By Catherine Candisky and Shannon Gilchrist, The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS – Ohio’s new high-school graduation requirements likely will be lowered even before they take effect because of worries so many students can’t meet them.
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School administrators, who will stage a rare rally Nov. 15 at the Statehouse to protest the new requirements, say in some districts as many as half of the seniors may not receive diplomas in 2018 because they are not on track to meet the tougher state benchmarks.
“It’s important to get this right, and not graduating in some cases 50 percent of students is not acceptable,” said Senate Education Chairwoman Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering.
She said she expects “we will make adjustments” to the requirements. “We can’t drag it out … kids are being stressed.”
Starting with the class of 2018, this year’s juniors, students no longer will be required to pass the Ohio Graduation Test to receive a diploma. Instead, they must meet one of three options: earn 18 out of a possible 35 points on seven end-of-course exams taken during high school; get a “remediation-free” score on a college-entrance exam; or obtain an industry credential to show they are ready for a job.
When approved by lawmakers in 2014, supporters said the requirements would better prepare students to enter the workforce or college, which large numbers must take remedial classes.
But some school administrators report that 20 to 50 percent of their students have scored below levels needed on end-of-course exams, putting them at risk of not graduating.
The Ohio Board of Education will discuss the matter at its next meeting Nov. 14-15 in Columbus. With input from the state Department of Education, members are expected to make changes relaxing the standards. Legislative action also may be needed.