Yes, a credit in algebra II or its equivalent is required to meet math curriculum units for high school graduation. There is no end-of-course test for algebra II or its equivalent. 

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Schools must administer seven end-of-course exams and students are expected to take them. There is no law that allows a parent or student to opt out of state testing, and there is no state test opt-out procedure or form. It is important to understand that while students can meet their requirements to graduate without taking some or all state tests, schools and district still are held accountable on the Ohio School Report Cards for all seven tests required in state law.

To meet Ohio’s graduation test requirements, a student must fulfill one of three pathways. The Ohio Department of Education anticipates that the majority of students will use the end-of-course exams as their pathway to graduate. Through this pathway, students must earn a total of 18 points with enough points in the required content areas to earn a high school diploma. There will be students who perform well early and reach the required 18 points with points in the required content areas prior to completing all seven exams. In this situation, these students have met their requirements for a high school diploma. If students meet the requirements of one of the other two pathways without reaching 18 points on end-of-course exams, they earn a high school diploma.

However, even in cases where a student may not need to take one or more end-of-course exams to graduate, federal and state laws require all districts and schools to test all high school students in algebra I or integrated math I, geometry or integrated math 2, English I, English II, biology, American history and American government. If a parent does not allow a child to participate in certain state tests, there may be consequences for the child, the child’s teacher, and the school and district, including consequences on the Ohio School Report Cards. To help parents make informed decisions, schools should provide in writing the possible consequences of failing to test, as well information about other district consequences. Schools are not required to — but may want to — request that a parent place in writing a decision not to participate, so there is a record of why the student was not tested.

State tests are critical for measuring student learning and ensuring that every Ohio student receives a high-quality education. The results from state tests are how we hold districts, schools and teachers accountable and ensure that all children receive the services needed to succeed. Student test scores are the foundation of Ohio’s A-F school and district report cards, which are designed to show parents, taxpayers and school leaders how well students are performing.

Please direct questions on the new graduation requirements to gradrequirements@education.ohio.gov.

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Students should take the end-of-course tests soon after the school certifies mastery in the content. This is normally after the corresponding course. However, in the case of an accelerated student, the Department suggests that the district administers the test during the next testing window after the student is identified as accelerated. Here is more information on acceleration.

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Yes, the district may choose to use the results of the end-of-course test to entirely satisfy or as a part of the criteria for testing-out of a course.

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The student would take the high school end-of-course test and may not take the eighth-grade level test. If a student is taking two high school courses in the same content area, then the school is to administer end-of-course tests in both courses. 

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The content of the course determines the test. Those students who are taking a course sequence that aligns with integrated math should take the integrated math end-of-course test. Districts can use this document to determine which state assessment should be given for a specific course

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No. A student who earned transcripted high school credit in any tested courses before July 1, 2015, and a test was not available, the student will receive graduation points based on his or her grade in the course.

A student who took a high school course in the middle school and did not receive transcripted high school credit is still required to take the end-of-course test. The department recommends taking the end-of-course test during one of the two 2015-2016 opportunities.

The following conversion chart should be used to determine the number of graduation points a student will receive based on the transcripted grade the student receives for high school courses prior to an end-of-course test being available.

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Although it is true that some tests do not receive scores until after student graduation, most students taking Advanced Placement or college courses already will have satisfied the graduation requirements. Students who have not satisfied the requirements should consider this timing issue when choosing whether to take the state tests or another pathway.

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Yes. Per state law, districts and schools must administer the end-of-course state test to juniors and seniors taking American government and American history.

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• Fall Block administration;
• Spring administration; and
• Summer administration (if offered).

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School districts must ensure that students have the required points for graduation. 

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Yes. This is in state law. 

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Integrating the concepts of financial literacy and economics remains a required activity of each school.

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College Credit Plus courses, in the subject area, will satisfy the graduation requirement of American history, American government, physical science and biology; and the college course grade earned under College Credit Plus will substitute for the end-of-course exams as follows to quantify student graduation point requirements

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The following conversion chart should be used to determine the number of graduation points a student will receive based on the grade he or she receives for a College Credit Plus (dual enrollment) course that substitutes for physical science, biology, American history or American government.

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The list is used for purposes beyond graduation requirements for traditional high school students. For example, it also applies to students enrolled in the Adult Diploma Pilot Program, which is an avenue for high school dropouts to transition to the workforce. This is why some of the credentials require previous experience. 

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The State Board of Education approved the methodology for building the credential list in September 2014.

The two ways the department will add credentials to the list include:

1. Updating credentials tied to Ohio’s in-demand occupations; and
2. Reviewing and considering suggestions submitted from the public. 

