Update on Pathways to a High School Equivalency Diploma

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Mali

Update prepared for the ACCES Committee on four pathways to earn a New York State High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma. The briefing explains the exam pathway using the HSE assessment (transitioning from GED® to TASC™), the option to earn the diploma through 24 college credits, the National External Diploma Program framework and eligibility changes, and the Regents-HSE Exam Pathway for substituting passing scores. Background includes enrollment, diploma counts, and core purpose and structure of the TASC™ battery.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Summary

Issue for Discussion

Reason(s) for Consideration

Proposed Handling

Procedural History

Four Pathways to a High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma

High School Equivalency (HSE) Exam

24 College Credits

National External Diploma Program

The Regents-HSE Exam Pathway

Background Information

Four Pathways to HSE Diplomas Granted in New York State

TASC™ Overview

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234 TO: Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCES) Committee FROM: Kevin G. Smith SUBJECT: Update on Pathways to a High School Equivalency Diploma DATE: August 29, 2019 AUTHORIZATION(S): SUMMARY Issue for Discussion To provide the Committee with updates on the four pathways to a New York State High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma. Reason(s) for Consideration For information. Proposed Handling This item will come before the Board of Regents ACCES Committee at its September 2019 meeting. Procedural History Four Pathways to a High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma I. High School Equivalency (HSE) Exam The primary pathway to acquiring an HSE Diploma is by taking and passing a comprehensive exam created for that purpose. Prior to 2014 , the General Educational Development (GED® ) test served as the State’s HSE exam since its’ development in the 1940’s. However, in October 2011 , the ACCES Committee was informed of significant changes to the GED® exam which raised concerns about the State’s continued reliance on this assessment. Updates on the GED® test were provided to the Board of Regents in ACCES (D) 1-REVISED April 2012 , at a joint meeting of the P-12 and ACCES Committees, and at their ACCES Committee meeting in September 2012. A Request for Proposals (RFP) was subsequently issued for the development of a new exam which would maintain a viable pathway to an HSE diploma and transition the adult education system to career and college readiness standards. Additional updates were provided to the ACCES Committee at the following meetings: November 2012 ; February 2013; June 2013; and September 2013. In December 2013, the Board of Regents approved an amendment to Section 100.7 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education which permitted accepting passing scores for GED® subtests from 2002-2013 to substitute for corresponding subtests on the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC™) which was adopted asthe new HSE exam in 2014. II. 24 College Credits The HSE diploma pathway - obtained via college credit earned - has been available in accordance with Commissioner’s Regulation (CR) Section 100.7 since the 1960’s. The last regulatory change to this program became effective in September 2004, when language was added to CR 100.7 to ensure that college credits were from an approved institution and followed the prescribed course and credit distribution. III. National External Diploma Program The authorization of the National External Diploma Program (NEDP) as a local HSE diploma was first adopted at the November 1984 Regents meeting when CR 100.8 was added to a new Part 100 enabling local Boards of Education , beginning September 1, 1985 , to award a local HSE diploma based on an experimental program approved by the Commissioner. The regulations were amended in 2005, 2008, and annually from 2011-2015, to continue allowing school districts to issue these local diplomas. In May 2016 , the Board of Regents approved an amendment to CR 100.7 adding NEDP as a third pathway to a State HSE diploma and effective September 1, 2016, discontinuing itas a local diploma and lowering the age of eligibility from 21 to 18 years. IV. The Regents-HSE Exam Pathway At their March 2018 meeting the Board of Regents approved regulatory changes to support a fourth pathway to an HSE diploma and effective on April 25, 2018 , the Regents-HSE Exam Pathway was formally adopted. The fourth pathway provides the option to substitute passing scores from prior Regents exams, or any other exams approved by the Commissioner pursuant to CR Section 100.2(f) or (mm) , for corresponding TASC™ subtests in accordance with CR 100.7. The subtests include: Mathematics; Science; Social Studies; Reading; and Writing. The Regents English Language Arts exam may be singularly substituted for the Reading and Writing TASC™ subtests. A

FAQs

What are the four pathways to a New York State HSE Diploma?

The document outlines four routes: the HSE exam pathway (with TASC™ as the current assessment), earning the diploma through 24 college credits, the National External Diploma Program, and the Regents-HSE Exam Pathway using substituted passing scores.

How did the HSE exam pathway transition from GED® to TASC™?

It notes that before 2014 GED® served as the HSE exam, then TASC™ was adopted in 2014, with prior GED® passing subtest scores permitted to substitute for corresponding TASC™ subtests for the specified period.

What does the document say about the TASC™ test structure and purpose?

TASC™ is described as secure, reliable, and valid, verifying knowledge comparable to graduating high school seniors. The full battery includes five subtests—Reading, Writing, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics—and takes about nine hours, including a direct writing assessment.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Mali