Advanced Learning Opportunities in Mathematics

Advanced learning opportunities in mathematics (ORC 3313.6032) refer to academic content that exceeds the standard curriculum for a student's grade level. This can include advanced mathematics courses that are two grade levels above the student's current level. School districts that offer advanced learning opportunities in mathematics are required to provide these opportunities to students who achieve an advanced level on relevant assessments.

District Requirements for Advanced Mathematics

Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, any school district that offers advanced learning opportunities in mathematics to some students must offer those opportunities to any student who, in the previous year, achieved an advanced level of skill on the applicable assessment or end-of-course test. Districts are not required by law to offer these same advanced learning opportunities in mathematics to students who scored below advanced (i.e., accomplished or lower), but may choose to do so. 

A school district is not required to offer “advanced learning opportunities in mathematics” if the district does not provide such opportunities or an advanced math course for the student’s grade level in the upcoming school year.

Testing

Each student shall take the corresponding required achievement assessment or end-of-course test for any “advanced learning opportunity” or “advanced mathematics course” the student takes.

Below are some example circumstances.

  • A district offers grade 7 students a compacted mathematics sequence that covers all of the Grade 7 Ohio’s Learning Standards for Mathematics and half of the Grade 8 Ohio’s Learning Standards for Mathematics during their grade 7 school year.
    • These students participate in the Grade 7 Ohio’s State Test for Mathematics.
  • A district offers grade 8 students a compacted mathematics sequence that covers all of the Grade 7 Ohio’s Learning Standards for Mathematics and half of the Grade 8 Ohio’s Learning Standards for Mathematics during their grade 7 school year and the other half of the Grade 8 Standards, along with all of the Algebra 1 Standards during their Grade 8 school year.
    • The students participate in the Algebra 1 end-of-course exam. These students will not participate in the Grade 8 Ohio’s State Test for Mathematics. They will not have a Grade 8 Ohio’s State Test for Mathematics score in their assessment records.
  • Grade 8 students are in the first year of a two-year Algebra sequence. These students receive instruction in only half of the district’s Algebra 1 curriculum during their Grade 8 school year will take the Grade 8 Ohio’s State Test for Mathematics for accountability purposes.
  • A student in grade 7 participates in an Algebra 1 course and takes the Algebra 1 end-of-course exam during the spring administration. The student does not participate in the Grade 7 or Grade 8 Ohio’s State Test for Mathematics for the school year because the student did not receive instruction in either Grade 7 or Grade 8 mathematics during the school year.

Opting out of Advanced Learning Opportunities

A parent or guardian may submit a written request for their student to opt out of receiving advanced learning opportunities in mathematics or being enrolled in an advanced mathematics course. In such a case, the district shall not be required to provide that student with advanced mathematics instruction.

The parent or guardian’s written request should include the full name of each student for whom the parent or guardian is choosing to opt out of advanced learning opportunities in mathematics.

Tip Sheets 

These tip sheets highlight and examine the implementation of Advanced Learning in Mathematics. The tip sheets also guide for parents and guardians to help make informed decisions about their student's participation in locally offered advanced learning opportunities in mathematics.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Who qualifies for advanced learning opportunities in mathematics?
Any student enrolled in any city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district who achieves an advanced level of skill on a mathematics achievement assessment or end-of-course examination with advanced learning opportunities in mathematics, including advanced mathematics courses in the following school year.

Do advanced learning opportunities in mathematics need to be a separate course?
No, advanced learning opportunities do not have to be but may be a separate course. Advanced learning opportunities should provide academic content or rigor that exceeds the standard mathematics curriculum for the student's grade level. This can include enrollment in a mathematics course that is up to two grade levels above the student's current level.

Does our district need to offer advanced mathematics courses like Honors Algebra 1 or Honors Geometry, if we do not currently?
Schools are not required to offer advanced mathematics coursework opportunities if they do not already. However, if the school offers advanced learning opportunities to its students, it is required to offer them to students who achieve an advanced level of skill on a mathematics achievement assessment.

