ENROLLED
H. B. 4477
(By Delegates Frederick, M. Poling, Paxton, Rowan, Williams,
Sumner, Crosier, Fragale, Browning, Rodighiero and Wysong)
[Passed March 8, 2008; in effect July 1, 2008.]
AN ACT to amend and reenact §18-5-19c of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to Division of Technical and Adult
Education Services; programs; legislative findings; providing
payment of General Educational Development exam fees for
certain individuals; eligibility requirements; and requiring
State Board of Education rule.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §18-5-19c of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 5. COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
§18-5-19c. Division of Technical and Adult Education Services.
(a) The State Superintendent of Schools has authority to
establish in the State Department of Education a Division of
Technical and Adult Education Services, and to provide for suitable
coordination and supervision of the educational programs
established in sections nineteen-a and nineteen-b of this article.
All programs established under those sections are under rules of the State Board of Education.
(b) The Legislature finds that:
(1) The General Educational Development (GED) exam is an
implement for success that can transform the future of a graduate;
(2) For an individual who has not attained a high school
diploma, achieving a High School Equivalency Diploma can increase
employment opportunities and earning potential;
(3) Individuals who will benefit from a High School
Equivalency Diploma often lack the credentials necessary for
employment, and therefore lack the resources to afford the costs of
the GED exam; and
(4) Many individuals for whom the GED exam is unattainable are
likely to remain in a state of poverty.
(c) The State Board shall develop and administer a program to
provide the GED exam fee for an eligible individual pursuing a High
School Equivalency Diploma. The State Board shall promulgate a
rule in accordance with the provisions of article three-b, chapter
twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the program.
(1) The rule shall provide for eligibility requirements as
follows:
(A) Successful completion of a GED preparation program;
(B) Successful completion of the GED Official Practice Test;
(C) Standards for measuring successful completion of the
program and test required by this subdivision;
(D) GED exam registration with a GED testing center that is
approved by the State Board; and
(E) Any other requirements established by the State Board.
(2) The State Board shall provide the GED exam fee directly to
the GED testing center.