General Education Development
(GED ) Option Program
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Mississippi Code 37-13-92, 37-35-1 – 37-35-11
State Board Policy 902
GED
GED
The GED Option Program IS:
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• An approved option affiliated with the GED Testing Service of the
American Council on Education and the State Department of
Education;
• A valid way to complete high school;
• Voluntary;
• A screened entry program using academic pre-testing to predict
success;
• For students in jeopardy of not meeting original graduation date;
• A diploma -producing program upon completion;
• Content substantive—aligned with high school course material;
• A program with counseling services: pre, during and in transition;
• Quality, best practices instruction;
• Full time high school schedule, which may include work force
development courses/experiences; and
• An enriching alternative that provides closure and future direction.
The GED® Option Program IS NOT:
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An independent offering at unapproved or unaffiliated sites;
A punitive track for unsuccessful students;
Required;
An easy access program for any level of academic
performance;
An early exit from high school always prior to original
graduation date;
A certificate-producing program upon completing;
A test preparation course, only;
With isolated, random contact with counseling;
Packet-bound performance-based instructional experience;
Isolated test preparation schedule; and
A second class option to finishing high school.
The GED® test is the only high school equivalency
program recognized by all 50 U.S. states, the District
of Columbia, U.S. insular areas, and Canadian
provinces and territories. Since 1942 more than 18
million adults have earned their GED® test
credential. GED® alums contribute to every sector of
the workforce. They are teachers, nurses,
mechanics, lawyers, and have even included college
presidents, governors, entrepreneurs, congressmen,
and a U.S. surgeon general. Nearly 800,000 GED®
tests are taken each year, and in 2010, more than
470,000 individuals were awarded their high school
credential through the GED® testing.
IEP
• Change in Placement
• IEP Reflective of Services
• Primary Services
What accommodations
are available if I have a
documented disability?
If you have a disability that
could keep you from taking
the GED Tests, they are
usually given.
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Accommodations are available for people with
(but not limited to) the following:
•Physical disabilities (such as blindness, low
vision, deafness, impaired hearing, or mobility
impairments)
•Learning disabilities (such as dyslexia,
dyscalculia, receptive aphasia, or written
language disorder)
•Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
•Psychological disabilities (such as bipolar
disorder or Tourette's syndrome)
•Chronic health issues
•Audiocassette edition
•Braille edition
•Large-print edition (no documentation required)
•Vision-enhancing technologies
•Use of video equipment for candidates who are
deaf or hard-of-hearing in composing the
Language Arts, Writing essay
•Use of a talking calculator or abacus
•Certified sign-language interpreter; use of a
scribe
•Extended time; supervised extra breaks
•Use of a private room
•One-on-one testing at a health facility
Other reasonable
accommodations as
warranted, based on
individual needs
Cognitive Ability
Learning Disabilities and/or Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Form L-15)
Physical Disabilities and Emotional or
Psychological Disabilities (Form SA-001)
GED Option Placement
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A committee of administrators, counselors,
classroom teachers and support staff should review
and approve referrals for the placement of students
in the GED Option Program.
The committee that recommends student placement
in the GED Option Program should develop an
Individual Education and Career Plan (IECP) that
addresses the curriculum and instructional needs of
each student, job readiness skills and work
experience options. (Maintain IECP in student file).
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Student Participation Criteria
• Must be at least 16 years of age
• Must be at least one (1) full grade level behind his/her 9th
grade cohort or have acquired less than four (4)
Carnegie Units
• Must have taken every opportunity to continue in
course work leading to a regular high school
diploma
• Written parental permission to participate
• Documentation of Superintendent ’ s approval for
participation
GED OPTION PROGRAM
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• Students referred to the Alternative School for disciplinary
reasons may not be placed in the GED Option® Program until
behavioral modification goals have been met.
• The GED Option® Program shall not be housed in a vocational
facility unless a letter is submitted annually to the Mississippi
Department of Education and it has been approved by MDE in
consultation with the U.S. Office of Education.
GED Option Offers Flexible
Scheduling Opportunities
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• Provide a minimum of 15 hours of GED
academic instruction per week.
• Provide career component.
• Provide counseling throughout program.
• School districts may offer one program in
the morning and a 2nd program in the
afternoon or night.
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GED Option
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• Students cannot circumvent the
Compulsory School Attendance Law.
• Students cannot receive a GED Option
certificate/diploma prior to their ageequivalent peers.
• Any exceptions have to be approved by
Mississippi Department of Education.
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• GED Option Program tests are administered by
the State Board of Community and Junior
Colleges.
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• Students who successfully complete the GED
exam should be given official school recognition
in a separate ceremony at or near the same time
as high school graduation.
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GED Option and Dropouts
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• A student who withdraws, leaves the public
school system to attend a GED® program in the
community college is a dropout.
• A student who leaves and/or withdraws from the
public school system to attend any GED
program in the community is a dropout.
• The GED Option is the only state approved
GED program that students can participate in
and not be counted as a dropout.
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Damian Thomas or Tessa Burchfield
Mississippi Department of Education
Office of Dropout Prevention and Compulsory School
Attendance Enforcement
Division of Alternative Education/GED Option
Post Office Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205
601-359-5743
Fax: 601-576-3504