Our district does not allow middle school students to take high school courses. Do we need to start offering high school mathematics courses to our middle school students?
Schools are not required to offer advanced mathematics coursework opportunities, such as high school courses to students in middle school, if they do not already. However, if the school offers advanced learning opportunities to their middle school students, it is required to offer them to students who achieve an advanced level of skill on a mathematics achievement assessment.

Does our district need to offer an advanced math option for our elementary students?
Schools are not required to offer advanced learning opportunities in mathematics if they do not already. However, if the school offers advanced learning opportunities to its elementary school students, it is required to offer them to students who achieve an advanced level of skill on a mathematics achievement assessment. Advanced learning opportunities should provide academic content or rigor that exceeds the standard mathematics curriculum for the student's grade level. This can include enrollment in a mathematics course that is up to two grade levels above the student's current level.

What should a district do if a student is given an advanced learning opportunity or an advanced mathematics course and is being unsuccessful?
It is recommended that if students who are receiving accelerated learning or enrolled in an advanced mathematics course, the district communicate any concerns they have with the parent or guardian of the student and follow their local policies for such a situation.
 
What are some examples of advanced learning opportunities?
Advanced learning opportunities provide academic content or rigor that exceeds the standard curriculum for the student's grade level. Examples of advanced learning opportunities in mathematics may include:
  • using local data-based decision-making to determine the mathematical topics to provide enrichment as part of local student instruction.
  • using local data-based decision-making to determine the mathematical topics to provide intensive extensions as part of local instruction for a specific group of students.
  • offering a compacted instruction model where students complete all the content associated with a single grade level or course and partial instruction of the subsequent grade level or course content in a single school year.
  • offering instruction in a course that is entirely above grade level.
  • doubling up on mathematics courses in a single school year.
    • Example 1: A student takes both Algebra 2 (or Math 3) and Statistics and Probability in a school year.
    • Example 2: A student utilizes Integrated Coursework to earn simultaneous credit.
Which assessments qualify as “mathematics achievement assessments” or “end-of-course examinations”?
Mathematics achievement assessments are the Ohio State Tests in mathematics at Grades 3 through 8. End-of-Course Examinations are the high school mathematics end-of-course exams (i.e., Algebra 1, Math 1, Geometry, and Math 2).
 
How does the school or district report students receiving advanced learning opportunities in mathematics through the Education Management Information System (EMIS)?
Schools and districts report these advanced learning opportunities via the Course Level Element on the Course Master (CN) Record. The appropriate option to report is “6” for the Advanced course. Districts should refer to EMIS Manual Section 4.7 Subject Codes to identify the appropriate Subject Code to report. As always, Subject Code decisions are local decisions and should be based on the content of the course being taught. The Department suggests the following Subject Codes for advanced learning opportunities in mathematics.
  • For students in Grades 4-6, report subject code 110150 Mathematics 4-6.
  • For students in Grade 7, report subject code 110060 Advanced Mathematics 7.
  • For students in Grade 8, report subject code 110065 Advanced Mathematics 8.
  • For students taking high school mathematics courses, use the subject code that best aligns with the mathematics course the student is taking. If a best match from the course list cannot be found, schools and districts can report subject code 119999 Other Mathematics Course.
For questions about EMIS reporting, work with your district’s EMIS coordinator.

How will students who qualify for advanced learning opportunities in mathematics be notified?
Each school district shall notify the parent or guardian of a student who qualifies for advanced learning opportunities in mathematics.
 
This might include written notifications such as a letter sent to the home or an email to the parent or guardian, informing them that their student qualifies for advanced learning opportunities in mathematics. The district may choose to include a description of the advanced learning opportunity or advanced course that the student will receive, along with an explanation of how it differs from their regular instruction.
 
Can a parent or guardian opt their student out at any time if their student is unsuccessful with the advanced learning opportunities being provided?
A parent or guardian can opt  their student out of an advanced learning opportunity in mathematics at any time before the completion of the advanced instruction in accordance with local procedures for such action. The Department provides an Advanced Learning Opportunities Parent and Guardian Opt-Out Form that schools and districts can use or they can choose to create their own. 

Last Modified: 1/22/2026 9:26:40 AM