January 2019 Committee of the Full Board Item 5
Action on Renewal of Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency Contracts
February 1, 2019
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the committee and board to review test vendor-requested amendments and determine action on vendor contract renewals related to 19 TAC Chapter 89 Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency. The current 3-year contracts expire August 31, 2019 and allow for up to two 1-year extensions.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.111.
TEC, §7.111, requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to adopt rules to develop and deliver high school equivalency examinations and provide for the administration of the examinations online.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted 19 TAC Chapter 89, Adaptations for Special Populations, Subchapter C, Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency, to be effective September 1, 1996. Rules in 19 TAC Subchapter C, were last amended to be effective December 11, 2011, October 10, 2013 and December 25, 2016.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: In January 2015, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released a competitive request for proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals for a provider for the Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency examination. At the April 2015 SBOE meeting, TEA staff presented the results of the RFP. The SBOE requested that TEA extend the existing provider’s Memorandum of Understanding for six months beyond the expiration date and begin the development of a new RFP to potentially identify multiple test providers.
At the July 2015 meeting, the committee held a public hearing. Additionally, at the July 2015 meeting, the board approved a decision matrix of requirements to be included in a future RFP. During the September 2015 meeting, the board approved the competitive RFP to be released in fall 2015.
On January 29, 2016 the board voted to award contracts to three separate companies to provide high school equivalency assessments in Texas. The three companies are Data Recognition Corporation, Educational Testing Service, and GED Testing Service. On September 16, 2016, the board gave the chair authority to sign new contracts with vendors beginning October 8, 2016, or when the vendors are ready to provide services and staff and the board chair are confident the vendor can execute the terms of the Request for Proposals.
On November 18, 2016 the board approved expanding the entities eligible to serve as official paper-based testing centers and defined the requirements for paper-based testing centers.
On November 16, 2018 the board instructed staff to proceed with renewal of existing contracts.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
PUBLIC BENEFIT: Individuals will have access to an appropriate examination(s) aligned to Texas standards to be able to earn a Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency.
DATA AND REPORTING IMPACT: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:
Approve the contract renewal for GED Testing Service and amended contract renewal for Educational Testing Service.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services
Cindee Tonnesen, Assistant Director, Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency College, Career, and Military Preparation
February 1, 2019
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the committee and board to review test vendor-requested amendments and determine action on vendor contract renewals related to 19 TAC Chapter 89 Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency. The current 3-year contracts expire August 31, 2019 and allow for up to two 1-year extensions.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.111.
TEC, §7.111, requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to adopt rules to develop and deliver high school equivalency examinations and provide for the administration of the examinations online.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted 19 TAC Chapter 89, Adaptations for Special Populations, Subchapter C, Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency, to be effective September 1, 1996. Rules in 19 TAC Subchapter C, were last amended to be effective December 11, 2011, October 10, 2013 and December 25, 2016.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: In January 2015, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released a competitive request for proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals for a provider for the Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency examination. At the April 2015 SBOE meeting, TEA staff presented the results of the RFP. The SBOE requested that TEA extend the existing provider’s Memorandum of Understanding for six months beyond the expiration date and begin the development of a new RFP to potentially identify multiple test providers.
At the July 2015 meeting, the committee held a public hearing. Additionally, at the July 2015 meeting, the board approved a decision matrix of requirements to be included in a future RFP. During the September 2015 meeting, the board approved the competitive RFP to be released in fall 2015.
On January 29, 2016 the board voted to award contracts to three separate companies to provide high school equivalency assessments in Texas. The three companies are Data Recognition Corporation, Educational Testing Service, and GED Testing Service. On September 16, 2016, the board gave the chair authority to sign new contracts with vendors beginning October 8, 2016, or when the vendors are ready to provide services and staff and the board chair are confident the vendor can execute the terms of the Request for Proposals.
On November 18, 2016 the board approved expanding the entities eligible to serve as official paper-based testing centers and defined the requirements for paper-based testing centers.
On November 16, 2018 the board instructed staff to proceed with renewal of existing contracts.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
PUBLIC BENEFIT: Individuals will have access to an appropriate examination(s) aligned to Texas standards to be able to earn a Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency.
DATA AND REPORTING IMPACT: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:
Approve the contract renewal for GED Testing Service and amended contract renewal for Educational Testing Service.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services
Cindee Tonnesen, Assistant Director, Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency College, Career, and Military Preparation