BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 669

By: Shapleigh

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Developed and delivered by the American Council on Education, the General Educational Development (GED) test is a high school equivalency examination administered in Texas by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).  Currently, the GED must be taken at an official testing center.  This places a burden on working Texans who may find it difficult to find time to travel to and take the test at a testing center.

S.B. 669 requires the State Board of Education by rule to provide for administration of high school equivalency examinations online if the national entity that develops and delivers such examinations authorizes online testing.  The bill requires the rules to provide a procedure for verifying the identity of the person taking the examination.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board of Education in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 669 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Board of Education by rule to provide for administration of high school equivalency examinations online if the national entity that develops and delivers such examinations authorizes online testing. The bill requires the rules to provide a procedure for verifying the identity of the person taking the examination. The bill makes its provisions applicable beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.