Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS)

Massachusetts High School Equivalency Assessments 2017

September 22, 2016

Dear Program Directors: I am pleased to announce that Commissioner of Education Mitchell D. Chester has authorized the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to offer both the GED Testing Service and the Educational Testing Service the opportunity to enter into negotiations for the purpose of providing high school equivalency assessments for Massachusetts starting 2017. Pending successful completion of these negotiations, the Department will offer Massachusetts test-takers the opportunity to take either the GED Test or the HiSET in order to earn the Massachusetts High School Equivalency Credential. This will result in more options for our students, including continued paper-based and computer-best testing, reasonable fees, and continue progress toward test alignment with the College and Career Readiness Standards for Adult Education. Furthermore, we maintain the current HiSET retest policy and enable current test-takers to complete their tests without disruption. Questions about high school equivalency policies in Massachusetts should be directed to Tom Mechem, State Chief Examiner for High School Equivalency, 781-338-6621, tmechem@doe.mass.edu. Sincerely,

Toby Maguire
Assistant ABE Director
Adult and Community Learning Services

Last Updated: September 26, 2016