GED INFO

GED is a half-day program designed to provide academic instruction for students at substantial risk of failing to meet the requirements of a traditional high school diploma.  Instruction is provided in a supportive environment as students build skills in English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science to pass the NYS High School Equivalency exam (GED). 

Referrals to the GED program will go through an intake process that involves a review of student records, an assessment of academic reading and mathematics level (TABE), and a required in-take interview by a committee to determine the appropriateness of the placement and/or eligibility for the program.

The GED program is not meant to be a preferred means of completing high school or to provide a faster route for high school completion. Preferably, students will enter the GED program during the last year in which their cohort attends high school and exit at or near the same time of the cohort’s graduation. The GED program should be geared towards students who will not graduate with their class because of credit deficiency, but who are otherwise capable of completing graduation requirements.

Eligible students for the GED program must:

1. Students in an AHSEP program are at least 16 years of age and have completed the school year in which they turned 16 or 17, the maximum compulsory age established by the local board of education (by July 1st). 
2. To be eligible for the GED program, students aged 16 or 17, must have less than 12½ percent of the required units of credit set by the school district for a local diploma multiplied by the number of years the student has been in grades 9 through 12, or an Application for Variance requesting a waiver of the academic eligibility requirements will be submitted and approved prior to the 16 or 17 year old student entering the AHSEP program. Students who are at least age 18 and under 21 do not require a variance to enter the GED program. 

Once enrolled, students must:

1. Demonstrate commitment through consistent attendance and active participation
2. Practice work-place readiness behaviors including appropriate dress, language, behavior, and use of personal electronic devices
3. Show skill development in the five subject areas through periodic classroom assessments
4. Demonstrate test-readiness on an Official Practice Test

The AHSEP program operates for at least 150 hours during the school year.                          

STUDENT MUST BE ENROLLED FOR 50 DAYS TO BE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER FOR THE GED.

What is the GED exam?

In New York State, students may earn a high school equivalency (HSE) diploma by passing the GED exam.  The GED consists of 4 subjects - Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA), Math, Science, and Social Studies. Each subject has a separate exam. Students must pass all four subject exams to earn their HSE diploma.  However, students who have passed a Regents exam in a particular subject may submit documentation from their home school to NYS, and NYS can credit them in that subject area.  

What is GED class at CCS?

The GED class at Center for Career Services (CCS) prepares high-school-aged students to take the GED exam. Once they are ready to test, students must go off-campus to an approved GED testing center. We are an alternative high school education program (AHSEP) approved by NYSED; we are guided by the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education:  https://www.nysed.gov/curriculum-instruction/1007-state-high-school-equivalency-diploma#Requirements

Requirements  

Students must complete all requirements of our AHSEP/GED program in order for us to authorize them to schedule their exam. These requirements include:

• Students must create an online account with GED.com  (All test scores, scheduling, and communications with GED occur through this account.)
• If students require testing accommodations, they must create an additional online account with GED Accommodations, and must submit a copy of their IEP along with a parent signature.
• Students must attend a minimum of 50 days of class with us before we can approve them to take their GED exam. (Most students will need more time; 50 days is the minimum.)
• Students must earn a passing score on each of the “GED Ready Tests” administered by their GED teacher.

Annual Deadline to Take the GED

Students must have completed all the above requirements by May 15th to be authorized by CCS to take their GED exams in the current school year.  If requirements are not completed by May 15th, students must re-enroll for September of the next school year. (We do not offer GED in the summer.)

• Because of this deadline, students who enroll after February 26th of the current school year must plan to return in September of the following school year so they can fulfill the minimum 50-days-in-class requirement.
• Students may be approved to take their GED exam at any time within a given school year if  they have completed all the above requirements.

Re-taking the GED Till You Pass

Students may need more than one try to pass one or more of the subject exams. In NYS, students can retake any GED subject exam after a 60-day wait. Therefore we ask that students remain enrolled with us until they have passed all 4 of the GED subject exams; we will support them until they have earned their HSE diploma. For example: a student who passes 3 of the 4 subject exams in June would remain enrolled and return in September to prepare for a retake of that 4th and final exam.

Attendance

Regular attendance is critical to success in this class. Students who accumulate excessive (unexcused) absences may be dis-enrolled from our program by their home school/district.