1. OHIO’S OPTIONS FOR A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
[Note to Presenter: If you showed the Ohio’s Options for a High School diploma video just before presenting this PowerPoint, say something like this: I realize the video went quickly and there was a lot of information about Ohio’s Options for a High School Diploma. Now I’ll take time to go back over the options at a bit slower pace.]
The world is changing every day.
When your parents were in high school, there were usually one or two telephones in the house and they hung on the wall. If no one was home, they couldn’t take a call.
Think about what your phone looks like today (hold up your smartphone)—and think about all you can do with it.
So much has changed.
Getting ready to graduate from high school has changed, too.
For the first time, students in your class will have choices of different pathways you can take to graduate.
My job is to help you learn about those choices now, so at every point, you will know what options are open to you and what you need to do next.
Those choices will enable you to take advantage of opportunities like college and careers—things that will help you reach your goals and dreams for your life.
That’s what I’m here to talk to you about today.

2. Newark Catholic’s goal for all students
Move to college or a skilled job upon graduation
OUR DISTRICT’S GOAL FOR ALL STUDENTS
The goal of [district name] is to prepare every student in your class (the Class of 20XX) be truly ready to start college or get a good-paying job when you graduate from high school.

3. New Ohio law creates options for students to earn a diploma
NEW OHIO LAW CREATES NEW OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS TO EARN A DIPLOMA
Changes in Ohio’s law about high school graduation will help us meet this promise that we make to you and your family.
We are going to help you think more deeply about what you want to do as an adult, and make sure we help get you moving in the right direction to fulfill your dreams.
Let me explain how this works.

4. Ohio provides the most flexibility for you to
succeed and graduate.
OHIO PROVIDES THE MOST FLEXIBILITY FOR YOU TO ACHIEVE AND GRADUATE
Like I said, you can graduate ready to be accepted by good colleges or if you think college isn’t for you right now, you can graduate ready to take a good paying job in certain kinds of fields.
Your choices will take you in one direction or another.
But there are three requirements that every one of you must meet.
Let’s go through those now.

5. Requirements for all students
Complete 24
course credits
Requirements for all students
Take seven required state tests
Earn diploma through one of three options
REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS
First, our district requires all students to complete ## course credits to graduate. You will get different numbers of credits for different courses, and they must add up to at least ## credits in the required courses.
Second, you must take seven state tests. You will take these tests over the four years you are in high school, and each test comes at the end of a specific course.
Third, you will pick one of three diploma options.

6. Our District’s Course Requirements
Complete 24 course credits
Our District’s Course Requirements
Units
Required
Theology
4 Units
English Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
3 Units
Social Studies
Health & Physical Education
1 Unit
Fine Arts
Electives (including For. Language)
OUR DISTRICT’S COURSE REQUIREMENTS
You must complete certain basic courses that all high school students in
Ohio students must take:
4 units of English
4 units of mathematics
3 units of science
3 units of social studies (includes ½ unit of A.H. & ½ of A. Govt.)
½ unit of health & ½ unit of physical education
5 units of electives
You will take other courses as well, such as fine arts and world languages, or detail on the course requirement opt-out.
[Customize this slide to coincide with your local requirements].

7. Take seven required state tests
Class of 2018:
Take seven required state tests
English 9
English I0
Algebra I
Geometry
Biology or Physical Science
American History
American Government
REQUIRED STATE TESTS
Changes to state tests are one of the most important new parts of earning a high school diploma in Ohio.
Beginning with the Class of 2018 – or those who become 9th graders on or after July 1, 2014, the Ohio Graduation Tests will not be required. 
Instead, you will take a state test at the end of seven of your courses. That’s why we call them “end of course” tests.
The courses are algebra 1, geometry (or integrated math I and math II), American history, American government, English I and English II.
For the science end-of-course test, you may choose between physical science or biology, depending on which course you took.
[Counselor, please note: The Class of 2018 may take either end-of- course test, or both. If a student takes both tests, he or she will use the higher of the two scores.]
These tests will give us a much clearer picture of whether we are giving you the skills and knowledge you need to be college or career ready when you graduate.
If you look at all the courses you will take in high school, you’ll find that in almost all of them you will have a final test.
In the seven courses where you take a state end-of-course test, your teachers MAY decide to use the state test to replace the usual final test for the class. The purpose is to avoid making you take more tests than you really have to.
Students studying state-approved Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or college-level courses in biology, American history or American government may take special tests for those courses in place of the end-of-course tests. Again, that’s so we can avoid having you take more than one test.
Here’s the last thing you need to know about tests: All of you, when you reach 11th grade, will take a nationally recognized college admission test (such as the ACT or SAT). The state of Ohio will pay for you to take that test, so your parents do not have to. Taking this test will tell you and our district if you are ready for college and what you still might need to do to become ready, if you see college as an option for you.

8. Take seven required state tests
Class of 2019 and Beyond:
Take seven required state tests
English 9
English I0
Algebra I
Geometry
Biology
American History
American Government
REQUIRED STATE TESTS
Changes to state tests are one of the most important new parts of earning a high school diploma in Ohio.
Beginning with the Class of 2018 – or those who become 9th graders on or after July 1, 2014, the Ohio Graduation Tests will not be required. 
Instead, you will take a state test at the end of seven of your courses. That’s why we call them “end of course” tests.
The courses are algebra 1, geometry (or integrated math I and math II), biology, American history, American government, English I and English II.
These tests will give us a much clearer picture of whether we are giving you the skills and knowledge you need to be college or career ready when you graduate.
If you look at all the courses you will take in high school, you’ll find that in almost all of them you will have a final test.
In the seven courses where you take a state end-of-course test, your teachers MAY decide to use the state test to replace the usual final test for the class. The purpose is to avoid making  you take more tests than you really have to.
Students studying state-approved Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or college-level courses in biology, American history or American government may take special tests for those courses in place of the end-of-course tests. Again, that’s so we can avoid having you take more than one test.
Here’s the last thing you need to know about tests: All of you, when you reach 11th grade, will take a nationally recognized college admission test (such as the ACT or SAT). The state of Ohio will pay for you to take that test, so your parents do not have to. Taking this test will tell you and our district if you are ready for college and what you still might need to do to become ready, if you see college as an option for you.

