Ohio Changes Graduation Requirements
ANCHOR INTRO
The Ohio Department of Education recently passed Ohio House Bill 487, which established new requirements for earning a high school diploma in Ohio. This bill changes the graduation qualifications for this year’s freshman and beyond. Reporter Sarah Bergert tells you why Kent City Schools embraces this change as a positive one.
Starting with the class of 2018, each student will take seven different exams required by the state throughout his or her high school career. The seven different exams will be broken up between four different core courses. Each student will have to take two English exams, two math exams, two social studies exams and one science exam. Each of the exams will be graded on a 5-point scale. If the student scores all five points on one exam, he or she is considered advanced in that subject. If the student scores a one on any exam, he or she is considered to know a limited amount of knowledge about that subject. Every student must score at least 18 points between all seven exams. If not, he or she will have to retake the tests.
The new system triggers three pathways for graduation. The first graduation option is for a student to earn 18 cumulative points throughout all seven exams. The second option is for a student to earn a remediation-free status on a college admissions test. The final graduation option is for the student to qualify for an industry workplace credential.
Kent City Schools Direction of Instructional Program Karen Rumley says that the many graduation options offer Kent City students a range of flexibility. “It gives our kids a better way of being able to demonstrate who they are and what they know as they graduate,” Rumley said.
TESTING SCALE
5 points = Advanced
4 points = Accelerated
3 points = Proficient
2 points = Basic
1 point = Limited
* A student must score at least 18 cumulative points between all seven tests.
TESTING IN KENT
Kent City Schools decided to take the required tests using paper and pencils instead of having students take the test using a computer. Kent City Schools Direction of Instructional Program Karen Rumley says that this will give the students, teachers and technology more time to “get up to speed.”
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The Ohio Department of Education’s website offers answers to frequently asked questions. Click on the link provided to view some of the answers to the questions that you have.