TITLE 6 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
CHAPTER
30 EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS GENERAL
REQUIREMENTS
PART
3 ELIGIBILITY FOR THE HIGH
SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY ASSESSMENTS OR PROGRAMS AND DIPLOMA IN NM
6.30.3.1 ISSUING AGENCY: Public Education Department, hereinafter
the department.
[6.30.3.1 NMAC - Rp,
6.30.3.1 NMAC,
1/28/2020]
6.30.3.2 SCOPE: All individuals seeking to obtain
a high school equivalency credential or department-issued New Mexico high
school adult diploma and all publishers or program providers who seek to become
qualified in the state of New Mexico to administer high school equivalency
assessments or programs or adult diploma programs.
[6.30.3.2 NMAC - Rp,
6.30.3.2 NMAC, 1/28/2020]
6.30.3.3 STATUTORY AUTHORITY: This rule is being promulgated
pursuant to Sections 22-1-9.2, 22-2-1, 22-2-2, 22-2-8.8, 22-2-8.14, 22-12A-4,
22-13-1.1, and 43-1-3 NMSA 1978.
[6.30.3.3 NMAC - Rp,
6.30.3.3 NMAC, 1/28/2020]
6.30.3.4 DURATION: Permanent.
[6.30.3.4 NMAC - Rp,
6.30.3.4 NMAC, 1/28/2020]
6.30.3.5 EFFECTIVE DATE: January 28, 2020, unless a later
date is cited at the end of a section or paragraph.
[6.30.3.5 NMAC - Rp,
6.30.3.5 NMAC, 1/28/2020]
6.30.3.6 OBJECTIVE: To give individuals who have not
graduated from high school the opportunity to earn a high school equivalency
credential or department-issued New Mexico high school adult diploma. To establish criteria for a high school
equivalency publisher or program provider to become qualified to administer a
high school equivalency credential assessment or program in the state of New
Mexico. To establish criteria for an
adult diploma program to become qualified to administer an adult diploma
program in the state of New Mexico.
[6.30.3.6 NMAC - Rp,
6.30.3.6 NMAC, 1/28/2020]
6.30.3.7 DEFINITIONS:
A. “Adult diploma program” means a program
administered by a qualified adult diploma program in the state of New Mexico.
B. “Department-issued New Mexico high school
adult diploma” means a diploma issued by the department, its designee, or a
qualified adult diploma program to any candidate who is at least 18 years of
age and who has successfully completed an adult diploma program.
C. “High school
equivalency credential” means a credential issued by the department, its
designee, or a qualified publisher or program to any candidate who is at least
16 years of age and who has successfully completed a high school equivalency
assessment or program.
D. “High school equivalency credential
assessment or program” means
an assessment or program administered by a qualified high school equivalency
publisher or program provider.
E. “Program
administrator” means an office within the New Mexico higher education
department that coordinates activities related to high school equivalency
credentials, and high school equivalency assessments and programs,
department-issued New Mexico high school adult diplomas, and adult diploma
programs.
F. “Qualified adult
diploma program” means a program that has been approved by the department
to administer the adult diploma program in the state of New Mexico.
G. “Qualified
high school equivalency publisher or program provider” or “qualified publisher or program
provider” means a publisher or program provider that has been approved by the
department to administer the high school equivalency assessment or program in
the state of New Mexico.
[6.30.3.7 NMAC - Rp,
6.30.3.7 NMAC, 1/28/2020]
6.30.3.8 TESTING ELIGIBILITY AND USE OF
THE UNDERAGE FORM:
A. Any individual,
whether or not a New Mexico resident, who is at least 16 years of age, who has
not earned a high school diploma or high school equivalency credential, and is
not currently enrolled or required to be enrolled in a high school is eligible
to complete a high school equivalency credential assessment or program,
administered by a qualified publisher or program provider.
B. Any individual
who seeks to withdraw from public school before their 18th birthday shall not
be permitted to begin a high school equivalency credential assessment or
program unless that individual can demonstrate compliance with the New Mexico
school attendance law. The individual
seeking to complete a high school equivalency assessment or program shall
complete forms, as required by the department, and obtain all necessary
signatures. The individual shall file
copies of the completed forms with the following entities:
(1) the school district that provides the necessary signatures;
and
(2) the qualified publisher or program provider through which
the individual seeks to obtain the high school equivalency credential.
C. Individuals
detained at a New Mexico juvenile correctional institution or a juvenile
justice division facility operated by the New Mexico children, youth and
families department, shall be permitted to take a high school equivalency
credential assessment or program at age 16 or 17 only when the individual
requests and receives written approval to take the high school equivalency
credential assessment or participate in the high school equivalency credential
program from the warden, director, or educational director of that institution
or facility. Such individuals shall
receive the high school equivalency credential
upon successful completion of a high school equivalency credential assessment
or program. No other consent to take a
high school equivalency credential assessment or program is required.
D. An individual
enrolled in a state institution under the authority of the secretary of the
department of health shall be permitted to take a high school equivalency
credential assessment or program at age 16 or 17 only when the individual
requests and receives written approval to take the high school equivalency
credential assessment or participate in the high school equivalency credential
program from the director of the facility where the individual is enrolled or
from the educational director of that institution. Such individuals shall receive the high
school equivalency credential upon successful completion of a high school
equivalency credential assessment or program.
No other consent to take a high school equivalency credential assessment
or program is required.
E. Individuals
enrolled in any other state institution shall be permitted to take a high
school equivalency credential assessment or program at age 16 or 17 only when
the individual requests and receives written approval to take the high school
equivalency credential assessment or participate in the high school equivalency
credential program from the director of the institution where the individual is
enrolled or from the educational director of that institution. Such individuals shall receive the high
school equivalency credential upon successful completion of a high school
equivalency credential assessment or program.
