1. Threat Assessment Criteria
Any Candidate who meets the following criteria may be prohibited from participating in GED Testing Service-sponsored programs, until cleared to do so by GED Testing Service LLC’s Manager of Disability & Accessibility Services (“Manager of Disability & Accessibility Services”) or the GED Testing Legal team (“Legal”), in accordance with the clearance procedure set forth in paragraph three: (a) has recently stated an intent or desire to harm himself/herself or another, (b) has recently attempted to harm himself/herself or another, (c) has recently harmed himself/herself or another, or (d) has recently engaged in conduct that in the judgment of GED Testing Service LLC (“GED Testing Service”) demonstrates that s/he is a danger to himself/herself or another. “Recently” is defined as within the previous 12 months. This limitation on participation is not intended to be punitive in nature and is intended solely for the protection of the Candidate(s) and others.
If a GED Testing Service-related professional (including, but not limited to, GED Testing Service staff persons, call center representatives, GED Administrators™, GED® Examiners or Testing Center staff) (“GED Professional”) observes a Candidate (a) stating an intent or desire to harm himself/herself or another, (b) attempting to harm himself/herself or another, (c) harming himself/herself or another or (d) engaging in conduct that demonstrates that the Candidate is a danger to himself/herself or another, the GED Professional shall notify the Manager of Disability & Accessibility Services and Legal and Legal should notify appropriate law enforcement entity.
If a GEDTS Professional receives a credible report that a Candidate may be a danger to himself/herself or others, this report should be provided to the Manager of Disability & Accessibility Services and Legal —regardless of whether or not the person in question is reported to have a disability. A credible report could include, but is not limited to, direct observation of conduct that demonstrates that the Candidate may pose a danger to himself/herself or others or a medical or psychological report from a qualified health care provider suggesting that the Candidate may pose a danger to himself/herself or others.
The Manager of Disability & Accessibility Services will consult with Legal to determine whether to initiate the Threat Assessment Procedure and prohibit a Candidate from participating in GED Testing Services-sponsored programs.
2. Candidate Clearance Procedure
a. Notice
The GED Professional shall notifiy the Manager of Disability & Accessibility Services and/or Legal, who will follow the process as follows:
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- The Manager of Disability & Accessibility Services or Legal may notify a Candidate who is deemed to be a danger to himself/herself or others that he/she is prohibited from participating in GED Testing Service-sponsored programs, including taking the GED® tests, until the Candidate receives approval from the Manager of Disability & Accessibility Services or Legal in accordance with this procedure. In addition, notice will also be provided to the Jurisdictional GED® Administrator.
- The Manager of Disability & Accessibility Services will provide the Candidate with a threat assessment notification letter informing him/her that a “hold” has been placed on the Candidate’s ability to participate in GED Testing Service-sponsored programs, including taking the GED® tests, until such time as the hold is cleared in accordance with the procedure outlined in the letter (and described herein).
- If, after a Candidate has been so notified, he or she violates such prohibition, such violation may result in invalidation of the Candidate’s test results and/or permanent exclusion from any future GED Testing Service-sponsored programs.
b. Evaluation by a qualified mental health professional
Before the Manager of Disability & Accessibility Services or Legal will clear the hold on a Candidate’s ability to participate in GED Testing Service-sponsored programs, the Candidate must provide the Manager of Disability & Accessibility Services with a written report prepared by a licensed mental health professional of the Candidate’s choice (either a psychologist or psychiatrist, or other similarly qualified and licensed mental health professional). This written report must: (a) be signed and dated by the professional and be based on an assessment of the Candidate made by the professional after the last known instance when the Candidate demonstrated that s/he posed a danger to himself/herself or others or after receipt of a credible report of such an event, as applicable; (b) be written on the licensed mental health provider’s letterhead; and (c) provide a statement by the professional indicating that in his/her professional opinion, s/he does not expect the Candidate to pose a danger to himself/herself or others while participating in GED Testing Service-sponsored programs. The cost, if any, for such report, as well as for any related consultation, evaluation or treatment shall be the responsibility of the Candidate.
c. Clearance to participate
Based upon the written report by the mental health professional, the Manager of Disability & Accessibility Services or Legal will make a decision as to the Candidate’s fitness to participate in GED Testing Service-sponsored programs going forward. This decision will be made within 10 business days following the receipt of the mental health professional’s report, and may be made in consultation with GED Testing Service-contracted mental health professionals. GED Testing Service reserves the right to require the Candidate to sign a Release of Information Form, permitting GED Testing Service to contact the Candidate’s mental health provider directly for the purpose of determining whether or not to clear the Candidate to participate in GED Testing Service-sponsored programs. If the report does not provide clear guidance or if GED Testing Service has further questions, GED Testing Service may contact the mental health professional who prepared the report and/or seek guidance from contracted mental health experts for further clarification and guidance on the matter.
If the Manager of Disability & Accessibility Services or Legal determines, based on the guidance of the treating mental health professional and/or contracted mental health experts, that the Candidate is cleared to participate in GED Testing Service-sponsored programs, the hold will be released and this clearance of the hold will be communicated to the candidate thus enabling the Candidate to participate in GED Testing Service-sponsored programs.
If the Manager of Disability & Accessibility Services or Legal determines, based on the guidance of the treating professional and/or contracted mental health experts, that the Candidate is not cleared to participate, they will provide the Candidate with written notice regarding which activities or programs are prohibited, the length of the prohibition, and the conditions (if any) for re-admittance to those activities or programs. This decision that the Candidate has not been cleared will be communicated to appropriate officials including the Jurisdictional GED Administrator.
d. Appeal of the decision
If GED Testing Service determines that the Candidate is not cleared to participate in GED Testing Service-sponsored programs, at that time, in accordance with the policies and procedures outlined above and as described in the decision notification letter, the Candidate has the right to file an appeal of the decision to GED Testing Service’s Appeals Committee. The appeal must be submitted to GED Testing Service in writing within thirty (30) days of the Candidate’s receipt of the decision notification letter. GED Testing Service’s Appeals Committee shall review the written appeal and may confer with the GED Testing Service official who made the decision, as well as any GED Testing Service-contracted mental health professionals. The decision of GED Testing Service’s Appeals Committee must be made and communicated in writing to the Candidate within thirty (30) days of the Appeals Committee’s receipt of the Candidate’s appeal notification. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final. Notification of the appeal decision shall also be provided to the Jurisdiction GED Administrator.