Ohio’s Options for a High School Diploma
Jennifer Felker, Associate Superintendent
Division of Learning and School Choice
November 7, 2014
Address the 40%
Remediation Rate
Higher Expectations
Transition to
End-of-Course Exams
2
Law Establishes Ohio’s Options
for a High School Diploma
7 End-of-Course Exams
New Pathways to a Diploma
Flexibility for Students and Schools
3
Ohio’s Options for a High
School Diploma
Course
Requirements
Assessments
Requirements
Demonstration of Readiness
High School Diploma
4
Ohio Course Requirements
Ohio Course
Requirement
English Language Arts
Minimum Units
Required
4 Units
Mathematics
4 Units
Science
3 Units
Social Studies
3 Units
Health
½ Unit
Physical Education
½ Unit
Electives
5 Units
Note: This table is a high-level summary and does not cover all substitutions
and required instruction. It also does not cover the Ohio Course Requirement
Opt-Out which offers flexibility for students on Algebra II.
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Assessment Requirements
1.
2.
3.
4.
English I
English II
Algebra I
Geometry
5. Physical Science
6. American History
7. American
Government
Students may take exams for these
courses in lieu of state exams:
Substitute
• Advanced Placement (AP)
Exams:
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Dual Enrollment
Substitute exams: Only in Physical Science, American History and American Government.
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Demonstration of Readiness
Overall
Student earns a minimum number
Graduation
of points from all exams
Points
Student earns remediation-free
Remediation
score on a national college
Free Score
admission test (e.g., ACT/SAT)
Industry
Credential &
Workforce
Score
Student earns an approved
industry-recognized credential and
earns workforce readiness score on
job skills assessment
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Graduation Points System
8
Graduation Points
Performance
Level
Advanced
Accelerated
Proficient
Basic
Limited
Graduation
Points
5
4
3
2
1
9
Graduation Points
Set the minimum number of overall
graduation points required: 18
– English: 4 points
– Math: 4 points
– Science and Social Studies: 6 points
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Graduation Points Example
Algebra I
3
English I
1
Geometry
3
English II
4
Math
6
English
5
American
History
American
Government
Physical
Science
Science &
Social Studies
3
2
3
8
Total Graduation Points: 19 
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End-of-Course Exam Retakes
Score Below
Proficient
May retake exam
after remediation
Score Proficient
or Above
May only retake any
exam after
remediation if
student has not met
overall points total
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End-of-Course Exam Retakes
Substitute exams may be used
interchangeably – the same rules apply
Students who earned course credit before
new state tests automatically receive three
points for the subject. They may take the
end-of-course exam for a higher score.
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Transfer Students (Part 1)
• Minimum graduation points prorated if there
are scores or remaining exams
Exams
Remaining
7
6
5
Points
Required
18
15
13
Exams
Remaining
4
3
2
Points
Required
10
8
5
• At least 5 points must come from English II
and Integrated Math II/Geometry exams
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Transfer Students (Part 2)
Transferring students with no scores or only
one exam remaining will take the ACT/SAT
upon enrolling
If student does not score remediation-free,
student will take English II and Integrated
Math II exams
– Student must score 5 points across both
exams
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Transfer Student Example
Student moves from another state in their
sophomore year
Previously earned credit for Algebra I, English I
and Physical Science
Student’s Graduation Requirement:
• Earn 10 points on remaining exams
• Earn at least 5 points across English II
and Geometry or Integrated Math II exams
16
Job Skills and College
Admissions Test
Job skills test:
• Selection in December
• Highest verifiable score counts
College admissions test:
• Highest verifiable score counts
• Administered to juniors in fall of 2016
17
College and Work Ready
Assessment Transition
18
Implementation
Applies to students
entering ninth grade on
or after July 1, 2014
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Implementation
Students earning credit in tested course
before July 1, 2014 receive get three points
Students earning credit in tested science
and social studies courses before Jan. 31,
2015 receive three points
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Implementation
Students automatically receiving points will
have retake opportunity for higher score
Ohio Graduation Test retakes available
until Sept. 1, 2022
Exchange students exempt from social
studies exams
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Implementation
Requirements for dropout prevention and
recovery students:
• Competency-based education program
• Not required to take end of course exams
• May use any of the three pathways
• Focus on workforce readiness path
–Industry credential and workforce score
22
Prepared for Success
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Prepared for Success
• District and School Report Cards include
ACT, SAT, AP and IB performance data
• Starting with the 2015 Report Cards, the
Prepared for Success measures will be
based on data reported to the Ohio
Department of Education by districts
• Districts are reporting that data now
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Prepared for Success
• EMIS Coordinators are responsible for
submitting this data to the department.
• However, in many districts, school
counselors are the only staff who have
ACT, SAT, AP or IB data.
• If you have not already heard from your
EMIS Coordinator – please reach out!
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Questions?
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education.ohio.gov
27
Follow Superintendent Ross
on Twitter
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Social Media
Ohio Families and Education
Ohio Teachers’ Homeroom
ohio-department-of-education
storify.com/ohioEdDept
@OHEducation
OhioEdDept
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