6A-6.021: State of Florida High School Diplomas
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this amendment is to increase the General Educational Development (GED) testing fees so that the Department of Education, as well as local testing centers, can operate with a minimal deficit due to increasing operating costs related to administering the GED test.
SUMMARY: The proposed amendment will increase fees associated with the General Education Development Tests to offset the increased operating costs related to administering the tests.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1001.02(1), 1003.435(1), (5) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1003.435 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: August 19, 2008, 8:30 a.m.
PLACE: 400 South Monroe Street, Room LL03, The Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Alex Penn-Williams, Director, Adult Education and GED Programs, Division of Workforce Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 644, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400, (850)245-9008
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
6A-6.021 State of Florida High School Diplomas.
The Commissioner shall award a State of Florida high school diploma pursuant to Section 1003.435, F.S., to a candidate who meets all of the requirements prescribed herein and has attained on each of the five (5) General Education Development Tests a minimum score of 410 or above on a scale of “0” to “800”, with an average score of 450.
(1) The Department shall designate official testing centers in the state which are authorized to act as agents of the state in administering the GED Tests. The Department shall provide tests and test materials annually to the official testing centers, provide test scoring and reporting services, maintain a perpetual record of individual test results, and issue state of Florida high school diplomas to successful candidates.
(2) Each official testing center shall establish a schedule for testing which adequately meets the needs of the candidates within its service area.
(3) Each district shall establish a fee of not less than the total national and state required fees nor more than seventy (70) fifty (50) dollars for each candidate taking the entire test battery consisting of the five (5) GED Tests. This fee shall be paid at the time the application is filed. A fee of not less than the total national and state required fees nor more than the fourteen (14) ten (10) dollars shall be paid by each candidate for each retake of the Social Studies, Science, Reading, and Mathematics tests. A fee of not less than the total national and state required fees nor more than sixteen (16) twelve (12) dollars shall be paid by the candidate for each retake of the Writing Skills Test. However, the school board, community college, or agency administering the testing center may authorize the waiver, on a uniform or, on an individual basis, of all or any portion of the fees prescribed in this subsection.
(4) In order to defray state costs for the testing program, each school board, community college, or agency administering the GED Tests shall remit to the Department the following fees:
(a) Entire battery of five (5) tests: twenty-eight (28) seventeen (17) dollars.
(b) Retake of the Social Studies, Science, Reading, and Mathematics tests: seven (7) four (4) dollars.
(c) Retake of the Writing Skills test: eight (8) five (5) dollars.
(d) Duplication of diploma: six (6) four (4) dollars.
(e) Duplication of transcript: six (6) four (4) dollars.
(f) Conversion of scores from applicants who have taken the GED in the military: ten (10) seven (7) dollars.
(5) The Chief Examiner of each official testing center shall inform all candidates of testing opportunity and retesting limitations.
(6) Each candidate taking the GED Tests will be issued an official transcript of scores. A candidate who fails to attain the required minimum scores on the initial GED Tests may test a maximum of three (3) times in each subject area during the GED contract year.
(a) Each request directed to the Department for duplication of diploma shall be charged at a rate of six (6) dollars.
(b) Each request directed to the Department for duplication of transcript shall be charged at a rate of six (6) dollars.
Specific Authority 1001.02(1), 1003.435(1), (5) FS. Law Implemented 1003.435 FS. History–Amended 2-20-64, 4-11-70, 6-7-70, 6-17-74, Repromulgated 12-5-74, Amended 5-4-76, 6-7-77, 1-1-79, 9-1-79, 12-7-82, 7-10-85, Formerly 6A-6.21, Amended 12-21-87, 3-1-98, 5-19-08,_________.