Some of this year's high school juniors as well as their administrators are concerned the students won't meet new Ohio graduation standards. That might cause graduation rates to plummet.
The class of 2018 is the first group of Ohio high schoolers to face new stricter requirements. Students are required to take certain classes including English Language Arts, Math and Social Studies and get a cumulative score of 18 on 7 different subject tests. The highest total score possible is 35.
Speaking on 90.3's the Sound of Ideas, State Board of Education President Tom Gunlock says the bar isn't all that high.
“I think we as a society need to decide what we think a diploma really means. Is it more important for a kid to be educated or receive a diploma? And I would argue that an education is more important than a diploma.”
Some local high school administrators are concerned that they haven't been given enough time to implement the new graduation rules. And Gunlock agreed the new standard can be reduced, and then increased more incrementally. But he first wants to see data that the new standard could cause the state's 83% graduation rate to drop significantly. The state School Board will take up the issue at its meeting next Monday.