Chapter 7 - Alternate Education Programs - Rule 7.2 GED Standards

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Jacob

Rule 7.2 outlines the GED Standards within Mississippi’s Alternative Education Programs, grounded in state code provisions authorizing districts to provide GED preparatory instruction while preventing GED enrollees from being classified as dropouts. It sets minimum operating guidelines, including required board-approved policies, committee-based student selection criteria, parental or guardian consent, and limitations on eligibility and program participation. The rule also specifies TABE-level expectations, mandatory counseling, administrator supervision, instruction alignment with GED tests, staffing and resource requirements, weekly instructional time, and student-teacher ratio limits.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

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Minimum Guidelines for Implementing a GED Program in Mississippi School Districts

Policy and operational requirements

Student eligibility and selection procedures

Approvals, consent, and documentation

Academic readiness and counseling

Supervision, instructional alignment, and staffing

Chapter 7: Alternate Education Programs Rule 7.2 GED Standards Introduction. Section 37-13-92 of The Mississippi Code of 1972 Annotated authorized school districts in Mississippi to provide a program of General Education Development (GED) preparatory instruction as a part of the Alternative Education Program. Section 37-35-3 mandates that students who are enrolled in an approved GED program shall not be classified as dropouts and that the school district will continue to receive State funding for the students while they are enrolled in the GED Program. Students placed in the GED Program shall not be eligible to participate in regular academic courses or other programmatic activities within the school district, including athletics, choir, band, or any other extracurricular activities, except that a GED student may participate in existing job and skill development programs or in programs developed in conjunction with the GED Program and the Vocational Education Director. Local school districts are also authorized to contract with a Community College for the purpose of preparing students for the GED testing process. If a school district contracts with a Community College to provide a GED Program, the students placed in the program will be reported on the monthly attendance report of the public school district of origin and counted in the average daily attendance. Minimum Guidelines for Implementing a GED Program in Mississippi School Districts 1. The GED Program is defined through written policies approved by the local school board. Approved policies and procedures for the GED Program are published and available to the public for review. All policies and procedures for the operation of the GED Program must meet minimum requirements specified in Section 37-13-92. Further, the program must meet the requirements and applicable policies of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges as stated in Section 37-35-1. 2. Selection procedures shall ensure that students who enroll in the GED Option will not graduate with their class because of credit deficiency and are otherwise capable of completing graduation requirements. Recommendation for student participation in the GED Program will be made by a committee of school staff consisting of campus administrators, counselors, classroom teachers, and support staff. Written documentation of the committee recommendation shall be maintained for each student. The criteria for student participation in the GED Option Program as outlined in Section 37-35-3 will consist of the following: a. The student must be at least 16 years of age; b. The student must be at least one (1) full grade level behind his or her ninth grade cohort or must have acquired less than four (4) Carnegie units; c. The student must have taken every opportunity to continue to participate in course work leading to a regular diploma; and d. The student must be certified to be eligible to participate in the GED course by the school district superintendent, based on the developed criteria. Additionally, according to the American Council on Education (ACE), students that have been referred to the Alternative Education Program for disciplinary reasons shall not be eligible for placement in the GED Option Program until behavioral modification goals for exiting the Alternative Education Program have been attained. 3. The recommendation for placement in the GED Program must be approved by the superintendent of the school district. Students shall not be placed in a GED Program prior to obtaining written parental or guardian consent for placement. Documentation of parental consent for placement in the program will be maintained for each student. {MS Code {37-13-92 and 37-35-3}(1972) (ACE Guidelines) 4. American Council on Education recommends that students demonstrate the ability to perform on the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) at an eighth grade level. 5. Counseling is required prior to enrollment in

FAQs

What authorization does Mississippi law provide for GED preparatory instruction in alternative education programs?

Mississippi Code authorizes school districts to provide GED preparatory instruction as part of an Alternative Education Program. Students in an approved GED program are not classified as dropouts, and districts continue to receive state funding while students are enrolled.

What are key eligibility requirements for placing a student into the GED Option Program?

The student must be at least 16 years old and at least one full grade level behind the ninth-grade cohort or have fewer than four Carnegie units. The student must have had every opportunity to continue coursework toward a regular diploma, and the district superintendent must certify eligibility based on developed criteria.

What instructional, support, and staffing standards must districts meet for an effective GED program?

Counseling is required prior to enrollment and must be available regularly. GED instruction should align with core content measured by GED tests, and sufficient qualified staff and resources must be assigned. Students should receive at least 15 hours per week of GED academic instructional programming, with an instructional ratio not exceeding 15:1 (or 20:1 with a full-time aide).

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Jacob