Resolve, To Ensure the Continued Accessibility and Affordability of a High School Equivalency Exam for Maine Residents

Sec. 1. Review of options for administering a high school equivalency examination. Resolved: That the Department of Education, referred to in this resolve as "the department," shall undertake a thorough study of all options for the administration of a high school equivalency examination, including those offered by competing vendors and an analysis of the implementation costs that would be required to transition to a computer-based high school equivalency examination; and be it further

Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the department shall prepare and submit a report based on its study under section 1 to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs comparing the various high school equivalency examination options based on their cost, accessibility and educational efficacy. The department's report must include a plan for ensuring the continued availability of a high school equivalency examination at no cost to test takers, continued accessibility at all local adult education programs currently offering this service with minimal financial impact on these programs and continued state funding support and technical assistance necessary to transition to a computer-based high school equivalency examination. The department shall submit its report and plan to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by October 1, 2013.