The Cheney School Board has added to their Certificate of Educational Competency policy, which is also known as the GED (General Education Development) Certificate.
The GED has been an option for students who are unable to follow the traditional path towards a high school diploma.
“When a 16-18 year old student decides he/she would like to leave high school and pursue a GED, school districts work with the student to ensure there is a ‘substantial and warranted reason’ for leaving the high school program,” Sean Dotson, Cheney School District’s associate superintendent, said in an e-mail.
The policy revision includes six reasons why a student may withdrawal to seek a GED. These reasons include:
• Personal problems, which seriously impair the student’s ability to make reasonable progress toward high school graduation.
• A financial crisis, which directly affects the student and necessitates their employment during school hours.
• The lack of curriculum and instruction, which constitute appropriate learning experiences for the student.
• The inability or failure of the school attended to adjust its program for the individual or otherwise make arrangements for enrollment in a program in a manner which enables the student to advance toward graduation with reasonable progress and success.
• A determination by the designated employee of the district that it is in the best interests of the student to withdrawal in order to enter a postsecondary institution or the military, or to engage in employment.
• The student has been home schooled and has essentially completed high school work.
“We have done this practice for many years,” Dotson said. “We are adding this policy because the Washington State School Directors’ Association has advised that it is important to have a policy that reflects how we handle student requests for release to take the GED.”
To be eligible for a GED, a student has to be older than 16, but less than 19 years of age along with one of the previous listed reasons for requesting to leave the regular high school program.
The student may apply for it either to the resident district or the school the student last attended in Washington state. The application must be signed by the parents of the student and include the recommendation of the superintendent.
“This policy does not change our practice, but it does clarify the process in the policy,” Dotson said.
Grace Pohl can be reached at grace@cheneyfreepress.com.
Reader Comments(0)