HB 331 -- GED+ Program

Sponsor:  Faith

This bill establishes the GED+ Program within the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education to ensure that students
achieve a certificate of general educational development (GED)
and continue to either a college or post-secondary education or
to a high-wage job.  The program, which will be administered by
the Commissioner of Education, incorporates adult education and
literacy programs that provide measurable goals and specify the
skills and knowledge that students must attain for successful
completion of the program, including rigorous course work and
competency standards in academic subjects, as provided by rule.
A partnership plan with local business and labor leaders, among
others, will be updated each year and will specify procedures for
identifying students who may need additional services.
Transition and mentoring services must also be included in the
plan.

The State Board of Education, with the advice and consent of the
Coordinating Board for Higher Education, must establish a tuition
reimbursement procedure for public community colleges or
vocational or technical schools that serve GED+ students who have
been enrolled in an adult literacy program for at least 75 hours
before passing the GED exam, made a good faith effort to secure
federal student assistance, earned specified scores on the GED
exam, and completed 50 hours of volunteer tutoring in the
program.  The Commissioner of Education must develop an annual
effectiveness evaluation procedure for the program with the
results provided to the Governor, Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and the President Pro Tem of the Senate.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:24 am