1. (a) When authorized by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), official testing centers shall be established by annual contract with an accredited school district, institution of higher learning, or education service center (ESC). The testing center must be located at a high school in an accredited district, an accredited institution of higher learning, or ESC. The chief administrative officer of a school, institution of higher learning, or ESC desiring to provide the General Educational Development (GED) testing service to residents in the community must request authorization to do so from TEA. If the need for a testing center in the location exists, the appropriate agency official, in writing, shall inform the American Council on Education that the establishment of an official testing center is authorized at that particular institution. The center shall be sent an annual contract, together with order forms and other material, relating to the operation of the testing center. The contract forms must be signed by the chief administrative officer of the school, institution of higher learning, or ESC, and the chief examiner.
2. (b) The chief administrative officer of the school, institution of higher learning, or ESC at which an official testing center is established must agree to provide appropriate storage for restricted test materials and to provide a suitable place for administering the test. Each center is responsible for selecting and ordering test materials.
3. (c) The administrative officer of a school district or ESC must designate a certified counselor, and the administrative officer of an institution of higher learning must designate a professional person with a master's degree with a background in teaching, training, testing, or counseling, to serve as chief examiner. The person designated as chief examiner shall not be involved in preparing persons for the examinations. The chief administrative officer must obtain prior authorization from TEA to change the chief examiner or the location of a testing center. The person designated as chief examiner must attend annual training conducted by TEA.

4. (d) A testing center may transport restricted test material to correctional facilities, health facilities, or schools if authorization to do so has been obtained. The chief administrative officer of an institution housing an official testing center and the administrator of the correctional facility, health facility, or school must request authorization to provide the testing services from TEA. Only the exact number of tests plus one needed at a test session may be transported to the addendum site. Testing services at correctional or health facilities shall be limited to inmates or patients of the facility, and the tests must be administered by an employee of the school district, institution of higher learning, or ESC housing the test center. To maintain the integrity of the test, a complete inventory of all secure testing materials shall be conducted:

   1. (1) before leaving the official GED testing center;
   2. (2) upon arrival at the addendum site;
   3. (3) immediately before and after the test administration;
   4. (4) before departure from the addendum site; and
   5. (5) upon return to the official GED testing center.
5. (e) The authorization to function as an official testing center may be withdrawn by TEA when a center has failed to maintain the integrity of the testing program. The TEA may suspend testing at a center if restricted test material is reported missing or if conditions reported by the TEA site visit indicate that the testing center is in violation of State Board of Education (SBOE) rules or requirements of the American Council on Education.
6. (f) An official testing center may charge a fee for test administration. The amount of the fee shall be determined by the administration or board of the school district, institution of higher learning, or ESC.

7. (g) The administration or board of an institution housing an official testing center shall have a written policy concerning the operation of the center, a written emergency plan, and a testing schedule. Each official testing center must provide the following assurances to the GED Testing Service:

   1. (1) appropriate resources;
   2. (2) suitable physical facilities;
   3. (3) adequate staffing;
   4. (4) full testing support services;
   5. (5) cooperation with the GEDTS;
   6. (6) financial management; and
   7. (7) test security.

Source Note:The provisions of this §89.42 adopted to be effective September 1, 1996, 21 TexReg 5690; amended to be effective October 15, 2006, 31 TexReg 8361.