Revise HS Ed Level Responses with Generic Language to Include Other HS Equivalency Tests
Problem Statement or Business Need
The California Department of Education has approved the HiSET and TASC as high school equivalency tests which are in addition to the GED test. http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/gd/
Colleges have requested that the language in response option #4 of the High School Education Level Status field values / response options be updated to reference the acceptance of GED equivalent tests, such as the HISET and TASC exams in addition to the GED exam.
According to the regulations on academic qualifications to receive FSA funds: "A student qualifies if she..has the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, such as a general educational development or GED certificate or other state sanctioned test or diploma-equivalency certificate;"
Recognized equivalents of a high school diploma include: " a certificate or other official completion documentation demonstrating that the student has passed a state-authorized examination (such as the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), or, in California, the California High School Proficiency Exam) that the state recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma (note that certificates of attendance and/or completion are not included in this qualifying category);"
I have also attached documentation to support the need to include these new tests as a part of the application process.
Proposed Solution
The CCCApply Steering Committee approved a change to revise the existing language in response #4 in the High School Education Level field with generic language to account for other/future certified GED equivalent tests. The updated language in response option/data value #4 will now read: "Passed a high school equivalency test and received a certificate of high school equivalency."
Requirements Summary
| # | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revise the language in value #4 of High School Education Level from: 4 = "Passed the GED, or received a High School Certificate of Equivalency" to 4 = "Passed a high school equivalency test and received a certificate of high school equivalency. Data Field = High School Education Level (hs_edu_level) | |
| 2 | This is a text change only. There is no change to the logic in the field or the residency algorithm. There is no change to the download file. | |
| 3 | This change is applicable to the CCCApply Standard Application only. |
Change Specifications
Revise High School Education Level Response Option #4 with Generic Language
a) Change response option /data value #4 from "Passed the GED, or received a High School Certificate of Equivalency"
to 4 = "Passed a high school equivalency test and received a certificate of high school equivalency."
This is a text change only.
This is a text change only. There is no change to the logic in the field or the residency algorithm. There is no change to the download file.
Change pertains to the Standard Application Only.
The text change appears in the High School Education Level data field <hs_edu_level> in the Standard Application only.
Screenshot: New High School Education Level Response Option
Changes to Data Download File
There is no change to the download file as a result of this data field response option change.
Supporting Documentation
Below is additional documentation (i.e., CCCCO legal opinions, residency and/or education code citations, legislation citations, supplemental information, etc.) to be referenced in support of this change request.
| Description | File or Link | Type |
|---|---|---|
| CA Dept of Ed Website | http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/gd/ | The California Department of Education has approved the HiSET and TASC as high school equivalency tests which are in addition to the GED test. |
| Data Dictionary | CCCApply Standard Application Data Dictionary v.2016.1 | click on hyperlink to download the PDF |