LIMA — Area school superintendents met on Friday at Rhodes State College in Lima for a statewide Superintendent’s Summit. The summit shared information about Ohio’s new graduation requirements.
2022-2023 is the first school year that students will graduate using a new set of requirements that were put into place in 2019 for which the Ohio Department of Education released a final updated version in March of 2020. It is also the first year that incoming freshmen must earn one-half credit in financial literacy for graduation.
Graham Wood, Graduation and College in High School Administrator with the Ohio Department of Education said, “I do believe that there is potential for these requirements to be a really powerful tool for students throughout the state of Ohio, making their high school experience something that is more tied to what they want it to be.”
Some requirements haven’t changed. Students must earn a minimum of 20 credits. Four credits each are required in English language arts and mathematics. Three credits are needed in science and social studies. One half credit is needed in health and another half in physical education. The remaining five credits are electives.
The second step is to earn a passing score on Ohio’s Algebra I and English II tests. Students who do not pass the tests will be given additional support and retake the test again.
If the Ohio tests are not passed, there are three additional ways to show competence. The first option is that a student may demonstrate two career-focused activities by scoring proficient on the WebXams, earning a 12-point industry credential or being accepted into an apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship program. The first option also includes earning the required score on the WorkKeys test or earning an Ohio Means Jobs readiness seal.
The second option is to show evidence that you have signed a contract to enter the U.S. armed services upon graduation. The third option is to earn credit for one college level math course or college-level English course through Ohio’s College Credit Plus.
Nearly every student who would have graduated under the old requirements will graduate today under the new standards. Most students are going to demonstrate competency and earn two seals simply by taking their Ohio State tests that are required.
There are multiple options for students to chose that will customize and personalize their pathway to graduation. To complete Ohio graduation requirements students must earn two diploma seals that align with goals, passions, interests and planned steps after high school. At least one of the nine seals must be “Ohio designed,” including the following: Ohio Means Jobs readiness, industry-recognized credential, college-ready seal, military enlistment, citizenship, science, honors diploma, seal of biliteracy, and technology. Three local seals include community service, fine and performing arts and student engagement.
Data reported to the Ohio Department of Education will be used to assure that students are successfully executing their plan towards graduation in Ohio. Parents and students need to make sure that a graduation plan is in place.
Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409