9. All students must take all seven tests
REQUIRED STATE TESTS
Remember that no matter what options you choose to graduate, you must take all seven end-of-course tests.  

10. Each state test has two parts.
Part One: Taken when you have finished two-thirds of the course This is taken in February or March
EACH STATE TEST HAS TWO PARTS – Part 1
You will take the first part when you have finished about two-thirds of the course.
This means you would take Part 1of the end-of-course tests in February or March.

11. Each state test has two parts.
Part Two: Taken at the end of the course This is taken in April/May
EACH STATE TEST HAS TWO PARTS – Part 2
This is taken at the end of the course, which is either in April or May.

12. Tests are Combined for a Single Score
Part 1
Part 2
COMBINED FOR A SINGLE SCORE
The scores for Part 1 and Part 2 are combined into a single score.

13. Three Graduation Options
18 points on state tests
College readiness score on national test
Industry certification and a work-readiness score on WorkKeys
THREE OPTIONS
At this point we’ve talked about two of the three requirements for graduating. First, ## course credits throughout school, and, second, taking seven end-of-course tests and a college admissions test.
Now to the third requirement---and this is where you have even more choices.
To fulfill the third requirement for graduation, you can choose one of three options:
Accumulate 18 points, altogether, on the seven state tests
Earn a score on the college-admissions test that shows you are ready for college
Earn an approved, industry-recognized credential for the field you want to work in, and get a score on a job-skills test, called WorkKeys, that shows you are ready to do that kind of job. [Give a specific example offered by your school.]

14. Option: 18 points on state tests
Overall Graduation Points
Student earns a minimum number of points from all tests

15. Performance Level Graduation Points Advanced 5 Accelerated 4
Proficient 3
Basic 2
Limited 1
PERFORMANCE LEVEL - GRADUATION POINTS
Earn these point levels on the tests. These levels translate into how many points you get. 
Again, remember that you  need to earn a total of at least 18 POINTS on the seven tests.

16. Retakes
TEST RETAKES
You may retake a state test if your score is below proficient.
You may retake a state test if you have taken all 7 end-of-course tests, but have not reached the18 points needed for graduation.
Our school will provide extra help for you to understand the subject before you retake a test.

17. Flexibility for Students
High score on one test can balance a low score on another test
FLEXIBLITY FOR STUDENTS
One of the great things about accumulating points from your state end-of-course test to reach 18 points is that it gives you flexibility:
A high score on one test can balance a low score on another test. This flexibility allows for differences in students.
Your score on a test will be translated into one (limited) to five (advanced) points.

18. 4 4 6 Earn at least four points in English tests
Earn at least four points in math tests 6
Earn at least six points combined in science and social tests
You must earn a total of at least four points on English tests, four points on math tests and 6 points on science and social studies tests.

19. Option: College readiness score on a national admission test
In addition, you will take a nationally recognized college admission test (such as ACT or SAT) in 11th grade.
The State of Ohio will now pick up the cost of the examination, and this will make it possible for you to know if they are ready for college and to see it as option.

20. College Readiness Score
Test is free for juniors Use the score for college admission
COLLEGE READINESS SCORE
The national tests have not been chosen yet by the state.  National tests, such as the ACT/SAT, will not be selected until next year.
[Counselor, please note: Your school may choose which state-approved college admissions test to use]
If you have already taken the ACT/SAT; does it count? Yes.
Another option is to take and receive a college-readiness score on a national test.
In your junior year, the state of Ohio will pay for you take the national test.
You may take the test before junior year or retake it at your own expense.
You can earn a high school diploma with your highest score.
Benefit: This test is free and you can use the score for college admission.
[Counselor, please note: Students will be able to take this test independent of the state administered timeline at their cost (spring of junior year) but their highest score counts]

21. Option: Earn industry certification (C-TEC) & a work-readiness score on WorkKeys
Earn industry certification and a work-readiness score on WorkKeys
Industry Credential & Workforce Score
If you choose to take that option, you can earn an approved, industry-recognized credential and a workforce readiness score on WorkKeys.

22. Work Readiness and Industry Credential
You leave high school with a skill
Continue to build this skill
Work Readiness and Skill Credential
This option gives you the biggest bang for your time in high school.
You can learn a skill that Ohio employers need right now, and earn good pay to live on after graduation or use to help pay for more education.
Take a serious look now as you are entering high school about the hundreds of ways you can learn a skill for a job that employers are demanding workers for in the near future.
When you receive an official credential for this skill, you are halfway to earning your high school diploma. The other half is to earn a job readiness score on WorkKeys.
Benefit: You leave high school with a skill so you can live on your own. You can build on this skill if you want to.

23. Thinking about graduation?
Make an appointment with your counselor
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR COUNSELOR
[School counselor – describe the next steps students need to take in your district, such as “make an appointment with me, have conversation with your family, seek community and business opportunities … ]

24. education.ohio.gov/options