Ohio Changes Graduation Requirements For High School Students

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio has changed its standardized testing and graduation requirements for the 2020-2021 school year.

House Bill 67, signed into law this weekend by Gov. Mike DeWine, exempts public schools from having to administer the end-of-year American history exam; extends the state's spring testing window; and provides flexibility for high school juniors and seniors seeking to graduate.

“With the wide inequity of preparation of schools, teachers and students and the wide variety of learning platforms being utilized during the pandemic, it’s only fair that we provide schools, teachers and students with flexibility when it comes to end of year assessments,” said State Rep. Adam Bird, a Republican from New Richmond and one of the authors of the legislation.

Here's everything the legislation will do:

• Allows students in grades 11 and 12 to use end of course grades instead of mandated tests to fulfill graduation requirements
• Provides flexibility for graduation requirements
• Allows home educated schools to forgo end of year assessments
• Extends end of year testing windows by up to two weeks
• Extends date for reporting data for the state report card from September 15 to October 14
• Waives the state-only American History assessment
• Adds the OhioMeansJobs readiness Seal as a graduation pathway for the 2020-2021 school year
• Provides clarification to Community Schools that their ratings cannot qualify them for incentives, unless they were eligible prior to the 2020-2021 school year

The legislation included an emergency clause, ensuring it is implemented immediately.

"This year was incredibly difficult for Ohio's students, teachers and families who met the challenges posed by the pandemic head-on," said State Sen. Andrew Brenner, Chairman of the Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee. "I thank my colleagues in both the House and Senate for their collaborative effort to provide flexibility and take swift action to help Ohio's juniors and seniors."