No other consent to take a high school equivalency credential assessment
or program is required.
[6.30.3.8 NMAC - Rp,
6.30.3.8 NMAC, 1/28/2020]
6.30.3.9 ISSUANCE OF HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY CREDENTIALS:
A. Upon successful
completion of a high school equivalency credential assessment or program:
(1) the qualified high school equivalency publisher or program
provider shall issue a transcript to the individual; and
(2) the individual shall submit documentation of the successful
completion to the program administrator.
B. Any individual,
whether or not a New Mexico resident, who successfully completes a high school
equivalency credential assessment or program and is at least 16 years of age will receive the high school equivalency credential.
C. A high school
equivalency credential issued after successful completion of a high school
equivalency credential assessment or program shall be equivalent to a high
school diploma or a New Mexico diploma of excellence issued by a school
district pursuant to Section 22-13-1.1 NMSA 1978.
[6.30.3.9 NMAC - Rp,
6.30.3.9 NMAC, 1/28/2020]
6.30.3.10 ISSUANCE OF DEPARTMENT HIGH SCHOOL ADULT DIPLOMAS:
A. Upon successful
completion of an adult diploma program:
(1) the qualified adult diploma program provider shall issue a
transcript to the individual; and
(2) the individual shall submit documentation of the successful
completion to the program administrator.
B. Any individual,
whether or not a New Mexico resident, who successfully completes an adult
diploma program and is at least 18 years of age will
receive a department-issued New Mexico high school adult diploma.
C. A
department-issued New Mexico high school adult diploma awarded after successful
completion of a high school equivalency credential assessment or program shall
be equivalent to a high school diploma or a New Mexico diploma of excellence
issued by a school district pursuant to Section 22-13-1.1 NMSA 1978.
[6.30.3.10 NMAC - Rp,
6.30.3.10 NMAC, 1/28/2020]
6.30.3.11 CRITERIA FOR BECOMING A QUALIFIED HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY PUBLISHER OR PROGRAM PROVIDER:
A. A high school
equivalency publisher or program provider shall submit an application to the
department, as required by the department, and shall meet criteria to be designated a qualified high school equivalency publisher or
program provider in the state of New Mexico.
The application shall include the following criteria:
(1) the high school equivalency
credential assessment or program shall be recognized by the division of the
United States department of education that oversees career and college
readiness standards as an eligible high school equivalency publisher or
program;
(2) the high school equivalency
assessment or program shall be comparable to all college and career readiness
standards established by the state of New Mexico;
(3) the high school equivalency publisher or program provider
shall assess high school-level skills in applied life and work contexts;
(4) the
high school equivalency publisher or program provider shall prepare individuals
within its program to enter college or the workforce, upgrade their skills,
advance to a better job, or move from one field of work to another; and
(5) the high school equivalency publisher or program provider
shall issue a transcript acceptable for college admissions and applications.
B. The department
shall convene a review committee composed of staff from the department and the
New Mexico higher education department, including the program administrator and
staff from the adult education division.
The review committee shall evaluate high school equivalency publisher or
program provider applications and make a determination as to whether the
applicant meets criteria to become a qualified high school equivalency
publisher or program provider in the state of New Mexico.
[6.30.3.11 NMAC - Rp,
6.30.3.11 NMAC, 1/28/2020]
6.30.3.12 CRITERIA FOR BECOMING A QUALIFIED ADULT DIPLOMA PROGRAM:
A. An adult diploma
program shall submit an application to the department, as required by the
department, and shall meet criteria to be designated a
qualified adult diploma program in the state of New Mexico. The application shall include the following
criteria:
(1) the adult diploma program shall be recognized by the division
of the United States department of education that oversees career and college
readiness standards as an eligible adult diploma program;
(2) the adult diploma program shall be comparable to all college
and career readiness standards established by the state of New Mexico;
(3) the adult diploma program shall assess high school-level
skills in applied life and work contexts;
(4) the
adult diploma program shall prepare individuals within its program to enter
college or the workforce, upgrade their skills, advance to a better job, or
move from one field of work to another; and
(5) the adult diploma program shall issue a transcript
acceptable for college admissions and applications.
B. The department
shall convene a review committee composed of staff from the department and the
New Mexico higher education department, including the program administrator and
staff from the adult education division.
The review committee shall evaluate adult diploma program applications
and make a determination as to whether the applicant meets criteria to become a
qualified adult diploma program in the state of New Mexico.
[6.30.3.12 NMAC - Rp,
6.30.3.12 NMAC, 1/28/2020]
HISTORY
OF 6.30.3 NMAC:
6.30.3 NMAC, Eligibility for the General Educational
Development Tests (GED Tests) and Diploma in NM, filed 5/31/2001, was repealed
and replaced by 6.30.3 NMAC, Eligibility for the High School Equivalency
Assessments or Programs and Diploma in NM, effective 12/31/2019.
PRE-NMAC
HISTORY: The material in this regulation is derived from
that previously filed with the State Records Center and Archives under:
SDE
Regulation 71-21, Minimum Age Requirement for G.E.D. Test Administration in New
Mexico, filed January 31, 1972;
SDE
Regulation 73-20, Regulation Governing Minimum Age Requirement for G.E.D. Test
Administration in New Mexico, filed June 12, 1973; and
State
Board of Education Regulation 80-12, eligibility for the G.E.D. Assessment or
program and Diploma in New Mexico, filed March 3, 1981.