OHIO EDUCATION Democrats unveil initiatives to create successful schools

Students who fail one section of the proficiency test could still graduate under the proposal.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- State lawmakers are proposing a number of initiatives aimed at enhancing education, including a change to the state's "high stakes" proficiency tests, a local senator said.
State Sen. Timothy Ryan of Niles, D-32nd, held a news conference Monday at Warren G. Harding High School to announce state Democrats' proposed plan to enhance Senate Bill 1.
The bill addresses the state's widely criticized school funding formula.
Democrats' Successful Schools Plan outlines initiatives to improve proficiency tests, teacher training and statewide academic development.
Ryan focused on proposed changes to what he called the state's "high stakes" proficiency tests.
"It's a heated topic around here," he said. The proposed plan, he said, "is reasonable; we think it has some chance of passing."
Ohio students must pass all parts of the ninth grade proficiency test to graduate from high school.
Under Democrats' plan, seniors would still be able to graduate if they pass all parts except for one, scoring within 10 points of the cutoff, Ryan said.
Additional requirements: Those students must also have a 97 percent attendance rate, pass all courses, maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average, and receive favorable recommendations from principals and all classroom instructors.
Facing disciplinary action during that year disqualifies students from passing, the proposal says.
Democrats also want to reduce the length of the test and ensure there will not be more than two days of testing within one week.
The proposal also aims to remove wording that groups test scores as "below basic," "basic," "proficient" and "advanced" and replace it with phrases such as "student may need additional instruction time or intervention."
Republican lawmakers will likely hold a hearing on the proposal, which if approved, would go into effect in the fall, Ryan noted.
"We're trying to set up a plan for what a successful school is," Ryan said, explaining that Ohio proficiency tests are administered unfairly and are not indicative of students' achievement.