It's possible to apply for a waiver (google GED age waiver).
You could always lie about the student's age, too. Once s/he has the GED, you'll have satisfied the requirements of one set of bureaucrats, who hopefully won't get in touch with the other set of bureaucrats.
So, essentially kids who want to attend programs like PEG and get federal financial aid will need to get a GED age waiver and pass the GED test first rather than just forgoing a high school diploma/GED?
That sounds feasible but it just adds one extra step.
Googling GED Age Waiver, the first link states
"You need to be 19 years of age to take an official GED (high school equivalency) Test in the state of Minnesota. If you are 16, 17, or 18 years old, you will need to apply for and obtain an age waiver from the MN Department of Education. This age waiver gives you permission to take the test before you are 19 years old."
There are gifted students 15 years old and even younger who belong in college. The NAGC should ask Congress to amend the law in the way I suggested earlier, allowing SAT or ACT scores as substitutes for the GED.
Studies have found that GED holders more closely resemble high school dropouts than graduates in outcomes. It does not certify much. I think that as an alternative to the current GED test, passing scores on the ACT and SAT should be defined for a GED.
