Ohio Department of Education (ODE) recently published new graduation pathways for the 2020-21 school year that are derived from the recently enacted House Bill 67. The first pathway is curriculum-only. The second pathway is curriculum requirements and OhioMeansJobs-readiness Seal. Both pathways help students gain their diploma during a highly challenging year and create flexibility for schools. 

The curriculum-only pathway is for any student who meets two criteria: 
•    The student was enrolled in the 12th grade in the 2020-21 school year or was on track to graduate in the 2020-21 school year, as determined by the school district, regardless of the graduation cohort in which the student is included.  
•    The student had not completed the requirements for a high school diploma. 

This pathway to a diploma creates the flexibility for districts to award diplomas to students who have successfully completed the curriculum requirements, while forgoing all other additional requirements for a diploma. ODE recommends that schools maintain documentation of decisions regarding graduation status when using this flexibility. Documentation can include narrative justification for decision made, records from the student’s entire high-school career, and evidence of participation in education opportunities during the 2020-21 school year. 

The second pathway requires the student to complete the curriculum requirements in R.C. 3313.603 or completing the individualized education program developed for the student by the student’s individualized education program team as well as earning an OhioMeansJobs-readiness Seal established under R.C. 3313.6112.

For more detailed information regarding these new pathways toward graduation, please visit ODE’s website.

As always, the OSBA division of legal services continues to monitor these ODE updates and will post information as it becomes available. If you have questions, please contact the division at 1-855-OSBA-LAW.
 

Posted by Ralph Lusher III on 4/16/2021