Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A) For the
purposes of this rule, "advanced science" refers to courses in the Ohio
curriculum as defined in division (C)(5)(c) of section
3313.603 of the Revised Code, an
AP/IB science course, or a college credit plus science course.
(B) Each school district shall award the
diploma with honors to any student who is determined to be eligible in
accordance with the following provisions:
(1)
Successfully completes the high school curriculum or the individualized
education program developed for the student by the high school or demonstrates
technical expertise in a career-technical education program;
(2) Has satisfied the assessment requirements
referenced in division (A)(2)(a)(i) or (A)(2)(b) of section
3313.61 of the Revised Code;
and
(3) Meets the criteria for
honors as provided in this rule.
(C) No school district shall require students
to apply for or declare intention to qualify for the diploma with
honors.
(D) Upon initial receipt of
this rule after its adoption, and each school year thereafter, each school
district shall notify all high school students and their parents of the
adoption of this rule and of the criteria required for earning the diplomas
provided by this rule.
(E) The
school district shall not add to, nor delete from, the criteria provided in
paragraphs (I) to (Q) of this rule.
(F) The provisions of paragraph (E) of this
rule shall not be interpreted to prohibit a school district from recognizing
academic excellence in additional ways that the local district board of
education deems appropriate.
(G)
Each school district that enrolls students in a joint vocational school shall
involve the joint vocational district in the development of any policy,
guidelines, or procedures adopted pursuant to this rule. Each joint vocational
school district shall provide at least annually to the appropriate home
district information regarding the status with respect to this rule of each
student who is enrolled at the vocational school.
(H) The diploma awarded in accordance with
this rule shall be in such form as the district board of education prescribes;
bear the date of its issue; and contain the signatures of the president and
treasurer of the district board of education, the superintendent of schools,
and the principal of the high school.
(I) To be awarded a diploma with honors, the
student shall be required to meet at least all but one of the criteria for the
specified type of honors diploma. A student shall not be required to meet more
than the specified number of criteria, nor shall any student be required to
meet any one specified criterion.
(1) Any
student who receives high school credit for a course in accordance with the
provisions of former Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code (postsecondary
enrollment options) or current Chapter 3365. of the Revised Code (college
credit plus) or in accordance with the provisions of division (G) of section
3313.603 of the Revised Code
(credit for advanced work below ninth grade), shall receive credit for the
course toward the requirements of this rule provided the course is related to a
subject area listed in the criteria for the honors diploma.
(2) Students entering the ninth grade between
July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2022 may choose to pursue the honors diploma by
meeting the requirements of the former rule or by meeting the requirements set
forth herein.
(3) Students entering
the ninth grade on or after July 1, 2022 must meet all of the requirements set
forth in this rule to receive an honors diploma.
(J) The following are part of the criteria
for any honors diploma for any student.
(1) An
overall high school grade point average of at least 3.5 on a four-point scale
maintained up to the last grading period of the senior year;
(2) A composite score of twenty-seven on the
2016 ACT assessment (excluding the optional writing test) or a combined score
of twelve hundred eighty on the 2016 SAT math and evidence-based reading and
writing sections, or an equivalent score on future ACT or SAT assessments. A
table aligning new ACT and SAT assessment scores with old assessment scores is
available on the department of education's website at
education.ohio.gov;
(3) At least
four units of mathematics which include algebra I, geometry, algebra II (or its
equivalent), and one other higher level course, or a four course sequence that
contains equivalent or higher content;
(4) With the exception of the career
technical honors diploma, either three units of one world language or no less
than two units of each of two world languages studied. The criteria under this
paragraph for the career technical honors diploma is two units of world
language; and
(5) Completion of
experiential learning, including one of the following:
(a) Completion of a field experience
documented by a portfolio of work;
(b) Attainment of the OhioMeansJobs-
readiness seal in accordance with section
3313.6112 of the Revised Code;
or
(c) Completion of work-based
learning.
(K)
To earn any honors diploma, except as specified in paragraph (K)(6) of this
paragraph, a student may use one of the following demonstrations instead of the
criteria set forth in paragraph (J)(1), (J)(2), or (J)(4) of this rule:
(1) Earn twelve college credits through the
college credit plus program;
(2)
Complete three advanced placement courses with a score of three or higher on
the corresponding advanced placement assessments;
(3) Earn twelve articulated college credits
through career-technical articulation guides (CTAGs);
(4) Accomplish one of the following:
(a) Complete an apprenticeship registered
with the Ohio state apprenticeship council;
(b) Complete a pre-apprenticeship program
recognized by the Ohio state apprenticeship council; or
(c) Submit evidence of acceptance into an
apprenticeship program of the program requires applicants to be eighteen or
older to enroll.
(5)
Earn a score of fifty or higher on the armed services vocational aptitude
battery (ASVAB);
(6) Complete two
hundred fifty hours or more of work-based learning; or
(7) Earn a score of six or higher on all
three sections of the WorkKeys assessment. A student seeking the
career-technical honors diploma may not use this demonstration as a substitute
for the criteria specified in paragraph (J)(1) or (J)(2) of this
rule.
(L) The following
are additional criteria for the academic honors diploma:
(1) At least four units of science including
two units of advanced science;
(2)
Four units of social studies; and
(3) Earn two diploma seals, other than the
honors diploma seal, in accordance with the requirements of section
3313.6114 of the Revised Code
and in addition to the two seals required for graduation under section
3313.6114 of the Revised
Code.
(M) A student
seeking the international baccalaureate honors diploma shall complete all
requirements established by the international baccalaureate organization for
the international baccalaureate diploma programme. The following are additional
criteria for the international baccalaureate honors diploma:
(1) Four units of science including two units
of advanced science;
(2) Four units
of social studies;
(3) Earn the
seal of biliteracy in accordance with the requirements of section
3313.6111 of the Revised
Code.
(N) The following
are additional criteria for a student who completes the career technical honors
diploma:
(1) Four units in a career-technical
education program that leads to an industry recognized credential, results in
an apprenticeship, or is part of an articulated career pathway which can lead
to post-secondary credit.
(2)
Achieve the proficiency benchmark established for the Ohio career-technical
competency assessment available at webxam.org (additional content available at
education.ohio.gov) or an equivalent assessment aligned with state-approved and
industry validated technical standards;
(3) Earn either the industry-recognized
credential seal or the technology seal, in accordance with the requirements of
section 3313.6114 of the Revised Code;
and
(4)
Earn a score of six or higher on all three sections of the
WorkKeys assessment.
(O) The following are the additional criteria
for the STEM honors diploma:
(1) Four units of
science including two units of advanced science.
(2) Two units of electives with a focus in
STEM coursework; and
(3) Earn
either the industry-recognized credential seal or the
technology seal, according to the requirements set
forth in section 3313.6114 of the Revised
Code.
(P) The following
are the additional criteria for the arts honors diploma:
(1) Four units of fine arts;
(2) Two units of electives with a focus in
fine arts coursework; and
(3) Earn
the fine arts seal according to the requirements set forth in section
3313.6114 of the Revised
Code.
(Q) The following
are the additional criteria for the social science and civic engagement honors
diploma:
(1) Five units of social
studies;
(2) Earn the community
service seal by meeting requirements set forth in section
3313.6114 of the Revised Code;
and
(3) Earn the citizenship seal
by meeting the requirements set forth in section
3313.6114 of the Revised
Code.
