Regional Office of Education changes GED eligibility

ATKINSON — Illinois Regional Offices of Education are announcing significant changes in the eligibility rules for persons who wish to take the High School Equivalency (GED) Exam. The changes are outlined in the passage of Public Act 095-0609, which becomes effective June 1,  and are mandated by the Illinois Community College Board that provides governance for GED testing in Illinois.

According to Regional Superintendent Bruce Dennison, an individual is eligible to take the GED Test if they meet the following guidelines: The test taker must be 17 years of age or older, not a high school graduate or GED graduate, and has maintained residence in the state of Illinois for a minimum of 30 days. If an individual is of school age and has been enrolled in a public, private or home school in the last 12 months, he must present a withdrawal letter from the last school attended before taking the GED Test.

An individual is eligible to take the GED Test at 16 years of age only if he meets the following criteria: The test taker has maintained residence for 30 days in the state of Illinois and has enrolled in an alternative education program under Section 2-3.81,13A, or 13B of the Illinois School Code, or has enrolled in a youth education program under the Illinois National Guard (i.e., the Lincoln Challenge Program in Rantoul).

An individual who takes the GED Test must show an acceptable form of identification that displays his name, address, date of birth, signature, and photograph. Accepted forms of identification are a driver’s license, valid passport, military I.D., or other form of government-issued, state, national or foreign identification.

Illinois Regional Offices of Education give the GED Test on a regular basis. For more information about taking the exam and a list of test dates, contact the Regional Office of Education in Atkinson at (309) 936-7890.