NOVEMBER: Legislative leaders say graduation changes nearly certain
RELATED: School leaders talk about graduation changes
The graduation changes were added to House Bill 491 as an amendment. The bill would give current seniors exactly the same graduation options that the Class of 2018 had. Students would still have to pass the required 20 classroom credits, take all state “end-of-course” tests and retake any English or math tests where they scored a 1 or 2 on the 5-point scale.
But instead of needing certain scores on those tests, students could earn a diploma by meeting two of nine unrelated standards that include good senior-year attendance, strong senior-year classroom grades, work/service hours and a variety of other options. Students who already passed state tests would still qualify to graduate via that route.
SEPTEMBER: Work group recommends graduation changes
AUGUST: 2019 graduation rules send kids, schools scrambling
The amendment sets largely the same graduation alternatives for the Class of 2020, with a few tweaks. Work/service hours and “capstone projects” for Class of 2020 students would have to meet standards set by ODE, and the strong classroom grades option would apply to courses taken in both junior and senior year.
The changes to the graduation requirements are being considered because of fears that many more students would not earn diplomas if they had to pass new harder state exams to do so.
JULY 2017: State OKs softer graduation rules for Class of 2018
DECEMBER 2017: Graduation rates rise; Ohio ranks low for black students
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