The authority for this chapter is RCW 28B.50.912 which authorizes the state board for community and technical colleges to adopt rules governing the eligibility of persons sixteen years of age or older to take the high school equivalency test subject to rules adopted by the state board of education.

The purpose of this chapter is to set forth policies and procedures governing the administration of the high school equivalency test and the issuance of high school equivalency certificates for persons who have not graduated from high school and are not enrolled in a regular or alternative high school program.

As used in this chapter, the term "high school equivalency certificate" means a certificate issued jointly by the state board for community and technical colleges and the superintendent of public instruction which indicates that the holder thereof has attained standard scores at or above the minimum proficiency level prescribed by the state board for community and technical colleges on the high school equivalency test, which is a measure of high school equivalency in the areas of writing skills, social studies, science, reading skills, and mathematics.

As used in this chapter, the term "high school equivalency test" means the most recent high school equivalency test as determined by the authorizing agency.

Minimum proficiency level in Washington state is that set by the state board for community and technical colleges.

As used in this chapter, the term "official high school equivalency testing center" means public or private agencies which have agreed to comply with the provisions of this chapter and with policies and regulations of the test publisher, and which have been designated by the state board for community and technical colleges, administrator of the high school equivalency testing program to administer the high school equivalency test. Additional official high school equivalency testing centers and local examiners shall be approved by the state administrator of the high school equivalency testing program at the state board for community and technical colleges when the following have been documented:

(1) Need for a new testing site in a specific region or location;

(2) Need for new or replacement examiner at a testing center;

(3) Commitment of the governing board or, if none, the chief official of the proposed new testing center to meet all testing center requirements described by the test publisher; and

(4) Availability of testing center personnel who meet the qualifications specified by the test publisher as determined by the authorizing agency.

Testing centers shall comply with the requirements of the testing program, and administer high school equivalency tests only to those who have reached the age of nineteen unless an applicant who is sixteen, seventeen, or eighteen years of age has been adjudged by a school district official in accordance with rules of the state board of education to have a substantial and warranted reason for leaving the regular high school program.

The following individuals shall be eligible to take the high school equivalency test in official high school equivalency testing centers, provided that they are not enrolled in public, private, or home-based instruction of high school or a high school completion program at the time the test is administered:

(1) Any person age nineteen or over who has not graduated from a public or private high school.

(2) Any person between the ages of sixteen and nineteen who has not graduated from a public or private high school and who has been adjudged by a school district in accordance with rules of the state board of education to have a substantial and warranted reason for leaving the regular high school education program.

(3) Any student age sixteen or over who has completed an education center individual student program in accordance with the provisions of chapter 392-185 WAC.

(4) Any person between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one who has not graduated from public or private high school and is currently enrolled in the state options (open doors 1418) program.

(5) Any person between the ages of sixteen and nineteen who has not graduated from a public or private high school, and who has completed a program of home-based instruction in compliance with RCW 28A.225.010(4) as certified by the written and notarized statement of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who provided the home-based instruction.

(6) Any person who is an active member of the military, national guard, or reserves and has not received a high school diploma.

(7) Adjudicated youth under the director of prisons, jails, detention centers, parole and probation offices, and other corrections facilities while enrolled in school if so ordered by a court or officer of the court.

The high school equivalency certificate shall be awarded jointly by the state board for community and technical colleges and the superintendent of public instruction to persons who achieve the minimum proficiency level on the high school equivalency test and who meet the following:

(1) Are residents of Washington state; and

(2) Are nineteen years of age or older on the date of issuance; or

(3) Have been adjudged by a district as possessing a substantial and warranted reason for leaving the regular high school education program; or

(4) Are currently enrolled in the state options (open doors 1418) program; or

(5) Have completed a program of home-based instruction in compliance with RCW 28A.225.010(4) and chapter 28A.220 RCW; or

(6) Are active members of the military, national guard, or reserves; or

(7) Are adjudicated youth under the director of prisons, jails, detention centers, parole and probation offices, and other corrections facilities and so ordered by a court or officer of the court.

All persons taking the high school equivalency test must provide picture identification utilizing one of the following:

(1) State-issued driver's license or a state-issued identification card with a photograph.

(2) United States passport.

(3) Certificate of United States citizenship.

(4) Certificate of naturalization.

(5) Unexpired foreign passport.

(6) Alien registration card with photograph.

(7) Armed forces identification card.

(8) Other forms of comparable identification which the examiner judges to be credible including, but not limited to, one or more of the following:

(a) Other forms of picture identification;

(b) Birth certificates in combination with other sources that confirm identity; and

(c) Confirmation of identity by a law enforcement, social service, or penal agency.

The award by the state board for community and technical colleges and superintendent of public instruction of a high school equivalency certificate shall not preclude such persons from returning to high school to obtain a regular high school diploma if changes in the person's personal situation allow completion of a regular high school education program.

Receipt of a high school equivalency certificate also shall not preclude such persons from enrolling in an adult high school completion program at one of the state's community or technical colleges.