Legislature removes barrier for some veterans seeking HS diploma

A bill to remove barriers some veterans face when seeking to obtain high school diplomas that qualify them for better jobs in civilian life will go to Gov. Kate Brown for signature.

House Bill 2220 – which passed by a 29-0 vote on the Senate floor Tues day – eliminates the General Educational Development exam, post-secondary degree and Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery minimum score as requirements to obtain high school diplomas when veterans do not graduate because they left school early for military service.

“Many veterans left school early to serve their country fighting overseas,” said Sen. Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay), who carried the bill in the Senate. “They should not be punished in civilian life for making this heroic sacrifice when they go to apply for jobs and promotions. This bill simplifies the process for many veterans to make it easier for them to gain the high school diplomas they deserve that can help them with getting jobs and advancing in their careers. It’s the right thing to do.”

Under current Oregon law, school districts in the state can issue high school diplomas upon request to veterans who left school early but met certain qualifications, which include the following:

Attended a high school prior to serving in the armed forces; Did not graduate from high school due to that service; Were discharged or released under honorable conditions; Served in the armed forces during specified wars or conflicts; and Received a General Education Development certificate, post-secondary degree or minimum score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. Backers of the bill said the last requirement has been outdated since the mid-1960s, when the U.S. armed forces began considering applicants’ educational levels in making enlistment decisions. Currently, all recruits must take the ASVAB test, and 90 percent of enlistees possess high school diplomas. The minimum educational requirement for enlistment is a GED.

The bill eliminates these requirements, which largely pertain to older veterans who may be challenged in their pursuit of job opportunities and promotions requiring a high school diploma.

HB 2220 now goes to Gov. Kate Brown for signature.