End of Course Assessments
The Ohio Department of Education recently released the following information concerning the state End-of-Course Assessments.
Ohio educators work each day to ensure that every girl and boy in our state receives a high-quality education, can read at grade level, and graduates ready to enter college or the workforce.
That means we must concentrate on what works best. Testing serves an important purpose for monitoring and improving student learning. Each test a student takes should lead to improved teaching or contribute to school and teacher accountability.
Our state has been adjusting its tests to match Ohio’s Learning Standards, which tell teachers what their students should know and be able to do at the end of each grade. These standards emphasize skills like critical thinking and problem solving -- qualities most sought by today’s employers. By teaching our K-12 students to apply these skills to what they are learning in school we can make sure they are on track to be successful after high school.
What to Expect
How long are the school year 2015-2016 tests?
This year’s tests are shorter. The test for each subject will take about three hours. School districts will choose whether their students will take each test in two 90-minute sessions or in one 180-minute session. Districts will give the tests this coming spring.
What tests will your child take between now and graduation?
Class of 2016 & 2017*: OGTs (Ohio Graduation Tests)
Class of 2018: English I, English II, Algebra I, Geometry, Physical Science, American History, American Government
Class of 2019 and beyond: English I, English II, Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, American History, American Government
*Students in the classes of 2016 and 2017 must pass only the Ohio Graduation Tests to be graduation eligible,
although they must also take the American History and American Government tests.
Students take all the tests shown above, other than the Ohio Graduation Tests, at the end of the listed course. They are taking these end-of-course tests to earn points toward graduation. Ohio law allows any student to retake any end-of-course test at a later point in high school, if necessary.
Students in the classes of 2018 and beyond can choose from two graduation options other than points accumulated on required end-of-course tests.
The following link will take you to a video explaining the different graduation options:
Visit the department’s website to learn more about graduation requirements and options. Email unanswered questions to gradrequirements@education.ohio.gov
