MO HB381

Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to administer high school equivalency tests in a non-discriminatory manner for students with diagnosed mental health conditions affecting learning or documented learning disabilities, including providing individualized tests to accommodate such applicants

Mandates that beginning January 1, 2016, the department must offer at least one alternative high school equivalency testing option beyond the HiSET program that was adopted as the exclusive test in January 2014

Directs the State Board of Education to consider test equivalency, recognition by other states, portability, cost to test takers (prioritizing lowest cost), and individual test taker needs when selecting alternative testing options

Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules for fee waivers using a sliding-fee scale, with financial hardship waivers available to applicants who demonstrate a minimum passing score on a practice test