Report of Regents P-12 Education/Adult Career and Continuing Education (ACCES) Joint Meeting Committee to The Board of Regents

Your P12 Education/ACCES Committees held its scheduled meeting on November 16, 2015.  All members were present, with the exception of Regent Cashin, who was excused.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

National External Diploma Program – Your committee was provided with information regarding the National External Diploma Program (NEDP), including New York State’s current use of the program.  The authorization of the NEDP as a local High School Equivalency Diploma was first adopted at the November 1984 Regents meeting which added Section 100.8 as part of a new Part 100.  The new regulation allowed boards of education to award a local high school equivalency diploma based upon experimental programs approved by the Commissioner and was made effective September 1, 1985. 

NEDP is an applied performance assessment system administered by Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) for adults and out-of-school youth who are seeking a high school diploma.  To complete the program, participants must demonstrate mastery of skills for success in postsecondary education and the workplace.  After the student completes all tasks, a final evaluation is done by an NEDP reviewer.  Upon approval, the student is granted a local high school equivalency diploma.  Currently in New York State, NEDP does not lead to a State Equivalency Diploma under CR100.7, only a local equivalency diploma under CR 100.8 and students must be at least 21 years or older.  For this reason, it is recommended that the Board direct the Department to investigate the benefits and limitations of amending the Commissioner’s Regulations such that NEDP would result in a State high school equivalency diploma rather than a local high school equivalency diploma and investigate the benefits and limitations of amending the Department’s minimum age of participation in New York State from 21 to 18 to allow for increased enrollment in the NEDP program and to decrease the potential gap between when a student leaves high school and can subsequently begin an NEDP program.