This won’t be the last of the pandemic response bills, but Sub. HB 67 recently was passed on a fast track through the Ohio House and Senate, sent to the Governor and signed by him on March 20, 2021. The bill has an emergency clause, so it is effective immediately. It provides numerous changes in response to the pandemic for schools. What exactly was in this bill that will affect us?
Report cards: There will be no letter grades for districts, buildings or components for the 2020-21 school year, nor will districts need to submit preliminary data for the report cards by July 31. There will be no rankings of districts, community schools or STEM schools. The Department will report on September 15, 2021 the data it has on building and district performance.
Ratings, sanctions and penalties: For district ratings, this year will have no effect on a district’s status for sanctions or penalties, and will not be used as a starting point for new sanctions or penalties. Previous years or subsequent years will be used for ratings that are assessed over time. For a district already subject to sanctions or penalties, (academic distress commissions, restructuring, Ed Choice scholarship eligibility for buildings, defining a “challenged district” for new start-up community schools, federal and state laws identifying schools for targeted or comprehensive supports, etc.) will remain in effect next year, but will not advance. The law specifically states that Ed Choice performance-based scholarships will be awarded the on the same basis as current law outlines in R.C. 3310.03 for 2021-22 and 2022-23.
American history testing: In a compromise on testing, only the end of course exam in American History will not be required to be administered in 2020-21. Any student in the district’s enrollment for whom the test was not administered must continue to be counted by ODE on the same basis. If the test is not administered, it may not be used to determine whether a student is subject to withdrawal. Students on Ed Choice, Jon Peterson or Pilot Project scholarships may renew them even if the test is not administered.
Graduation in 2020-21: For students in 12th grade or who are on track to graduate regardless of graduation cohort but have not completed the requirements for a diploma, may graduate if:
1.) The principal, consulting with teachers and counselors, agrees that the student has successfully completed the curriculum or their IEP. This option may not be used after September 30, 2021.
2.) A school district that has adopted more rigorous requirements for curriculum than the state minimum may require only the minimum curriculum, and after the superintendent reviews whether the student has met the minimum curriculum to determine whether they have successfully completed it.
Additional graduation pathway added in 2020-21: Student will qualify for graduation, this year only, if they complete the high school curriculum or their IEP, and earn the OhioMeansJobs readiness seal.
End of course exam flexibility: 11 and 12th grade student who take and retake, or who were unable to take an end of course exam may use their final grade in the course instead of the end of course exam score to meet graduation requirements. The grade in the course determines what level of skill; advanced, accelerated, proficient, basic, or limited. A grade of “C” or higher qualifies as a competency score.
Testing time frames: For 2020-21 only, spring state assessments online will be done according to the following schedule:
- ELA assessments for all grades between March 22 – May 7, 2021.
- ELA assessments for all grades between March 22 – May 7, 2021.
- ELA assessments for all grades between March 22 – May 7, 2021.
- ELA assessments for all grades between March 22 – May 7, 2021.
- ELA assessments for all grades between March 22 – May 7, 2021.
- ELA assessments for all grades between March 22 – May 7, 2021.
- ELA assessments for all grades between March 22 – May 7, 2021.
Home school academic assessment waiver: Superintendents may not require home school parents to submit an academic assessment for the 2020-21 school year as a condition of allowing continued home instruction.
ESEA waiver: The law orders ODE to seek a waiver from the ESEA accountability and school identification requirements for this year.