(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.
