(A) As used in this section, a person "fulfills the curriculum requirement for a diploma" at the time one of the following conditions is satisfied:

(1) The person successfully completes the high school curriculum of a school district, a community school, a chartered nonpublic school, or a correctional institution.

(2) The person successfully completes the individualized education program developed for the person under section 3323.08 of the Revised Code.

(3) A board of education issues its determination under section 3313.611 of the Revised Code that the person qualifies as having successfully completed the curriculum required by the district.

(B) This division specifies the assessment requirements that must be fulfilled as a condition toward granting high school diplomas under sections 3313.61, 3313.611, 3313.612, and 3325.08 of the Revised Code.

(1) A person who fulfills the curriculum requirement for a diploma before September 15, 2000, is not required to pass any proficiency test or achievement test in science as a condition to receiving a diploma.

(2) A person who began ninth grade for the first time prior to July 1, 2003, is not required to pass the Ohio graduation test prescribed under division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 or any assessment prescribed under division (B)(2) of that section in any subject as a condition to receiving a diploma once the person has passed the ninth grade proficiency test in the same subject, so long as the person passed the ninth grade proficiency test prior to September 15, 2008. However, any such person who passes the Ohio graduation test in any subject prior to passing the ninth grade proficiency test in the same subject shall be deemed to have passed the ninth grade proficiency test in that subject as a condition to receiving a diploma. For this purpose, the ninth grade proficiency test in citizenship substitutes for the Ohio graduation test in social studies. If a person began ninth grade prior to July 1, 2003, but does not pass a ninth grade proficiency test or the Ohio graduation test in a particular subject before September 15, 2008, and passage of a test in that subject is a condition for the person to receive a diploma, the person must pass the Ohio graduation test instead of the ninth grade proficiency test in that subject to receive a diploma.

(3)

(a) Except as provided in division (B)(3)(b) of this section, a person who begins ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2003, in a school district, community school, or chartered nonpublic school is not eligible to receive a diploma based on passage of ninth grade proficiency tests. Each such person who begins ninth grade prior to July 1, 2014, must pass Ohio graduation tests to meet the assessment requirements applicable to that person as a condition to receiving a diploma or satisfy one of the conditions prescribed in division (B)(3)(b) of this section.

(b) A person who began ninth grade for the first time prior to July 1, 2014, shall be eligible to receive a diploma if the person meets the requirement prescribed by section 3313.618 or 3313.619 of the Revised Code.

(c) A person who began ninth grade for the first time prior to July 1, 2014, and who has not attained at least the applicable scores designated under division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on all the assessments required by that division shall be eligible to receive a diploma if the person meets the requirement prescribed by rule of the state board of education as prescribed under division (B)(3)(d) of this section.

(d) Not later than December 31, 2015, the state board of education shall adopt rules prescribing the manner in which a person who began ninth grade for the first time prior to July 1, 2014, may be eligible for a high school diploma by combining the requirement prescribed by section 3313.618 or 3313.619 of the Revised Code and the requirement to attain at least the applicable scores designated under division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code on the assessments required by that division. The rules shall ensure that the combined requirements require a demonstration of mastery that is equivalent or greater to the expectations of the assessments prescribed by division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code. The rules shall include the following:

(i) The date by which a person who began ninth grade for the first time prior to July 1, 2014, may be eligible for a high school diploma under division (B)(3)(c) of this section;

(ii) Methods of replacing individual assessments prescribed by division (B)(1) of section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code;

(iii) Methods of integrating the pathways prescribed by division (A) of section 3313.618 or section 3313.619 of the Revised Code.

(4) Except as provided in division (B)(3)(b) of this section, a person who begins ninth grade on or after July 1, 2014, is not eligible to receive a diploma based on passage of the Ohio graduation tests. Each such person must meet the requirement prescribed by section 3313.618 or 3313.619 of the Revised Code.

(C) This division specifies the curriculum requirement that shall be completed as a condition toward granting high school diplomas under sections 3313.61, 3313.611, 3313.612, and 3325.08 of the Revised Code.

(1) A person who is under twenty-two years of age when the person fulfills the curriculum requirement for a diploma shall complete the curriculum required by the school district or school issuing the diploma for the first year that the person originally enrolled in high school, except for a person who qualifies for graduation from high school under either division (D) or (F) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code.

(2) Once a person fulfills the curriculum requirement for a diploma, the person is never required, as a condition of receiving a diploma, to meet any different curriculum requirements that take effect pending the person's passage of proficiency tests or achievement tests or assessments, including changes mandated by section 3313.603 of the Revised Code, the state board, a school district board of education, or a governing authority of a community school or chartered nonpublic school.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 487, §1, eff. 9/17/2014.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 11-20-2001; 05-18-2005; 2006 HB276 03-30-2007; 2006 SB311 04-04-2007.