Ohio raised its graduation requirements, promising graduates would be ready for college and careers. Now the state Board of Education is considering lowering requirements amid fears that one third of 11th graders aren’t on track for a diploma.
The recommendations would destroy the value of a diploma, argue Chad L. Aldis and Aaron Churchill, who work for Fordham in Ohio, in the Plain Dealer.
Currently, students in the class of 2018 and beyond have three paths to a diploma. They may achieve a passing score on seven end-of-course exams, achieve a “remediation-free” ACT or SAT score, or complete career and technical education requirements. The recommendations . . . would award students a diploma if they meet any two of six new conditions. They include a satisfactory attendance rate, a 2.5 grade point average, completion of a “capstone” project, work or community service, completion of a college-level course, or completion of an AP course.
A student could receive a diploma for attending school 93 percent of the time and holding down a part-time job or doing a community service project.
Aldis and Churchill suggest a tiered diploma system that would let students earn a standard, college/career ready or honors diploma.