Section 3301.0710. Ohio graduation tests

The state board of education shall adopt rules establishing a statewide program to assess student achievement. The state board shall ensure that all assessments administered under the program are aligned with the academic standards and model curricula adopted by the state board and are created with input from Ohio parents, Ohio classroom teachers, Ohio school administrators, and other Ohio school personnel pursuant to section 3301.079 of the Revised Code.

The assessment program shall be designed to ensure that students who receive a high school diploma demonstrate at least high school levels of achievement in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

(A)

(1) The state board shall prescribe all of the following:

(a) Two statewide achievement assessments, one each designed to measure the level of English language arts and mathematics skill expected at the end of third grade;

(b) Three statewide achievement assessments, one each designed to measure the level of English language arts, mathematics, and social studies skill expected at the end of fourth grade;

(c) Three statewide achievement assessments, one each designed to measure the level of English language arts, mathematics, and science skill expected at the end of fifth grade;

(d) Three statewide achievement assessments, one each designed to measure the level of English language arts, mathematics, and social studies skill expected at the end of sixth grade;

(e) Two statewide achievement assessments, one each designed to measure the level of English language arts and mathematics skill expected at the end of seventh grade;

(f) Three statewide achievement assessments, one each designed to measure the level of English language arts, mathematics, and science skill expected at the end of eighth grade.

(2) The state board shall determine and designate at least five ranges of scores on each of the achievement assessments described in divisions (A)(1) and (B)(1) of this section. Each range of scores shall be deemed to demonstrate a level of achievement so that any student attaining a score within such range has achieved one of the following:

(a) An advanced level of skill;

(b) An accelerated level of skill;

(c) A proficient level of skill;

(d) A basic level of skill;

(e) A limited level of skill.

(3) For the purpose of implementing division (A) of section 3313.608 of the Revised Code, the state board shall determine and designate a level of achievement, not lower than the level designated in division (A)(2)(e) of this section, on the third grade English language arts assessment for a student to be promoted to the fourth grade. The state board shall review and adjust upward the level of achievement designated under this division each year the test is administered until the level is set equal to the level designated in division (A)(2)(c) of this section.

(B)

(1) The assessments prescribed under division (B)(1) of this section shall collectively be known as the Ohio graduation tests. The state board shall prescribe five statewide high school achievement assessments, one each designed to measure the level of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies skill expected at the end of tenth grade. The state board shall designate a score in at least the range designated under division (A)(2)(c) of this section on each such assessment that shall be deemed to be a passing score on the assessment as a condition toward granting high school diplomas under sections 3313.61, 3313.611, 3313.612, and 3325.08 of the Revised Code until the assessment system prescribed by section 3301.0712 of the Revised Code is implemented in accordance with division (B)(2) of this section.

(2) The state board shall prescribe an assessment system in accordance with section 3301.0712 of the Revised Code that shall replace the Ohio graduation tests beginning with students who enter the ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2014.

(3) The state board may enter into a reciprocal agreement with the appropriate body or agency of any other state that has similar statewide achievement assessment requirements for receiving high school diplomas, under which any student who has met an achievement assessment requirement of one state is recognized as having met the similar requirement of the other state for purposes of receiving a high school diploma. For purposes of this section and sections 3301.0711 and 3313.61 of the Revised Code, any student enrolled in any public high school in this state who has met an achievement assessment requirement specified in a reciprocal agreement entered into under this division shall be deemed to have attained at least the applicable score designated under this division on each assessment required by division (B)(1) or (2) of this section that is specified in the agreement.

(C) The superintendent of public instruction shall designate dates and times for the administration of the assessments prescribed by divisions (A) and (B) of this section.

In prescribing administration dates pursuant to this division, the superintendent shall designate the dates in such a way as to allow a reasonable length of time between the administration of assessments prescribed under this section and any administration of the national assessment of educational progress given to students in the same grade level pursuant to section 3301.27 of the Revised Code or federal law.

(D) The state board shall prescribe a practice version of each Ohio graduation test described in division (B)(1) of this section that is of comparable length to the actual test.

(E) Any committee established by the department of education for the purpose of making recommendations to the state board regarding the state board's designation of scores on the assessments described by this section shall inform the state board of the probable percentage of students who would score in each of the ranges established under division (A)(2) of this section on the assessments if the committee's recommendations are adopted by the state board. To the extent possible, these percentages shall be disaggregated by gender, major racial and ethnic groups, limited English proficient students, economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and migrant students.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 487, §1, eff. 9/17/2014.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.184, HB 555, §1, eff. 3/22/2013.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.128, SB 316, §101.01, eff. 9/24/2012.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 06-09-2004; 07-01-2006; 03-30-2007; 2007 HB190 11-14-2007