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Students at dropout recovery or credit recovery schools also must be prepared to follow one of the three pathways (i.e., accumulate 18 points on the end-of-course tests; earn remediation-free scores on the college readiness assessment; or obtain industry-recognized credentials and pass the WorkKeys assessment). However, these schools have the option of not administering the end-of-course tests if students are not at the appropriate place in the school’s competency-based curriculum at the time of the testing window. Each school or district makes a local decision about how to best prepare students to meet those requirements. 

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Districts should consult with their information technology centers and student software providers to get answers to software coding questions. 

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The Ohio Department of Education will not provide specific remediation guidelines for students retaking the assessments. Students who were to take a state end-of-course test during the 2014-2015 academic year may retake any test because of student safe harbor requirements.

It is the recommendation that districts set remediation policies that would require students to receive support in proportion to their success on the state end-of-course tests prior to retaking the tests.

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All students, including students with disabilities, must participate in state assessments. The Individualized Education Program (IEP) team may exempt a student with disabilities from consequences of not being proficient on end-of-course tests. When the IEP team determines a student is exempt from being proficient on an end-of-course test, the student may receive three points (equivalent to proficient) for each exempted test required for graduation. There is no alternate test for end-of-course tests.

Some students may be eligible to participate in an alternate assessment per the Alternate Assessment for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities participation guidelines. For these students, a proficient score in each of the content areas – English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies – may replace the graduation requirement of a minimum composite score on the seven end-of-course tests. 

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Students who transfer into a district from out-of-state and students previously home-schooled with no previous test scores will have their minimum graduation point requirement prorated. The table below shows how the points change based on the number of tests remaining.

 
Regardless of the tests remaining, at minimum, out-of-state and home-school transfer students must take the English II and either the integrated math II or geometry end-of-course tests and earn a minimum of five points across tests in order to graduate.

Students must also test in any course that they have not yet completed if the course has a corresponding end-of-course test. Therefore, if a student transfers in with only biology and American government left to take, the student would be required to take the biology, American government, English II and Geometry (or Integrated Math II) tests, and earn a total of 10 points, five of which must come from the English and mathematics tests.

If a student transfers in with only one test or no tests remaining, the student may take the college and career readiness tests. If the student meets the remediation-free scores on the ACT or SAT, they will have satisfied the assessment component of the graduation requirements. If the student does not earn a remediation-free score, then the student must take the English II and either the geometry or integrated math II end-of-course tests plus any tests associated with courses that they have not yet taken and earn the required prorated points to satisfy the graduation requirements.

This prorated graduation point option takes effect with the class of 2018. These are students who entered the ninth grade for the first time in the 2014-2015 school year. Students who started high school before to July 1, 2014 must pass the five Ohio Graduation Tests (OGT) or satisfy the new assessment options for OGT students provided here.

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Students who took a course before the corresponding end-of-course became available and received high school credit for the course on their transcript will receive graduation points based on the course grade. Find the guideline here.

Students transferring between any two Ohio public or community schools must meet all of the requirements and follow all the rules of Ohio’s State Tests to graduate through this pathway. The transfer guidance is not applicable to these students.

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Students who took a course prior to the test being available and received transcripted high school credit for the course will receive graduation points based on the course grade. Use guideline found here.

Students who took a course with an associated test at a chartered non-public school during the 2014-15 school year and the Chartered Non-Public School did not offer the assessments may receive graduation points based on the course grade. Find the guideline here.

Students who took courses with associated tests after July 1, 2015, must earn graduation points based on the Ohio State Tests in order to meet this graduation pathway.

A student transferring to a public school from a chartered non-public school is permitted to take or retake any Ohio State Test to receive a score or high score in order to obtain the required 18 points or minimum points needed to meet this graduation pathway.

Students who took courses with associated tests at a chartered nonpublic school after July 1, 2015, must earn graduation points based on Ohio’s State Tests or an approved alternative test (Terra Nova or IOWA) in order to meet this graduation pathway. Find more information here.

Students who earn graduation points on an approved alternative test (Terra Nova or IOWA) may maintain their points earned upon transferring to a public district and will not be required to retake a corresponding Ohio State Test.

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Special considerations may apply to students from a military family who are transferring to an Ohio public school district. 

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Yes. Transfer students who entered grade nine between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015 and have not otherwise met the graduation requirements as outlined in the transfer student guidance are eligible to utilize the new graduation options.  

These students must take all required Ohio State Tests as outlined in the transfer student guidance found here.  They must retake any required math or ELA Ohio State Test for which they scored a one or two.

Example: Based on an out-of-state transfer student’s prior completed courses, we have determined the student must take three tests – ELA II, Geometry, and American Government – and earn 8 graduation points, five of which must come from ELA II and Geometry.  If the student does not meet these requirements they must retake the ELA II and Geometry tests if they scored a one or two in order to utilize the new graduation options.

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