing centers allowing fewer students to test or closing altogether. This has resulted in wait lists and has created a challenge for students who were using general educational development (GED) tests to meet high school requirements. As such, the department is proposing an emergency rule that waives the minimum age requirement for taking the GED test and allows students to take the test when they are ready. An age waiver would allow students to complete the test and allow other students to move into the program.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE:
The rules contained in this order shall take effect upon publication as emergency rules pursuant to the authority granted by s. 227.24, Stats. Dated this _____ day of ____________, 2020
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Carolyn Stanford Taylor
State Superintendent
