The Mississippi Community College Board is authorized to develop and establish general educational development preparatory classes in secondary schools and community/junior colleges and to provide financial assistance from the state for the specific purpose of preparing persons sixteen (16) years of age and older, not enrolled in school or required to be enrolled in school by the Compulsory School Attendance Law (Section 37-13-91) to successfully write the general educational development test and earn a certificate of equivalency which is equivalent to the high school diploma.

The Mississippi Community College Board is authorized to administer the High School Equivalency Diploma Testing Program in accordance with the policies and guidelines of the High School Equivalency Diploma Testing Service of the American Council on Education. Such administration shall include the approval of rules and regulations for the administration, scoring, issuing of transcripts and awarding of diplomas for the High School Equivalency Diploma Testing Program. The Mississippi Community College Board is hereby authorized to assess a fee in an amount not to exceed Five Dollars ($5.00) for issuing an additional copy of a High School Equivalency Diploma transcript.

This program shall be administered by the Mississippi Community College Board through the secondary schools and community/junior colleges as the local needs indicate and are practical.

Full and general supervision over the program by the Mississippi Community College Board shall insure that duplication of effort by secondary schools and community/junior colleges will be eliminated; however, nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a school district from implementing a program of High School Equivalency Diploma preparatory instruction.

Adult students for general educational development preparatory classes may be accepted by schools and junior colleges from any area of the state provided students are bona fide residents of Mississippi.

Instructors, counselors and supervisors utilized in the teaching of general educational development preparatory classes shall be licensed in the appropriate area as required by the Mississippi Community College Board.