18: The Challenge of Educating All Students

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18 The Challenge of Educating All Students
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Outcomes

• Provide an overview of the new law regarding
  School-Based GED Programs
• Discuss options schools are using to meet the
  challenge of 18
• Ask you what your district is doing to meet that
  challenge

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School-Based GED Programs

• Authorized in SDCL 13-27-1
• The law gives school districts the option to
  provide a school-based GED preparation program
  for students 16 and 17 year olds as an
  alternative route to the Rule of 18.
• DOE guidance for the program can be found at
  www.doe.sd.gov/oatq/gradrequirements

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School-Based GED Programs

• Student eligibility under SDCL 13-27-1
• Students must be sixteen or seventeen years of
  age
• Must have written permission from the students
  parent or guardian and one of the following
• 1. Verification from a school administrator
  that the student will not graduate with the
  students cohort because of credit deficiency
• 2. Authorization from a court services officer
• 3. A court order requiring the student to enter
  the program
• 4. Verification that the student is under the
  direction of the Department of Corrections or
• 5. Verification that the student is enrolled in
  Job Corps

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School-Based GED Programs

• School-based GED programs are designed to be test
  preparation programs. In order for a student to
  take the GED they must meet certain requirements.
• Must complete the official GED practice tests for
  each of the 5 subtests
• Students must score a minimum of 500 or above on
  the prep tests
• Students must officially drop from high school
  enrollment before testing at a GED testing center
• A release of information must be signed by the
  parent before scores may be released to the
  school

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GED Testing

• The SD Department of Labor is the jurisdictional
  agent for administering the official GED tests
• Tests include
• Math, Science, Reading, Writing, and Social
  Studies
• Testing time is approximately 7.5 hours, but can
  be taken in shorter sessions
• If a student does not pass part or all of the
  test they must re-enroll and continue their
  preparation studies.

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Compulsory Attendance to 18

• School-based GED programs are one alternative to
  providing at-risk students with options. School
  districts have worked hard over the past two
  years to prepare for the rule of 18.
• Some have implemented various options
• Expanding already existing alternative schools
• Ninth grade academies
• Counseling/mentoring programs for at-risk
  students
• Community-based collaboration with
  law-enforcement and court services
• Utilizing career and technical academies
• Providing alternative instruction through virtual
  coursework

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Compulsory Attendance to 18

• What is your district doing to prepare for the
  Rule of 18?

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