SECOND REGULAR SESSION
97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES GUERNSEY (Sponsor), CIERPIOT, BAHR, KOENIG AND ROWLAND (Co-sponsors).
5615H.02I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 161.094, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to high school equivalency examinations.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 161.094, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 161.094, to read as follows:
161.094. 1. Except as provided in subsection 2 of this section, the department of elementary and secondary education shall provide for examination of such applicants at least twice each year at places reasonably convenient for the applicants. Both computerized and non-computerized testing options shall be available at no additional cost to the applicants. The examination shall be designed to test the applicant's knowledge of subject matter usually presented in the courses required to be successfully completed by those graduating from the public high schools of the state. The certificate of equivalence may also be issued on the basis of test scores certified to the state board of education by the United States Armed Forces Institute, or a similar agency approved by the state board of education.
2. The department of elementary and secondary education shall not utilize any high school equivalence examination that is described or promoted as being aligned with the Common Core standards, unless there is no other alternative readily available.
3. The department of elementary and secondary education shall ensure that any high school equivalency test be administered in a manner that does not discriminate against students with a diagnosis by a qualified medical professional of a mental health condition that affects learning or students with learning disabilities that have been documented by a qualified professional or through an individualized education program. If an applicant possesses any such condition or disability, the department shall administer an individualized test to accommodate the applicant.
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