Task force to review concerns over graduation requirements

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

The state Board of Education is creating a task force to review Ohio’s graduation requirements and make recommendations for addressing concerns that new requirements are putting a large number of current high school juniors at risk of not graduating on time.

Some school superintendents estimate one-third or more of their current juniors are in jeopardy of not graduating in 2018 unless officials alter requirements for that class. To graduate, they must earn certain points on more demanding end-of-course exams, achieve a remediation-free score on a college-entrance exam or get a job-credential for certain industries.

The board voted Tuesday to create a panel to make recommendations about the graduation requirements, which begin with the class of 2018. The group would include educators, school administrators, lawmakers and parents, among other stakeholders.

Earlier Tuesday, a board committee rejected a proposal to lower the points requirement for the end-of-course exams.

Some board members expressed concern about adjusting the requirements while having limited data to inform their decisions.