HOUSE BILL NO. 355 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 4, 2008 A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-254.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to age requirements for the General Education Development testing program. ---------- Patron-- Cole ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 22.1-254.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-254.2. Testing for general educational development; eligibility; guidelines.

A. The Board of Education shall establish a program of testing for general educational development (GED) through which persons may earn a high school equivalency certificate or a diploma as provided in subsection F of § 22.1-253.13:4. The following persons may participate in the testing program:

1. Persons who are at least 18 16 years of age and not enrolled in public school or not otherwise meeting the school attendance requirements set forth in § 22.1-254, with the written permission of a parent;

2. Persons 16 years of age or older who have been instructed by their parents in their home pursuant to § 22.1-254.1 and who have completed such home school instruction;

3. Persons who have been excused from school attendance pursuant to subsections B and C of § 22.1-254;

4. Persons for whom an individual student alternative education plan has been granted pursuant to subsection D of § 22.1-254;

5. Persons 16 through 18 years of age who are housed in adult correctional facilities and who are actively pursuing a GED certificate but who are not enrolled in an individual student alternative education plan pursuant to subsection D of § 22.1-254;

6. Persons 16 years of age or older who have been expelled from school pursuant to §§ 22.1-277.06 through 22.1-277.08; and

7. Persons required by court order to participate in the testing program.

Under no circumstances shall persons under the age of 16 be eligible for the testing program.

B. From such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose, local school boards shall implement programs of preparation and testing for general educational development consistent with guidelines to be developed by the Board of Education. Such guidelines shall include a provision that allows preparatory and testing programs to be offered jointly by two or more school boards.