Alternative Pathways to the High School Equivalency Diploma - Issue for Discussion

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Logic

Summary for the Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCES) Committee asks whether the Regents should adopt new alternative pathways to a New York State High School Equivalency Diploma. It reviews current eligibility under Regulation 100.7, the existing GED® pathway and the limited college-credit option, and analyzes upcoming GED® test changes that introduce a more rigorous, computer-based assessment aligned to Common Core standards and a substantially higher fee. Proposed handling schedules the item for the February 2012 committee meeting.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Summary

Issue for Discussion

Reason(s) for Consideration

Proposed Handling

Background

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: AUTHORIZATION(S): Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCES) Committee Kevin G. Smith Alternative Pathways to the High School Equivalency Diploma January 25, 2012 SUMMARY Issue for Discussion: Should the Regents consider new alternative pathways to a High School Equivalency Diploma? Reason(s) for Consideration The GED® test is the primary method to achieve a New York State High School Equivalency diploma. However with the changes in the administration and content of the GED® test, as well as the increased fee that has been announced by GED® Testing Service (GEDTS) LLC (the private for-profit company that owns the GED® test) the Regents may wish to consider providing alternative pathways to the High School Equivalency test. Proposed Handling The item will come before the Regents Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCES) committee at its February 2012 meeting. Background Regulation 100.7 establishes the standards for the issuance of a High School Equivalency Diploma in New York State. To be eligible for this diploma, the candidate generally must be 19 years old and be a resident of New York State for at least 30 days. However, candidates who are 16, 17, or 18 years old may be eligible if they meet certain criteria such as being enrolled in an Alternative High School Equivalency Preparation Program (AHSEP) or High School Equivalency Preparatory Program (HSEP), or are accepted into the armed services, or meet certain other conditions such as a being a resident of an addiction control center, youth facility, jail, or prison, or are under the direction of a parole or probation officer. Fifty-eight percent of GED® test candidates are 21 years of age or older while 63% come from the metropolitan New York region (Long Island, NYC, Westchester and Rockland. ) Of the approximately 42% of GED® test candidates who are under 21 years of age, 20% are below the age of 19. To achieve this diploma, a candidate may take and pass the GED® test. In New York State, candidates may either take and pass the GED® test in English or take and pass the GED® test in French or Spanish and pass an English proficiency exam. (If the applicant passes the GED® test in another language but does not pass the English proficiency exam, the successful test taker may achieve a diploma bearing an inscription indicating the language in which it was taken) . Currently, New York has only one other pathway towards a High School Equivalency Diploma. Candidates can successfully complete 24 credit hours of college level courses according to requirements outlined in Regulation 100.7. The 24 semester hours are to be distributed as follows: six (6) semester hours in English/Language Arts, three (3) semester hours in mathematics, three (3) semester hours in natural sciences, three (3) semester hours in social sciences, three (3) semester hours in the humanities, and six (6) semester hours in any course within the registered degree or certificate program. Nonetheless, taking and passing the GED® test is the primary pathway for adults and out-of-school youths to obtain the High School Equivalency diploma. Through November, 26,000 New Yorkers passed the GED® test in 2011 and were issued their High School Equivalency Diplomas (96 .7% were in English, 2.8% were in Spanish and.5% were in French) . An additional 2,750 applicants in 2011 received their High School Equivalency Diploma by successfully completing the 24 college credit hour requirements. However, the GED® test will be undergoing significant changes. In the spring of 2011, the American Council on Education (ACE-the current provider of the GED® test) and Pearson, a for-profit educational services firm, announced that they were forming anew company, GEDTS which will develop a new more rigorous GED® test. This new version of the test would ali

FAQs

What decision is the ACCES committee considering in this summary?

Whether the Regents should consider new alternative pathways to a High School Equivalency Diploma.

Why does the Regents consider alternative pathways?

Because GED® is the primary route, but changes to the GED® test and an announced increase in fees may make additional pathways desirable.

What are the current pathways to a High School Equivalency Diploma in New York?

Taking and passing the GED® test is primary, with an additional pathway that involves completing 24 college credit hours under Regulation 100.7.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Logic